"Need" is the key term in that statement, and you are absolutely right. However, most patients sent by airlift do not "need" it in the first place. They're flow out either because the incompetent ground providers were stumped as to what to do, or because of simple MOI criteria, rather than any actual medical indication. Not to mention those who do have serious enough injuries to justify aeromedical evacuation, but would have been better off with rapid ground transport than waiting the extra time it took to get a helicopter out there. Overall, I theorize that as many people are harmed by the decision to fly them as are saved.
