Post by Medic13 on May 26, 2007 3:46:14 GMT -5
For those that haven't read it yet...
STAT MedEvac to end local service; Air Methods Corp. to take over June 1
By WARREN HOWELER Times Managing Editor
Published: Monday, May 21, 2007 11:52 PM CDT
SAYRE - STAT MedEvac, which has operated the Guthrie One helicopter program since 2003, has announced that it will end its service to Robert Packer Hospital at the end of this month.
However, Guthrie Healthcare System officials said Monday that the organization is currently finalizing an agreement with Air Methods Corp., headquartered in Denver, Colo., that calls for that corporation to handle the staff, base and helicopter services for this area beginning June 1.
GHS officials noted that they were notified several months ago that STAT MedEvac would be ending its local service as a business decision by the company, and they then began advertising requests for proposals from vendors interested in providing this service.
“We have always had a positive relationship with STAT MedEvac,” said Kathy Lewis of GHS's corporate communications office. “The goal is for this to be a seamless transition from one company to another.”
Air Methods Corp. will provide a “community-based model” with its helicopter service similar to what is currently offered by STAT MedEvac, said Lewis.
“Their (Air Methods Corp.) plan is to be ready to go by June 1,” said Lewis.
According to background information provided by Guthrie, Air Methods Corp.:
€ provides air medical services through hospital-based and community-based programs.
€ is based in Denver, Colo. and is the largest operator of air medical programs in the world.
€ More patients are flown to hospitals by Air Methods than any air medical provider. An Air Methods aircraft transports a patient approximately every seven minutes somewhere in the United States.
€ has 168 bases in 38 states, with 220 helicopters and a fixed-wing division.
€ operates five bases in New York state and one in Pennsylvania, including LifeNet New York out of Albany as well as JeffSTAT out of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
€ is certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS).
STAT MedEvac has already closed two out-of-state bases since last year, specifically in North Dansville, N.Y., and in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
STAT MedEvac currently operates 20 EMS helicopters from 16 bases in central and western Pennsylvania, Youngstown, Ohio, and Hagerstown, Md.
STAT MedEvac is run by the Center for Emergency Medicine, which is a consortium of hospitals including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, West Penn Allegheny Health System and Altoona Hospital.
STAT MedEvac to end local service; Air Methods Corp. to take over June 1
By WARREN HOWELER Times Managing Editor
Published: Monday, May 21, 2007 11:52 PM CDT
SAYRE - STAT MedEvac, which has operated the Guthrie One helicopter program since 2003, has announced that it will end its service to Robert Packer Hospital at the end of this month.
However, Guthrie Healthcare System officials said Monday that the organization is currently finalizing an agreement with Air Methods Corp., headquartered in Denver, Colo., that calls for that corporation to handle the staff, base and helicopter services for this area beginning June 1.
GHS officials noted that they were notified several months ago that STAT MedEvac would be ending its local service as a business decision by the company, and they then began advertising requests for proposals from vendors interested in providing this service.
“We have always had a positive relationship with STAT MedEvac,” said Kathy Lewis of GHS's corporate communications office. “The goal is for this to be a seamless transition from one company to another.”
Air Methods Corp. will provide a “community-based model” with its helicopter service similar to what is currently offered by STAT MedEvac, said Lewis.
“Their (Air Methods Corp.) plan is to be ready to go by June 1,” said Lewis.
According to background information provided by Guthrie, Air Methods Corp.:
€ provides air medical services through hospital-based and community-based programs.
€ is based in Denver, Colo. and is the largest operator of air medical programs in the world.
€ More patients are flown to hospitals by Air Methods than any air medical provider. An Air Methods aircraft transports a patient approximately every seven minutes somewhere in the United States.
€ has 168 bases in 38 states, with 220 helicopters and a fixed-wing division.
€ operates five bases in New York state and one in Pennsylvania, including LifeNet New York out of Albany as well as JeffSTAT out of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
€ is certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS).
STAT MedEvac has already closed two out-of-state bases since last year, specifically in North Dansville, N.Y., and in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
STAT MedEvac currently operates 20 EMS helicopters from 16 bases in central and western Pennsylvania, Youngstown, Ohio, and Hagerstown, Md.
STAT MedEvac is run by the Center for Emergency Medicine, which is a consortium of hospitals including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, West Penn Allegheny Health System and Altoona Hospital.