University of Iowa Health Care and Air Methods are increasing Quad Citizens’ access to life-saving critical care services by opening a new helicopter base in Davenport, Iowa.

The new base will serve as a hub for the expert physicians, flight nurses, pilots, and other professionals who staff UI Health Care’s AirCare emergency services and is expected to open this fall.

AirCare provides emergency helicopter and specialty ambulance services to rapidly transport multi-system trauma victims, neonates, pediatric patients, and patients experiencing time-sensitive or complex medical conditions. All flights are operated by Air Methods.

“If you or a loved one are involved in a life-threatening accident or medical emergency, seconds matter,” says Andrew Nugent, MD, MHA, FACEP, chair and departmental executive officer for the Department of Emergency Medicine at UI Health Care. “AirCare’s new helicopter base in Davenport means people living in the Quad Cities will now have the latest medical transport technology right in their backyard. Our teams’ expertise means patients receive swift and specialized care during transport, significantly improving chances of recovery and survival.”

“With industry-leading clinicians, life-saving blood, and state-of-the-art medical equipment on board every flight, Air Methods is grateful for the opportunity to provide the best care in the air to the Quad Cities and beyond,” said Gregg Hardy, director of regional sales for Air Methods. “We know the difference minutes make in a medical emergency, and we are committed to getting people to the right level of care, as quickly and safely as possible, while providing critical interventions on the way.”

The Quad Cities helicopter base will be AirCare’s fourth base serving eastern Iowa. Other AirCare helicopter bases are located in Iowa City, Waterloo, and Dubuque. Opening a base in the Quad Cities area will improve AirCare’s emergency response time to existing locations in the region while extending care to several new counties.