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Emergency Nurses Week is celebrated October 11 through 17, with a special focus on October 14 for Emergency Nurses Day. We talked to a couple of our amazing nurses to get their perspective on the job they are so passionate about.
Waking up each day as a flight nurse at Air Methods is anything but routine. “There is a lot of variety in what we do,” said PacWest/South Central float RN Sarah Orme. “It may be an interfacility call, a scene call on a blocked off freeway, or teaching a class. It’s hard to say what a regular day would be like.”
As a float RN, Orme is there to answer the call when bases have a vacant spot and need someone to fill in. Each day presents emergency nurses with entirely new challenges and opportunities. Emergency nurses can be distinguished from other nurses because they evaluate and treat patients almost simultaneously. They must remain calm in high-stress and high-pressure situations all while being crammed in a helicopter flying at 150 miles per hour.
As frontline workers, our emergency nurses have been hard at work juggling all the demands of the pandemic. And they see much more than the news portrays.
“We’ve played a huge part in serving rural communities that otherwise would not be able to survive without air medical.” said Orme.
Kelly Forman, one of Air Methods’ most senior nurses with over 25 year of experience, described the pandemic as an experience that will never be forgotten.
“One of the most challenging parts is doing all this critical thinking wrapped up like a burrito, with fogged eye shields, layers upon layers of gloves and masks, and all your equipment you could possibly use strapped to the outside of your Tyvek suit,” she said.
Air Methods does everything it can to support its clinicians, especially when they are most in need. Forman had an incident where her gallbladder ruptured while she was staffing the Mercy 31 base in Mariposa, CA. She felt incredible support from her PacWest managers, who stayed on the phone with her to assure her that help was on the way. She remembers her partner, Eric McWeeney, finishing all the charts by himself and helping Forman move around. Senior management arranged for the SkyLife crew to fly her to Modesto for surgery.
“After this incident, I know that I am extraordinarily blessed to have made Air Methods/Mercy Air my lifetime employer!” she said.
Although there are many ups and downs being a flight nurse, the job can provide some of the most rewarding experiences. Orme said that her favorite part of the job is the scene calls because it is an amazing experience to land on a closed freeway and be able to help during someone’s greatest time of need. Forman says that she loves reunions and follow-ups. She describes having several that “refill your soul” with the EMS passion that drives you to keep going.
“I mean think about it … how many times have we taken other people’s babies or children from them, told them we’d do our very best, and left!” said Forman. “Only SPECIAL people, who are dedicated, trusted, and empowered with the ‘EMS gift’ have that opportunity. Never take for granted the skill set necessary to be successful in this crazy career!”
As the battle against COVID-19 rages on, so does the demand for patient care in rural areas. Recently, Univision, a leading Hispanic media company in the U.S., got an inside look at the heroic work Mercy Air crews are doing during the pandemic to move patients out of crowded hospitals in Southern California. Mercy Air, a subsidiary of Air Methods, established a base in Imperial County to focus on serving residents and bridging the distance between patients and the level of care they require.
Imperial County, a rural and impoverished region in Southern California with a population of about 180,000 people, has been a COVID-19 hotspot. At one point, the county was averaging about 900 infections per 100,000 people, compared with 371 in Los Angeles County during the same two-week period.
In response to the surge in Imperial County, a Mercy Air team that primarily focused on car accidents and other emergencies near the border pivoted their efforts to transport COVID-19 patients to hospitals across the state. Since March, Mercy Air has taken more than 100 COVID-19 patients out of Imperial County for treatment.
You can watch the full story from Univision here.
Mercy Air’s work in Imperial County is one of many instances of Air Methods crews going out of their way to support vulnerable communities. Across the country, Air Methods teams have worked tirelessly to transport COVID-19 patients out of overcrowded rural hospitals to other facilities. We could not be prouder of the entire Air Methods team for their dedication to coordinating care on the frontlines for those who need it most.
(GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colorado, August 13, 2020) – Air Methods, the leading air medical service in the U.S., announced today that its subsidiary, Mercy Air, has opened a new base in Paso Robles, California, to provide emergency air medical services to the city and surrounding area. Other California cities that will be served by the base include San Luis Obispo, Templeton, King City, Cambria, Cayucos, and many more.
The Paso Robles base will provide air medical services 24/7/365 to the region, responding to emergency medical calls for trauma events such as heart attacks and strokes. Mercy Air is staffed with industry-leading, highly trained trauma clinicians and pilots with years of experience in the field. The base is also staffed with skilled aviation mechanics who ensure the aircraft is safe and mission ready at all times.
