INDIANAPOLIS – April 4, 2006, St.Vincent Health and PHI Air Medical have collaborated to announce its air medical transport service under the brand, Dove FlightTM. The new air medical service will provide immediate, emergency air medical care to some of Indiana’s most critically ill or injured patients in over 45 counties.
Currently, Dove Flight is based at three locations at St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, Anderson Municipal Airport, Purdue University Airport in West Lafayette, and will expand its air transport services to St.Vincent Jennings Hospital in North Vernon, IN. The helicopter base located at St.Vincent Jennings Hospital will be the first critical access hospital in Indiana to have air medical services, and will be operational within the next 30 to 45 days.
“This new relationship will help strengthen the St.Vincent Health system throughout the state of Indiana,” said Jon Rahman, MD, chief medical officer, St.Vincent Health. “As a health system with 16 facilities serving 45 counties, it is imperative that we provide the best possible care for patients, regardless of their location. The addition of air medical services allows us to reach those underserved areas.”
The new Dove Flight helicopters will include the St.Vincent logo of the three doves, which represents caring for the total person – mind, body and spirit. As a well recognized and trusted health care brand throughout Indiana, the Dove Flight logo will offer a new look and feel and encompass the St.Vincent reputation of excellence in patient care and service.
“PHI is pleased to partner with St.Vincent Health to announce Dove Flight,” said Howard Ragsdale, national director, PHI Air Medical Group. “We are committed to the health and safety of Indiana’s patients, and will continue to provide expert air medical transport care for the critically ill or injured.”
Dove Flight flies within a 150-mile radius of its bases and currently transports patients with traumatic, cardiac, neurological, medical or pediatric emergencies throughout Indiana and surrounding states. The expansion will ensure that patients statewide have access to quality, emergency care that is close to home.
“The addition of Dove Flight in our community will enable patients to receive the immediate comprehensive care they need,” said Joe Roche, administrator, St.Vincent Jennings Hospital. “We can very rapidly get patients from St.Vincent Jennings Hospital to Columbus Regional Hospital and St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital. Our patients are seven minutes, by helicopter, from CRH and less than 20 minutes from the services of St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital.”
Roche added, “Being a 25-bed hospital in a rural community, Dove Flight’s availability for emergency situations will be a tremendous asset in delivering high quality care. Jennings County will receive the same access to emergency care as those in Central Indiana.”
Dove Flight air medical service consists of three Bell 407 helicopters, an EC135 helicopter, pilots, flight nurses, flight paramedics, and mechanics.
For more information, log onto http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/doveflight
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St.Vincent Health
St.Vincent Health is a nonprofit, spiritually-centered health care system, sponsored by Ascension Health of St. Louis, Mo., the nation’s largest Catholic health system. St.Vincent Health is Indiana’s largest healthcare employer, with 16 health ministries serving 45 counties in central Indiana. The St.Vincent Health ministry includes St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital; St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo; Saint John’s Health System in Anderson; St.Vincent Carmel Hospital; St.Vincent Women’s Hospital; St.Vincent Pediatric Rehabilitation Center; St.Vincent Clay Hospital in Brazil; St.Vincent Frankfort Hospital; St.Vincent Jennings Hospital in North Vernon; St.Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood; St.Vincent New Hope; St.Vincent Randolph Hospital in Winchester; St.Vincent Stress Center; St.Vincent Williamsport Hospital; St.Vincent Children’s Hospital; and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Hospital.
PHI Air Medical
Air Medical of Indiana offers air medical transport services for the critically ill and injured patients. It is a member of PHI’s Air Medical group that has been flying air medical missions since before commercial helicopters were being used for emergency medical services.
