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Timpanogos Regional Hospital gets new air medical base

By Ashtyn Asay - | Aug 15, 2022

Courtesy AirLife Utah

This undated photo shows the new AirLife Utah base at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem.

Utah County residents will now have another avenue for emergency care after AirLife Utah opened its latest base at Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem on Friday.

AirLife Utah is a helicopter transportation service for emergent and trauma situations and interfacility transports for patients needing to move between hospitals for specialized care, with the hope of providing patients with quicker response times.

This new base sits at 750 W. 800 North in Orem and will be an addition to the AirLife program already established in Ogden that serves Northern Utah, southern Idaho and southwest Wyoming.

AirLife is a community-based program and employs local residents who are familiar with the people, hospitals and terrain of Orem.

“Because this area is their home, our flight crews have a vested interest in the health and welfare of their neighbors, friends, and families,” flight nurse James Vanotti said in a press release. “Their knowledge of the area allows them to provide expedited top-tier critical care.”

AirLife clinicians and pilots have years of field experience and receive ongoing training. Pilots are required to come into the program with a minimum of 2,000 hours of flight time. AirLife staff also work and train with emergency medical service partners.

“By training with our EMS partners, we all get lots of practice which makes us smoother and faster on scene,” Erik Bornemeier, account executive with Air Methods, said in the release. “We arrive faster and once on scene, we are organized, accurate, and safe, which leads to smoother patient care when every moment counts.”

The AirLife crew will fly the AS350 helicopter, which carries blood in flight and is able to accommodate pediatric and high-risk obstetrics patients. Additionally, the helicopter was designed to withstand high altitudes and heat.

“The AStar 350 is the workhorse of the air medical industry because it is so reliable,” Bornemeier said.

AirLife is a part of Air Methods, the largest provider of air medical services in the United States. Air Methods operates in 40 states and Haiti and provides 70,000 to 100,000 flights to those in need each year.

According to a press release, AirLife has in-network agreements with Select Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare and 30 other health insurance companies. The average out-of-pocket patient cost per flight is less than $300.

“Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities they serve,” according to the press release. “Our patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability.”

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