Here, the state-owned system puts the patient's welfare first. In many states the medical helicopter services are owned by hospitals, and operated as business ventures by those facilities. University Hospital has six trauma surgeons. At least one is available to communicate via radio and cell phone with the flight paramedic and flight nurse on each mission. It takes about four minutes for the helicopter to take off from the rooftop heliport after the call comes in, he comments.
Weather is a major concern.
Our primary concern is safety. NorthSTAR's travel time to the patient can be as little as two to four minutes, but is never more than about 20 minutes. If the drive time is more than 15 to 20 minutes, we should consider the helicopter. It's not a question of distance, but of time. For Corriere, the last 10 years have flown by quickly.