During missions, medical teams execute lifesaving interventions to care for patients, from providing trauma care after an accident to administering clot-busting medications after a major stroke. With the continued consolidation of hospitals and the growing number of rural hospital closures, the clinical support and speed of transport is critical to ensure patients receive the best and most timely treatment possible.
“In emergency situations, minutes can be the differences between life and death,” said Lisa Epps, area manager for Air Methods. “We are excited to expand access to emergency medical care for everyone in Paso Robles and the surrounding communities. We are also proud that we do not require patients to acquire paid memberships for our services. All patients we transport are supported by our patient advocacy teams, which help them navigate post-flight insurance requirements in order to avoid costly out-of-pocket expenses.”
Air Methods/Mercy Air is in-network with several California state plans, including Anthem Blue Cross California, Blue Shield of California, Humana, Three Rivers Provider Network, and Plotkin Health. Patients who have Medicare Part B or Medi-Cal are only responsible for their copay and deductible. The average out-of-pocket cost for Mercy Air’s patients in California, including copays and deductibles, is $114.
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About Air MethodsAir Methods is the leading air medical service, delivering lifesaving care to more than 70,000 people every year. With nearly 40 years of air medical experience, Air Methods is the preferred partner for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services. United Rotorcraft is the Company’s products division, specializing in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. Air Methods’ fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features more than 450 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
Media Contacts:Doug FlandersDirector of Communications, Air Methods*protected email*
Matt PeraAmendola Communications for Air Methods(219) 628-0258*protected email*
As the world continues to be rocked by the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, first responders across the country work tirelessly to coordinate care for people who need it most.
Imperial County, a rural and impoverished region in Southern California with a population of about 180,000 people, has been a hotspot for COVID-19. The county has averaged 900 infections per 100,000 people in the last two weeks, compared with 371 in Los Angeles County. Imperial County also has the highest mortality rate in the state, averaging 28 deaths per 100,000 people. The rate in Los Angeles County is just over five deaths per 100,000 people; in California as a whole, the number is about 19 per 100,000.
Because of the high numbers in Imperial County, local hospitals have been overwhelmed with incredibly sick patients. A lack of space and staff has meant many patients have required transport to hospitals outside the county that have available beds and clinicians. Mercy Air, a subsidiary of Air Methods, established a base in Imperial County to focus on serving residents and bridging the distance between patients and level of care needed. A team that primarily responds to car accidents and other emergencies near the border pivoted their focus to transport COVID-19 patients to hospitals all over the state. Since March, Mercy Air has taken more than 100 COVID-19 patients out of Imperial County for treatment.
Mercy Air in the News
Mercy Air’s dedication to helping the people of Imperial County has not gone unnoticed. In recent weeks, the Los Angeles Times, Imperial Valley Press, and Univision have featured the air medical team doing their part to provide care to COVID-19 patients. We are incredibly proud of the dedicated team at Mercy Air, as we are of our crews all over the country that are working hard to support their communities during this unprecedented healthcare crisis
(GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colorado, February 4, 2019) – Mercy Air, a division of Air Methods, announced the opening of Mercy Air 66, a new base that will provide air medical services to the Barstow community. The new base will be located at the former site of the Barstow Community Hospital at 555 S. 7th Street, and will result in quicker response times for emergent and trauma situations.
Mercy Air 66, along with all air medical services, provides essential and lifesaving services throughout the country. During missions, highly trained medical teams care for patients with lifesaving interventions, from providing trauma care after an accident to administering clot-busting medications that must be given shortly after a major stroke to significantly improve outcomes. With the continued consolidation of hospitals and the trend towards centers with specialized heart or neurological care, the clinical support and speed of missions is critical to giving patients the best possible outcomes.
Local community and hospital leaders recognized the growing need for an air medical service that would be able to serve the Barstow area more rapidly and worked with the Mercy Air team on a new base.
“Having Mercy Air located at the former hospital across the street from the current hospital facility will be an asset to emergency care for our community members. There are times when we need to stabilize a patient at Barstow Community Hospital and transfer them to a higher level of care. In these life-saving situations, minutes count. Having Mercy Air’s emergency air ambulance basically on site could mean the difference between life and death,” said Leo Eusebio, Emergency Department Director at Barstow Community Hospital.
“We strive to serve the community with the highest level of patient care possible,” stated Barstow Fire Chief Jamie Williams. “I believe this community-based helicopter program is a critical service that will provide our citizens with the best opportunity to reach a trauma center within the critical golden hour to help reduce response times during life threatening emergencies.”
