Will Be Home To One BK117 Helicopter

Air medical services provider Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. announced Tuesday the company has opened a new air medical services base in Houston associated with HCA Houston, which is a comprehensive network of hospitals, diagnostic imaging facilities, cancer care programs, emergency care centers and outpatient surgery facilities throughout Greater Houston.

The new base will be located on the campus of HCA affiliated The Woman's Hospital of Texas in Houston. The base will be home to one BK117 helicopter, designed to handle critical care inter-facility transports within a 150-mile radius. It is configured into a critical-care cabin with an intensive-care like setting.

The transport services include neonatal, high-risk OB/GYN and general medical needs patient transports. For critical care transports, the helicopter is staffed with a critical care nurse and critical care paramedic along with the pilot. Specially trained staff will be on board when the transport involves neonates or high risk OB/GYN patients. HCA Houston is currently the only provider in Houston with a dedicated high-risk OB/GYN transport team.

Requests for patient transports will be coordinated through HCA Houston's newly established HealthOne Regional Transfer Center, which is also located on The Woman’s Hospital of Texas campus. The Regional Transfer Center is a one-stop shop for patient transportation to and from the nine hospitals that comprise HCA Houston and other healthcare facilities.

"As a leader in the air medical services industry, Omniflight is pleased to align with HCA Houston to bring air medical services to the Houston area," said Robert A. Peiser, Omniflight’s chairman and chief executive officer. "Our 45+ years of air medical expertise, coupled with the vast healthcare capabilities of a leading healthcare institution like HCA, will demonstrate to the Houston community the benefits of this new service and the in-flight medical advancements available today."

FMI: www.omniflight.com