Southwest Health System Inc., which owns Southwest Memorial Hospital, has partnered with Classic Air Medical to create a medical transport air base in Cortez.
A flight team based at Southwest Memorial could shave 30 to 45 minutes off the time it takes to provide a stroke or traumatic injury victim with critical care, said Southwest Health CEO Tony Sudduth.
“The first hour is the most critical” in getting patients to the lifesaving care they need, Sudduth said.
Previously, the hospital relied on air ambulances from Grand Junction, Durango and Farmington. An air ambulance at Southwest Memorial will make a “higher level of care much more accessible for the local area,” Sudduth said.
Classic Air Medical will begin providing air medical services for Southwest Memorial on Dec. 1. The base will have a team of three – a pilot, a critical care flight medic and a critical care flight nurse.
Other facilities nearby, such as Pagosa Springs Medical Center, partner with Classic Air Medical for helicopter services. The company is headquartered in Woods Cross, Utah, and is also active in Moab, Utah, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Page, Arizona.
“We are excited for the opportunity to serve the Four Corners area and be a part of the SHS family,” said Wade patten, chief administrative officer of Classic Air.
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