Air Methods to close four bases in Oklahoma

News comes that Air Methods is soon to close another four bases – this time in Oklahoma – just a week after announcing the closure of the MedFlight Huntsville base in Meridianville, Alabama.

The bases – Tulsa Life Flight 1 in Keefeton, Tulsa Life Flight 3 in Tulsa/Riverside, MediFlight of Oklahoma 1 in Chickasha and MediFlight of Oklahoma 2 in Seminole – are all to close, a decision which Air Methods has reached after ‘thorough review and analysis of its operations’. &quotThe dispatch centre will not experience any interruption in service ... in addition, Air Methods is working with all employees on opportunities for other positions within Air Methods or their next career steps,&quot Air Methods said in a statement.

Life Flight will, however, continue to offer its services in the area from the McAlester Life Flight 5 base, and county officials claimed that the closures would have little impact on Muskogee County. &quotThere’s multiple other air ambulances in the area that can be used for that. We’re not going to do without, we’re just going to do with one less,&quot Muskogee County Emergency Management Director Jeff Smith said.

In a recent release, the company attributed the closures to cost-related problems: &quotThe cost of this around-the-clock readiness averages nearly US$3 million per year for each air base, according to a cost study prepared for the Association of Air Medical Services. Further, approximately 85 per cent of costs are fixed costs associated with operating an air base, giving companies little leeway in reducing costs on their own.&quot