Burlington-based University of Vermont Medical Center could be seeing a lot more landings on their helicopter pad next year. Executives of the hospital are currently negotiating a contract with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team to expand their air ambulance service. According to UVM Medical Center’s president and COO, Eileen Whalen, they expect to complete the deal by the end of the month.
Scope of Expanded Air Ambulance Service
The service is intended to ensure that patients with acute health problems such as neonatal illnesses, heart attacks, or strokes can be provided with quick and high-quality medical care. It is intended to help save more lives. However, the service will not be extended to patients in emergency situations such as accidents.
At the moment, ground ambulances are used for transporting patients between all 13 hospitals covered within the service area of UVM Medical Center. With the expanded service, the hospital helipad will see an increase in air ambulance landings every year.
Agreement in the Works with DHARTS
To expand their air ambulance service, UVM Medical Center does not intend to buy a helicopter of its own. Instead, they will staff a helicopter provided by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team. This helicopter will be based out of Burlington and bear the logo of the UVM Health Network.
This new service will help UVM Medical Center in their attempts to restructure the options for emergency transport in their 40,000-square-mile service area covering New York and Vermont. For patients within this region, it is the nearest academic hospital that provides top-level trauma care in case of serious health issues.
It is yet uncertain whether or not the state Green Mountain Care Board will need to provide UVM Medical Center with regulatory approval.
