Palmyra Medical Center to Provide Helicopter Medical Services

ALBANY, GA September 11, 2009 - Palmyra Medical Center announced today the hospital has teamed up with Air-Evac Medical Services of Cordele to provide helicopter medical services to patients and hospitals in the Albany area.

“Palmyra believes the time is right to bring this specialty transport service back to the hospital,” said Mark Rader, Palmyra CEO.  “The convenience, location, time savings of having this service right at Palmyra will be a great benefit to patients and to medical personnel caring for patients.”

Palmyra previously had helicopter air service until 2001 when construction of the new medical office building began in front of the hospital.  That construction eliminated the previous landing area just outside the Emergency Center.  Since then any medical air ambulance service has been directed from the Albany Regional Airport at the south end of town.  Patients have been transported to and/or from the airport by ambulance.

Rader added that he hopes having this service back at Palmyra would be a benefit to local EMS teams as well. 

“We want to continue our good relationship with EMS providers,” said Rader.  “We see this as a way to help EMS eliminate longer trips and excess waiting times when going to the airport.  EMS remains an important part of providing the best most efficient care for patients.”

 Tony Sumero, Program Director with Air-Evac Serivces of Cordele agrees about the benefits of a hospital-based air ambulance program.

“Air-Evac is looking forward to this partnership with Palmyra Medical Center,” said Tony Sumero, Program Director for Air-Evac. There has certainly been a need for a hospital-based medical air service.  We’re excited to be part of bringing a critical service to area patients.

The benefits of a hospital-based air ambulance service are that it eliminates ground ambulance trips to and extended wait time at the Albany airport.  In addition time is drastically reduced carrying patients in and out of the community.  In many cases air ambulances may even assist in the transport of emergency patients from rural South Georgia.