Mercy Air 66 will provide air medical services 24/7/365 to Barstow and surrounding communities. The Mercy Air base will be staffed by 14 crew members, including pilots, flight nurses, flight paramedics and mechanics, and it will operate a Bell 407. Its location immediately across from the current Barstow Hospital will ensure patients have quick access to the full medical services available after initial transport.
“We understand that ongoing changes in healthcare are affecting access for patients. From accidents to interfacility missions, our goal is to make sure life-saving care is available at a moment’s notice,” said Air Methods Area Manager Jason Johnston. “With this new base, we are supporting the Barstow community and providing patients and residents with the peace of mind that we are here when they need us the most.”
About Mercy AirMercy Air started more than 30 years ago in Adelanto, CA, and has served the High Desert proudly. Mercy Air became a member of Air Methods in 1997. The unity of Mercy and Air Methods continued its mission to provide compassion, and the unrelenting pursuit of skilled and passionate service to those who have unexpectedly found themselves threatened by life’s unforeseen situations. We devote ourselves – safely and prudently – to ensuring patients receive our full expertise, resources, and focus to preserve and enhance their lives until they are delivered to definitive care.
About Air MethodsAir Methods is the leading air medical service, delivering lifesaving care to more than 70,000 people every year. With nearly 40 years of air medical experience, Air Methods is the preferred partner for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services. United Rotorcraft is the Company’s products division specializing in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. Air Methods’ fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features more than 450 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
Media Contacts:Jason JohnstonArea Manager, Air Methods(909) 521-1790*protected email*
Megan SmithAmendola Communications for Air Methods(404) 408-3379*protected email*
(DENVER, Colorado, May 12, 2017) – U.S Representative Raul Ruiz visited the Air Methods air medical base in Hemet, California this week to discuss the important role of emergency air medical services in healthcare and rode along with the Air Methods’ Mercy Air flight crew for a tour of the area which they serve.
Representative Ruiz discussed his experience as an emergency room flight doctor and emergency room physician. He also stressed the importance of air medical and ensuring Californians have access to critical healthcare services, highlighting the impact on rural areas and their limited access to healthcare.
“As an emergency room physician, I know that every second matters, yet one in four Americans live more than an hour from a trauma center by ground ambulance, including many in my congressional district. Thanks to the critical services provided by Mercy Air to those living in rural areas or hikers stranded in the wilderness, more lives are saved every year.”
Mercy Air and Air Methods are partners in a national campaign committed to preserving access to emergency air medical services, called SOAR (Save Our Air Medical Resources). Since 1990 more than 22% of American hospitals have closed, with 100 of those closures directly impacting California. More than 8.1M Californians now live more than an hour from a Level 1 or 2 Trauma Center if driven by ambulance. Many air medical bases face closure due to high operating costs and drastically low reimbursement rates, putting local residents at risk. In the Riverside County region, more than 36% of patients transported are covered by Medicaid and more than 30% are covered by Medicare. The reimbursement rates under these programs fall dramatically below the true costs of providing service, resulting in disproportionately low reimbursement in the area. Along with national partners, SOAR is working to preserve these vital services and change the way they are reimbursed to ensure continued access to care.
Dr. Ruiz currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He graduated from Harvard University where he earned his Medical Degree, as well as a Masters of Public Polity and a Masters of Public Health. In 2010, Dr. Ruiz started the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative, which brought together stakeholders from across the region to address the local healthcare crisis. He has also worked internationally in the medical community. Dr. Ruiz continued his work as an Emergency Room Doctor until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. He represents California’s 36th District, which includes the entire Coachella Valley, as well as the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Hemet and San Jacinto. He resides in Palm Desert, CA.
(DENVER, Colorado, May 12, 2017) – Following a two-car crash east of Hemet Monday evening, May 8, a patient was airlifted by Mercy Air to Riverside University Health Services Medical Center for treatment.
Rep Raul Ruiz, D-La Quinta, a former emergency room and emergency flight doctor, wants to ensure that such services continue to be offered.
He visited Mercy Air personnel at Hemet Fire Station 4 on Tuesday, May 9, and promoted the benefits of aeromedical care. The station is adjacent to Hemet Ryan Airport, from where Mercy Air flies.
“This is a very pragmatic need that many people throughout the United States require,” Ruiz said.
The tour comes as air ambulance companies, which are private businesses, say they are not getting reimbursed enough to cover their costs.