Air Evac Lifeteam has a new emergency air medical transport base in northern Alabama. Now in service, the Athens base will provide service to Limestone County and the surrounding regions.

“We are proud to join the community of Athens and to be located close to our partners in care at Athens-Limestone Hospital,” says senior programme director Debbie Jaggers. “Our dedicated teams look forward to providing access to a higher level of care to patients who have life- or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses.”

Having a new air medical base located immediately next door to its facility means expedited care for the patients of Athens-Limestone Hospital.

“To have an air medical service available and based in Limestone County is a tremendous benefit for our community,” says Athens-Limestone Hospital president Traci Collins. “For many years, we have worked closely with Air Evac to assist with scene flights and to transfer critical patients. We are excited to welcome it to Athens and look forward to working together to provide excellent care for our patients.”

The Athens base will be staffed by highly trained and experienced pilots, flight nurses and flight paramedics, and it will be maintained by an on-site aviation maintenance technician. The Bell 206 helicopter operated at this base will be medically configured with the latest avionics and safety features. Air Evac officials have also negotiated hangar space at Pryor Field Regional airport to house the aircraft for standard maintenance and weather.

Guardian Flight has activated a new emergency air medical transport base in Gaylord, Michigan to provide air medical transport services to communities in the northern Lower Peninsula and surrounding areas.

“The opening of our Gaylord base is a key development in Guardian Flight's continued mission to provide care to the world at a moment's notice,” says regional director John Robben. “We look forward to strengthening our services in the region by providing another vital air medical resource to the community and providing area hospitals and EMS agencies with a dependable partner in patient care.”

The Gaylord base will be staffed by four pilots, two flight nurses and two flight paramedics, all highly trained professionals. The Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft, located in Gaylord, is medically configured with the latest avionics and safety features. The fixed wing aircraft can travel at speeds of 300 miles per hour and is capable of long distance transports with a range of more than 1,700 miles.

“Having an aircraft based at Gaylord Regional airport will save valuable time to transport critical care patients to a facility that offers other services not available in some rural healthcare settings,” adds Robben. “Transfer time for our patients is of the essence. The aircraft will add another great resource in Michigan for quality care, and we are excited about serving Gaylord and the surrounding regions.”