13-Aug-2010 Source: ACCT
-The Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT) and Satellite Technologies International (STI) are pleased to announce that LifeFlight Eagle in Kansas City, Mo., won the bid for an STI helicopter GPS approach system in an online silent auction. STI donated the system to ACCT for use as an auction item to help raise funds for the organization, which promotes safety in the medical helicopter community. The auction was concluded on July 26th at the ACCT annual meeting in San Diego, CA.
LifeFlight Eagle of Kansas City, Mo. walked away with this coveted prize after its winning bid came in during the final seconds of the auction. LifeFlight Eagle will dedicate the GPS approach system to the Children’s Mercy Hospital rotor program, which is a part of LifeFlight Eagle’s operation. “It is important for LifeFlight Eagle to support the safety and mission of the Children’s Mercy Program,†said Dick Whipple, Director of Program Operations at LifeFlight Eagle. “For me, this is the beginning as we look to build and expand the aviation infrastructure to better serve the region and continue to implement measures to enhance safety.â€
LifeFlight Eagle works in partnership with Children’s Mercy by providing a dedicated EC145 helicopter to the rotor wing division of its Critical Care Transport Services. The IFR capable aircraft went into service in September, 2009.
Sherry McCool, Director of Operations for Critical Care Transport at Children’s Mercy was thrilled to learn of the successful bid.“With the purchase of this GPS approach, we will begin building our IFR infrastructure,†McCool said. “Incorporating Instrument Flight operations into our program will improve safety for our patients and crew. IFR will allow us to complete additional flights we otherwise would have to complete by ground, thus delaying care to critically ill infants and children.â€
Greg Keller, President of STI offered congratulations to the winner. “Satellite Technologies International would like to congratulate LifeFlight Eagle and Children’s mercy Critical Care Transport of Kansas City, Mo., for the winning bid for the helicopter GPS approach offered in the ACCT-sponsored silent auction. STI looks forward to assisting the program in developing a full IFR system supporting the patients they serve. IFR is a significant safety enhancement for flight crews as well as patients.â€
Keller said the STI organization enjoyed working with ACCT during this process and was pleased to see the proceeds from the auction further promoting their goals of improving safety in the medical helicopter community.
Thomas Judge, Executive Director LifeFlight of Maine and ACCT Chair said he was grateful for SUI’s generous donation. “On behalf of the members of ACCT, we are deeply appreciative of STI’s donation of the full development and approval of a helicopter GPS approach, and we are delighted that LifeFlight Eagle and Children’s Mercy won the bid,†Judge said. “This is a huge safety improvement for an already highly regarded and award-winning program demonstrating their commitment to improving care for critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients.â€
The final hours of the auction were exciting with minute-to-minute bids coming in from every corner of the country. This demonstrates the commitment of the leading air medical organizations to the highest level of safety. Improving safety for patients, along with flight and medical teams is at the top of ACCT’s platform agenda. To learn more about ACCT and its mission and goals, please visit www.acctforpatients.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACCTFor Patients.
About ACCT:
The Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT) is a non-profit grassroots patient advocacy organization committed to ensuring that critically ill and injured patients have access to the safest and highest quality critical care transport system possible. ACCT is comprised of air and ground critical care transport providers, business organizations, associations, and individuals all striving to provide our communities, hospitals and EMS partners in care, regulators, and policy makers with a path toward a safer and more trustworthy critical care transport system for patients.