Taking flight: Area’s medical helicopters save lives
Service can be costly, but worth every pennyBy Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.com
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Fact Box
At a glance
Facts about critical care air transportation:
Two companies serve this region - MedFlight, an Ohio group with eight bases (two in southeast Ohio) and Air Evac Lifeteam, a Missouri company with 88 bases in 15 states (three in West Virginia, including the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport).
MedFlight, a nonprofit company, has served the region since 1995.
Air Evac, a for-profit company, has served the region since December 2008.
About 10 patients each month are transported from Marietta Memorial Hospital to level 1 trauma centers in the region.
MedFlight transported five patients a month in 2008 from Memorial.
Air Evac Lifeteam transports about 20 patients a month within a 50-mile radius.
, including Marietta and Parkersburg.
The average cost of a MedFlight transport is $12,700.
The average cost of an Air Evac Lifeteam flight is $13,000 to $15,000, depending on distance.
Source: Times research.
When you hear a helicopter speeding in the direction of Marietta Memorial Hospital, say a little prayer.
For about 10 extremely sick or badly injured local people each month, the helicopter can mean the difference between life and death.
"I remember they took me to the hospital first, then directly to the helicopter," said Detective Sgt. Scott Parks of the Washington County Sheriff's Office. "I'd been in one (helicopter) before, so the flight didn't bother me. I had a lot more to worry about."
During a standoff with a single shooter in the eastern part of the county on April 7, 2008, Parks was shot in the face. He was transported to Marietta Memorial Hospital for stabilization then flown by MedFlight to the Ohio State Medical Center, a level one trauma center in Columbus.
"I remember there were two medics who sat behind me. I was in front on a gurney with the pilot," Parks said. "They were all very professional, and it was a positive experience."
The flight took 35 minutes, he said. The same trip by ambulance would have taken close to two hours.
Medical helicopter flights are thankfully not a daily occurrence overhead, but because there are two companies serving the region now, if transport to a level 1 trauma center is necessary to save a person's life, there is twice the opportunity.
Providers are MedFlight and Air Evac Lifeteam.
"Many lives have been saved," said Jennifer Offenberger, director of marketing and communications for Marietta Memorial Hospital. "Both these companies are great partners?."
Since 1995, MedFlight of Ohio has served the Marietta area, including both Marietta Memorial and Selby General hospitals. Its closest helicopter base is at McConnelsville in Morgan County, just to the east. There is also a base at Wellston, west of Athens.
In December 2008, a new company to the region, Air Evac Lifeteam, established in 1985 in southern Missouri, joined the ranks of medical transportation providers.
Air Evac, located at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport, has 88 medical helicopter bases in 15 states, including three in West Virginia, according to Danny Marcum, program director.
Air Evac is a for-profit company, while MedFlight, formed by a consortium of central Ohio (and Akron) hospitals, is nonprofit. Regardless, a one-way flight with either company can cost in the thousands of dollars.
For MedFlight, the average, depending on distance, is about $12,700, according to Todd Bailey, director of business development with MedFlight. The company makes about 4,000 trips a year, he said.
Marcum said the average Air Evac flight from Marietta to Columbus, Morgantown, or Charleston would average $13,000 to $15,000.
For those who pay a $50 membership fee (per person) or $65 for all members in the household, the balance of the transport fee over and above what insurance pays is covered with Air Evac, Marcum said.
"Or, if you don't have any insurance, membership covers the entire fee," he said. "This does not work with Medicaid, however."
The new company is averaging about 20 flights a month from the Mid-Ohio Valley and serves a 50-mile radius, he said.
"About half our flights go to Columbus and the other half to Morgantown," Marcum said.
For both companies, the primary mission is serving rural and under-served areas of the state.
Each helicopter is specially equipped and has a flight crew consisting of a pilot, paramedic and critical care nurse. The only other person is the patient.
Teresa Adams of Fleming, a registered nurse experienced in critical care, joined Air Evac Lifeteam in August, prior to its December start-up in the area. She works part-time and is also director of cardiopulmonary services at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital in Parkersburg.
"I had always wanted to do this, since 1988, but I had two small children and didn't feel comfortable getting into it," Adams said.
She works a 24-hour shift with Air Evac.
"Flying took a little getting used to," she said. "I used to get car sick so I was worried about it, but I have gotten used to it now. You are very focused on the patient."
The experience is nothing like being a medic in the back of an ambulance, Adams said.
"It's a more confined space and we have to stay in our restraints all the time," she said. "Everything we need is within arm's reach."
Bailey, with MedFlight, praised his company's "safe, strong, and proven" history of critical care transportation in southeast Ohio.
"We are very familiar with the region, as we have served, shared and educated many of the high-quality professionals in the region that also serve patients," he said.
Jeff Lauer, chief of the Fearing Township Volunteer Fire Department and director of Washington County Emergency Management Agency, said the medical evacuation service called is the one that is closest and the one available.
"From our standpoint out in the field, we are concerned with the one that can get to us quickest," Lauer said. "The flights sure have saved lives or at least, lessened the impact."
Offenberger, with Memorial Hospital, said the service is used in situations where a specialty is not available locally, such as multi-system trauma or pediatric trauma.
"As we continue to grow and bring more specialties here, we will begin to be able to treat more of our patients at home," she said.
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peppie
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07-10-09 1:47 PM
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When I was in the navy, I was a medic on a medvac helicoptor. It is a very difficult job. Starting IV's on a vibrating helicoptor takes much skill and alot of patience. The patients on these flights are critical and it takes an excellent team to get them to the hospital they are going to. Keep up the good work and may God Bless all of you.
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scandalous
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07-10-09 11:37 AM
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After my dad had a heart valve replacement at Ohio State, I developed a strong sense that flying people to the big hospitals for emergencies is a better idea then trying to spend money on handling some of those things locally. You can't even imagine what an experience at Ohio State is like. When you enter, they tell you "don't worry about the cost we'll work out a payment plan. Right now we are focused on getting you well." Keep up the flights! How do we get a membership in one of these?
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peppie
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07-10-09 10:15 AM
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This area needs a lifeflight type system. We are to far from the bigger hospitals and alot of lives have been saved with these flights. Keep up the good work, medical helicopters.
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Animallover
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07-10-09 9:30 AM
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I have also seen them in action. They transported my brother to grant medical and they were wonderful.
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ProudMom2
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07-10-09 9:06 AM
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I think this is a wonderful asset to our community. I have seen them in action before during a accident and was impressed with how well they handled the situation.
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