Commonwealth Health to Operate Medical Aircraft, Provide First Critical Care Ground Transport in Region

5/21/2014

SCRANTON, PA (May 22, 2014) – Commonwealth Health will begin operating a medical helicopter and the region’s first critical care ground transport service to provide advanced lifesaving treatment to patients en route to hospitals throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The ground transport, the first of its kind to serve the 11-county region, will include two vehicles – a Critical Care Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for neonates and a Critical Care Transport Unit that will provide advanced treatment to patients of all ages. The NICU will go into service immediately and the Critical Care Transport Unit is scheduled to begin operating on Aug. 1. Both will be stationed at the Lackawanna Ambulance headquarters in Scranton.

Commonwealth One, the critical care helicopter, will begin operating on Sept. 1.

“This is great news for the more than 1 million residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania who will now have more immediate access to the techniques and equipment that could mean the difference between life or death,” Cor Catena, CEO of Commonwealth Health, said. “Currently, the region does not have access to critical care ground transport which is essential in those instances when extreme weather conditions prohibit air transport.”

The announcement was made during National Emergency Medical Services Week which honors the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s front line.

Justin Davis, CEO of Moses Taylor Hospital and Lackawanna Ambulance, said the ground and air vehicles will be staffed by health care professionals who are trained to handle cardiac events, neonatal care, high risk obstetric patients, pediatric patients, stroke patients and ventilator-dependent patients.

In addition to the certified pre-hospital registered nurse who will staff the vehicles, eight paramedics from Lackawanna Ambulance recently completed intensive training in North Carolina to earn their certification as critical care emergency medical transport providers.

“This is a proud moment for us and a testament to the dedication of the hard-working employees at Lackawanna Ambulance who worked with us to accomplish so many great things in the last nine months,” Davis said. “We are proud to be able to bring this new service to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

Among the medical services that will be offered on both the ground units and the helicopter are advanced airway management, neonatal and pediatric care, advanced trauma and cardiac care, invasive monitoring of the brain, heart and lungs and the administration of blood and blood products.

Scranton Fire Superintendent Patrick DeSarno said the addition of the new ground and air vehicles will cut down on response time and the advanced equipment on the trucks will allow first responders to begin intensive treatment much sooner.

“Having the same equipment on these vehicles that can be found in a critical care unit at a hospital will allow us to begin treatment of critically ill patients much faster,” DeSarno said. “This is a major benefit to our region.”

Dr. Alan Miller, an emergency room physician and medical director at Regional Hospital of Scranton, said the availability of advanced lifesaving equipment and the presence of critical care staff could mean the difference between life and death in many instances.

“When you are talking about critical illness or injury, timing is everything,” Miller said. “I expect that the addition of this critical care transport team will save many lives.”

Commonwealth Health’s helicopter provider is Englewood, Colo.-based Air Methods, the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services. Air Methods was the first helicopter operator and air medical provider to reach the highest level of the FAA’s voluntary Safety Management System program. Air Methods will provide the aircraft, pilot and maintenance.

“We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with Commonwealth Health,” David Poulsen, regional vice president, Air Methods, said. “Our new base brings additional critical care resources for those in need.”

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