For Immediate Release: November 10, 2008

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306

St. John’s Hospital launches “Saints Flight”

New helicopter service provides efficient, safe patient transport

SPRINGFIELD – St. John’s Hospital today officially launched Saints Flight, a dedicated helicopter service that will enhance St. John’s ability to quickly transport patients to the hospital from across the region.

While St. John’s already receives patients through private helicopter services and maintains two helipads on its campus, Saints Flight is permanently stationed at the hospital, allowing air transport to occur immediately whenever a call for service is made. St. John’s has contracted with ARCH Air Medical Services (owned by Air Methods) to provide a helicopter that will initially transport neonatal and pediatric patients.

“Saints Flight provides an efficient and safe method of transporting young patients in critical need of medical care,” said Bob Ritz, President and CEO of St. John’s Hospital.  “Because St. John’s Children’s Hospital serves central and southern Illinois, it’s important that we can quickly transport seriously ill or injured patients from across the region to our facility.”

With a cruise speed of 130-150 m.p.h., air transport time for Saints Flight is typically half that of a ground transport. St. John’s Children’s Hospital also has a dedicated ambulance. Saints Flight is designed for moving patients while administering necessary medical care. On-board each flight is a highly trained transport team that includes a respiratory therapist and a registered nurse. Depending on whether the patient is pediatric or neonatal, the nurse will be from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Transport team members have undergone rigorous training specific to conditions in flight. The safety precautions in place are enforced by both St. John’s and ARCH. The medical professionals on-board have the ability to cancel the flight if they feel conditions are not suitable. “The staff we send on the Saints Flights are safety officers,” said Amy Jones, RN, St. John’s Director of Acute Care, Critical Care and Emergency Services. “Everyone on board the helicopter works as a team to ensure the flight is safe for all involved.”

In addition, Saints Flight pilots are trained to take extra safety precautions. “Air Methods is proactive when it comes to patient and crew safety,” said Dave Fails, Aviation Manager at ARCH Medical Services. “We incorporate extra regulations when it comes to flight conditions. In order for a day time flight to convert, we require the visibility to be at least two miles.”

Established criteria must be met before a patient is transported by air. First, a physician must determine the process is necessary and safe for the patient. An emergency call is then placed through St. John’s One Call Transfer number, and the helicopter pilot on duty is immediately notified. He or she would then check the flight conditions to ensure safety, and assemble the crew for take-off.

Saints Flight is a BK117 dual engine aircraft constructed by American Eurocopter. “It’s the perfect air ambulance,” added Fails. An on-site pilot and mechanic are available 24 hours a day to operate Saints Flight

“The multi-disciplinary team at our Children’s Hospital is here and ready,” said Gurpreet Mander, MD, SIU School of Medicine, Director Critical Care, St. John’s Children’s Hospital. “We offer state-of-the-art comprehensive care. As a children’s hospital, we want to bring those kids where all the services are. Besides excellent nurses and physicians, we have a team of clinicians who can meet all the child’s needs.”

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