Lifestar, Based in Joliet, Celebrating its 25th Year in Business
The company that transports critically ill or injured patients moved to the area in 2008
This year will mark 25 years since Lifestar began its existence as an critical care air transport service. In those days, the helicopter and its staff was based out of Loyola University Medical Center. In 2008, though, Lifestar moved locations and changed from a hospital-based service to a community-based service. "Most patients come from this area to Loyola," Kathy Devine, medical manager and flight nurse said. When the service was located at Loyola and a patient had to be picked up from the Kankakee area, the transport took about 30 minutes. "Now it takes 15 minutes," she said. Each flight that takes off from the Joliet helipad is one in which a critically ill or injured patient must get to a hospital more quickly than they could being …
