Grady Health System launches new Atlanta air ambulance

The program, called Grady Air, will be based at the Grady Memorial Hospital in the city of Atlanta. It will provide emergency medical response services to people across the southeastern USA.

The service will be run in partnership with air ambulance operator Air Methods, which will provide the pilots, while Grady Health System will supply all medical personnel – nurses, paramedics, and critical care specialists.

Grady Air will operate emergency air medical services on a 24/7 basis, as well as providing interfacility transfers across Atlanta and the wider region.

Grady Health System clarified that the creation of its new, in-house air medical program will not prevent or disrupt the operation of third-party medical aircraft flying to Grady Memorial Hospital.

“Time is of the essence when it comes to trauma care,” said Dr Ryan Fransman, Medical Director of Grady Air at Grady Health System. “Every minute we save in transporting a critically injured patient to our Trauma Center increases their chance of survival. As Atlanta’s only Level I Trauma Center, this new helicopter gives us the reach, speed, and medical capacity to make a real difference when every second counts.”

Fellow US-based air ambulance operator Life Link III recently announced plans for a new base at ‎Minnesota’s Duluth International Airport.