On Wednesday, August 1, McLeod Health held a ribbon-cutting event at McLeod Dillon to introduce McLeod Air Reach, their new Air Ambulance Service. [slide]
The primary purpose of McLeod Air Reach is to provide rapid access to medical care for critically ill or injured patients throughout the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas.
“Air Reach is an expansion of care for our region,” said Debbie Locklair, Administrator, McLeod Dillon. “Air Reach supports the communities and hospitals McLeod Health serves by transporting patients to the level care they need as quickly as possible. In addition, the McLeod Air Reach crew consists of dedicated registered nurses, paramedics, and trained and experienced helicopter pilots who ensure the safest journey possible.”
With the addition of McLeod Loris and McLeod Seacoast, came the recognition of the necessity for a faster transport method for the five hospitals within the McLeod Health system. Time is of the essence for trauma patients and the faster they can receive medical care the better the outcome. McLeod Air Reach brings the McLeod Health network of facilities, specialties and life saving services even close together for the benefit of the patient.
“When someone has been in a life-threatening accident, they need assistant immediately.” said Dr. Kris Crawford, Medical Director, McLeod Dillon Emergency Services. “After receiving the immediate stabilizing and life-saving care at McLeod Dillon, patients with critical illnesses or injuries require the care provided by a Level II Trauma Center, which we have at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. Every second counts when transporting a critically injured patient. McLeod Air Reach helps us ensure rapid access for effective and efficient care for these patients.”
“McLeod currently has two critical care transport ambulance services,” said Dr. Thomas Lewis, Medical, McLeod Air Reach. “Heart Reach is our coronary critical care unit and Child Reach is a mobile intensive care unit that transports critically ill children and newborns to McLeod Children’s Hospital. Now with McLeod Air Reach joining the team we have another option to help transport patients to the closest medical facility with the fastest method,”
The air ambulance service provider selected by McLeod Health is Med-Trans Corporation.
Med-Trans has been in the air ambulance for more than 20 years, providing services for 48 bases in 18 states in the U.S.
They have an outstanding record for safety and meet all air ambulance requirements and state and federal regulations.
“Because McLeod already had a critical care transport care transport system in place, we believed that a partnership with McLeod Health would be very positive,” said Brian ƒ, Regional Director, Med-Trans Air Medical Transport. “McLeod Child Reach has been in service for 30 years and Heart Reach for 22, which demonstrated to us that McLeod is extremely dedicated in their commitment to provide the most effective transportation for critically ill patients.”