LIFESTAR Adds Airplane to Service In Texas
Northwest Texas Healthcare System and Med-Trans Corporation have expanded their LIFESTAR partnership with the addition of a state-of-the-art, pressurized turboprop airplane.
Northwest Texas Healthcare System and Med-Trans Corporation have expanded their LIFESTAR partnership with the addition of a state-of-the-art, pressurized turboprop airplane. The twin-engine aircraft, which operates with critical care flight nurses and paramedics from the Amarillo-based healthcare system and flight crews from Med-Trans, is based at Rick Husband Amarillo National Airport.
The LIFESTAR King Air E-90 airplane, with a 1,400-mile range, will service parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. It joins a medically equipped Airbus H135 LIFESTAR helicopter, based at Northwest Texas Healthcare System's main Amarillo facility, as well as a Bell 407 helicopter based in Pampa, Texas. "The addition of a fixed wing medical transport now enables the LIFESTAR team to transport emergent, non-emergent and specialty patients for much longer distances and during inclement weather," said Northwest Texas Healthcare System Chief Executive Officer Mark Crawford. "We are so pleased that Med-Trans made this additional investment in the success of the LIFESTAR operation in Amarillo."
LIFESTAR and predecessor operations have provided the Texas Panhandle region with safe and dedicated service since 1993, transporting more than 17,000 patients to definitive care. Adding airplane capabilities is a natural progression and extends Northwest Texas Healthcare System's continuum of critical care capabilities through seamless medical oversight from bedside to bedside. Med-Trans President Rob Hamilton said, "With the addition of this aircraft based in the Texas Panhandle, LIFESTAR will be able to reach other medical centers and healthcare systems throughout parts of five states. Its capabilities also extend the benefits of membership in the AirMedCare network."
Northwest Texas Healthcare System is staffed by nearly 500 physicians who offer specialized services in behavioral health, cardiac care, pediatrics, women's services, emergency medicine, trauma and surgical services, as well as physical medicine, rehabilitation and other medical services. About Med-Trans Corporation Med-Trans Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading national air medical provider focused on establishing partnerships with hospital systems, medical centers and EMS agencies through nearly 90 bases across 23 states.
Med-Trans offers customized air ambulance programs through alternative delivery/shared resource models, community based models and traditional hospital-based models. Its patient fleet numbers approximately 100 aircraft comprised predominantly of light single and twin-engine helicopters and twin-engine fixed-wing aircraft. For more information, visit www.med-trans.net. About AirMedCare Network With 2.4 million members, AirMedCare Network provides membership coverage from more than 260 locations across 32 states. All AirMedCare Network service providers work cooperatively to provide the highest levels of care when members are flown by an AirMedCare Network participating provider for a life or limb threatening emergency.
