Geisinger to base Life FlightŪ V in Schuylkill County

May 12, MINERSVILLE, PA – For the first time, there will be a full-service, full-time medical helicopter stationed in Schuylkill county area.  Geisinger announced that Life Flight V will be based in Schuylkill County with several possible sites being evaluated as a permanent base. Officials made the announcement this afternoon at a news conference held at the Minersville helipad.

“As the Life Flight program celebrates 25 years of outstanding service, it gives Geisinger great pleasure to add a helicopter that will be permanently stationed in this region,” said John Skiendzielewski, MD, Geisinger Medical Center’s director of the emergency medicine. “The Life Flight program has proven itself as a valuable tool for saving lives. Having a medical helicopter conveniently located in this region is a tremendous asset.  This expansion of the program will shorten response times, get patients to the hospital faster and improve services in this area.”

Geisinger operates four other helicopters in the Life Flight program.  One is housed on the campus of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center.  Other bases include: University Park Airport, State College; Wilkes-Barre, Avoca; and Williamsport Regional Airport.

“All Life Flight helicopters fly with a fully-certified flight team consisting of a pilot, registered nurse and a paramedic, noted Jerry Splitt, Life Flight’s Chief Flight Nurse.

“As a trained emergency room physician, I can fully appreciate what this expansion of the Life Flight program means to reducing the time it takes to get critically ill or injured patients, including trauma, stroke or heart attack. Clearly, 10 to 15 minutes can make the difference between life and death,” added Dr. Skiendzielewski. “It also shows the major commitment Geisinger has made to this community and to the people we serve. “

 Currently Geisinger has five community practice sites with 22 physicians and 75 employees in Schuylkill County. Last year, Geisinger’s Life Flight, a regional air medicine provider, transported approximately 220 individuals from trauma scenes in Schuylkill County to the closest trauma center.

The establishment of a base for the $6.5 m helicopter translates into approximately 15 Schuylkill-County-based jobs.

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