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STATCARE to base second helicopter in Glasgow

Louisville Medical Center STATCARE Press Release

GLASGOW — Residents of south central Kentucky needing air ambulance transportation will soon have greater access to that service. John Blumenstock, Executive Director of STATCARE, and Dwayne Moss, CEO of T. J. Samson Hospital in Glasgow, Ky., announced today that a satellite STATCARE site will be established there beginning in November of this year. Timely access to STATCARE’s air ambulance service will remain the same for all other sites.

According to STATCARE Board Chairman Frank Miller, M.D., "The STATCARE board believes that this will provide better access for the patients in south central Kentucky to tertiary care services such as cardiac, pediatric and trauma services."

"More than 20 percent of current STATCARE transports are from the 12 county region around Glasgow," Blumenstock said. "Economic development in the area has resulted in significant growth, so it is only natural that placement of a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week STATCARE service in the community will support this growth. Having an aircraft stationed in Glasgow will enhance the use of all resources, air and ground ambulances, local and regional hospitals and tertiary care facilities to better serve the medical needs of residents of Glasgow and surrounding communities."

STATCARE will have the ability to transport two patients in a critical care unit environment to the facility most appropriate for their care, while continuing to coordinate transportation of premature infants and ill children with the STATCARE "Just for Kids" Transport Team. Other benefits include saving at least 40 minutes in response time to the patient’s side; freeing up ambulances to make other local transports; and joint planning and training with the local EMS agencies. In addition, the success of the UofL family practice residency at T.J. Samson Hospital has resulted in increased admissions that at times require air ambulance transports to a tertiary care facility.

Glasgow Mayor Charles Honeycutt and Judge Executive Freddie Travis state that they are very pleased a STATCARE air ambulance will be stationed in Glasgow on a full-time basis, making it safer for citizens who might need to use the service due to an accident or serious illness. Placement of STATCARE in Glasgow was a cooperative effort of the boards of STATCARE and T.J. Samson Hospital, Barren-Metcalf EMS and city and county governments.

The aircraft is a Dauphin N model, designated as an instrument flight rules aircraft, which means that the helicopter can make flights to Louisville under less than ideal weather conditions. An additional pilot and mechanic will be hired to join the flight team.

According to Moss, the placement of STATCARE air ambulance service at T.J. Samson in Glasgow will greatly assist the hospital in continuing to meet the health care needs of the region. "Not only does STATCARE provide immediate access to our patients who need the service, it also provides the other community hospitals in this region with the capability of transporting their critically ill patients in an expeditious manner," he said.

STATCARE is a consolidated air ambulance patient transport service of the former SKYCARE and STATFlight and the current "Just for Kids" Transport Team. It is operated by the Louisville Medical Center, a partnership of Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services, Norton Healthcare and UofL Health Care.