Air Methods enters Haiti
Air Methods Corporation announced in January that it had entered into an agreement with Haiti Air Ambulance Service, Inc. (Haiti Air Ambulance), a New York, US-based not-for-profit corporation, to provide air medical transportation services to the Republic of Haiti.
Air Methods Corporation announced in January that it had entered into an agreement with Haiti Air Ambulance Service, Inc. (Haiti Air Ambulance), a New York, US-based not-for-profit corporation, to provide air medical transportation services to the Republic of Haiti. Under the agreement, which is similar to a traditional hospital services contract, Air Methods will provide two Bell 407 helicopters (primary and dedicated back-up) and employ three pilots and two mechanics. Haiti Air Ambulance will employ the clinical crew and provide medical direction.
Initially, the service will conduct daytime-only, inter-facility transports from outlying hospitals back to designated trauma and critical care facilities. As the country’s EMS infrastructure develops, scene transports may become a reality, said Air Methods. The base will be located near the airport in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and operations are anticipated to start in first quarter of 2014.
“Air Methods is very pleased to support Haiti Air Ambulance’s wonderful humanitarian effort to bring such a valuable healthcare resource to the citizens of Haiti,” said Aaron Todd, Air Methods’ CEO. “Patients with survivable injuries in Haiti too often die because of lack of trauma care in remote parts of the country and poor road conditions. The ability of this service to extend the reach of trauma services in an expeditious way will save and improve hundreds of Haitian lives annually.”
“At Haiti Air Ambulance, we find this service is an inescapable step toward increasing healthcare capacity and enhancing healthcare access to the citizens and visitors of Haiti, and it will directly contribute to the development of my country,” said Reginald Auguste, Haiti Air Ambulance Board Member.