Mid-morning on April 16, Franklinton residents likely heard a helicopter coming from the west and making its way to Riverside Medical Center. It is a fairly common occurrence, more alarming when it occurs during the night, and thoughts on this spring morning may have briefly touched on that someone is in serious need of more advanced care. Many times, "airlifts" by medical helicopters change families' lives forever as it is often connected with tragic accidents. Riverside Medical Center is changing that line of thought and is making AirMed flights a beacon of hope for a swifter recovery in more advanced trauma centers and specialized departments just a few short minutes away by air.
At a meeting at Riverside Medical Center the same morning, Joey Sanchez, Flight Supervisor for AirMed, explained that in the event of a stroke, cardiac event or trauma, every minute counts. Riverside Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Seibert and RMC Chief Nursing Officer Taryin Marchese added that the "golden hour" is critical, and time sensitivity is especially important when minutes count. Helicopters can leave Franklinton and land in Hammond within 15 minutes, New Orleans within 25 minutes and Baton Rouge within 30 minutes. Compare this with ambulance rides that could take over an hour, and the dramatic difference is clearer.
Seibert was quick to point out that the hospital relies heavily on and communicates constantly with Northshore EMS and local fire and police, but AirMed "brings more resources to rural healthcare, which is strained in most environments."
This continuity of care is also vital. Marchese explained that Riverside currently has a Telestroke program that features a virtual neurologist.
This expertise provides the ER staff with the ability to make real-time decisions that directly impact patient care. Often, this decision leads to airlifting the patient to a more complex neurological unit at a nearby hospital. These precious minutes can in due course result in a faster recovery time for such patients.
Joey Sanchez is proud that AirMed units provide a mobile ICU, IV pumps, ventilators, advanced protocols, airway management, emergency blood, CPR capabilities, and training to address active cardiac arrest. Each flight, in addition to a pilot, has a registered nurse and an advanced certified paramedic on board. AirMed is CAMTS certified, which signifies the highest level for a flight agency.
Seibert noted, "Ultimately, this elevates healthcare." Seibert flew with AirMed as a registered nurse earlier in his career and this partnership is a "natural fit" for him.
Riverside Medical Center uses LERN (Louisiana Emergency Response Network) and the helicopter then delivers the patient to a facility where the best possible outcome exists. The wait from ER to the aircraft can often only take minutes as the emergency room nurse's station is equipped with an AirMed easy dispatch telephone that is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Once the helicopter landed near the emergency room at Riverside, the crew enthusiastically explained the aircraft's capabilities. The EC135 dual engine is also IMC capable which means that in inclement weather, instrument flight rules are used instead of a pilot's sight. The craft is also highly functional in weather events. Seibert pointed out that Riverside has a helipad on site located only feet from the emergency room with a second craft being able to land on a large green expanse behind the hospital. This lends itself to not only to an event when more than one patient needs to be airlifted but also to a mass casualty event where first responders and hospital staff may be overwhelmed with casualties. Such an occurrence hopefully never tests the hospital's capabilities, but according to Seibert, 14,000 to 15,000 people come through the Riverside ER annually.
Shortly after the interview and photo session ended, the AirMed pilot received an emergency call from a Hammond-area hospital. He swiftly fired up the engine, the flight crew loaded in and buckled down, and the aircraft quickly took off to change another patient's and family's lives. Meanwhile, it was a great day at Riverside Medical Center as a new partnership was made official and local healthcare abilities were enhanced.
