Parrish Healthcare Partners with Health First’s Air Ambulance Helicopter, First Flight
By Space Coast Daily // August 27, 2025
seamless collaboration in saving lives
Related Story:Health First To Expand First Flight Air Ambulance Service With Second Helicopter in North Brevard
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA —Parrish Healthcare expands partnership with Health First to include establishing Health First’s air ambulance helicopter, First Flight, as its preferred emergency air transport partner.
Health First collaborated with Parrish Healthcare to add a second helicopter to its air ambulance program, based in North Brevard. This latest collaboration between Parrish Healthcare and Health First means North Brevard residents can expect even faster response times to traumatic events.
Parrish Healthcare and Health First’s First Flight team held a special Meet & Greet event at Parrish Medical Center on Thursday, August 15.
The event took place on Parrish Medical Center’s helipad, offering both the emergency medical teams and other Care Partners (employees, providers, and volunteers) an opportunity to tour the First Flight helicopter, meet the flight crew, and learn more about the air transport process.
“This partnership is about more than just speed—it’s about seamless collaboration in saving lives,” said George Mikitarian, President and CEO of Parrish Healthcare. “By establishing this preferred air transport partnership, our care teams can coordinate quickly and effectively when emergency air transport is needed.”
Additionally, in partnership with Metro Aviation, Health First has access to a third backup aircraft, as shown in the photo above, for times when one or both of the primary aircraft are in service or undergoing maintenance.
First Flight now operates out of two strategic bases of operations: one in Melbourne at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, as well as the new base addition in Titusville, enabling the air teams to effectively support a wide range of emergencies, including Trauma, Cardiac, Stroke, and other acute medical conditions.
“In a traumatic emergency, such as a vehicle crash, a workplace injury, a heart attack or stroke incident, time matters–time is life,” said Tiffany Bassani, Health First Director of Patient Logistics.
“Being able to reach, stabilize, and quickly transport a patient to the nearest medical center gives the patient the very best chance of survival, and this expanded air presence now provides the fastest, most saturated coverage Brevard County has ever had,” Bassani said.
This partnership exemplifies Health First and Parrish Healthcare’s continued shared commitment to removing barriers to care for all in Brevard County.
Parrish Healthcare, America’s first Joint Commission Integrated Care Certified health system, includes: Parrish Medical Center, first U.S. Cleveland Clinic Connected member and one of the nation’s most recognized hospitals for clinical quality, patientsafety, and healing environments; Parrish Medical Group, NCQA certified patient-centered medical homes; and Parrish Health Network, a coalition of healthcare providers, insurers and others working together to improve quality and safety and lower healthcare costs on behalf of individuals, families and businesses.
Visit parrishhealthcare.com for more information.
