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Cal-Ore Life Flight announced in
October of 2004 their intent to conduct a feasibility study involving the
establishment of an air ambulance base at the Eureka-Murray and/or Eureka-Arcata
airports. Cal-Ore, who operates four pressurized fixed-wing Advanced Life
Support (ALS) aircraft from their home base in Crescent City, presently serves
Humboldt County by flying in to transport patients to higher medical care, upon
request from local hospitals. (Mad River, St. Joseph, Redwood Memorial)
Since November of 2004,
Cal-Ore President Dan Brattain said the company has studied the area's air
ambulance flight needs and air medical transportation patterns. "We
determined early on that one of the key components for improving the transport
times was to hire and have available flight medical personnel that reside in the
Eureka/Arcata area. To that extent, we have now hired over ten (10) highly
qualified local practicing Registered Nurses (RN's) that are on a call rotation
schedule throughout each month. " Brattain pointed out that several of
these nurses had worked for the previous Eureka based air ambulance operator
that closed their operations 7-8 years ago due to a lack of sustainable volume.
Since November, Cal-Ore has
been providing almost weekly medical flight training and aircraft familiarity
classes for the local nurses. In addition, during this study period, Cal-Ore has
had aircraft stand-by at the Eureka Murray airport on several occasions in
anticipation of flight transport activity. "What we really found is that
with the time it takes to have our local medical personnel respond to the
hospital; prepare the patient for transport; and, load and transport the patient
by ground ambulance to the airport, our aircraft can respond from Crescent City,
make the 15 minute flight, and be waiting on the ground well in advance of the
patient's arrival", Brattain said.
According to Brattain, Cal-Ore
will continue to rotate their aircraft into the area during expected peak
periods as well as continuing to employ the local medical flight personnel. In
addition, Brattain noted that, "the aircraft are always poised to respond
for the short flight from Crescent City to the Eureka area 24 hours a day".
Brattain said he expects the company to eventually base a plane full-time in the
Eureka area.
Cal-Ore also has a Membership
Program with over 12,000 members. Once a member has met annual deductibles, out
of pocket costs can be reduced to zero for patients with health insurance.
For more information, please
contact Deanie Hanlon or Dan Brattain at 541-469-7911. |
