UH AirMed, the medical helicopter program of University Hospitals in Ohio, has established a day base at UH TriPoint Medical Center. The continued coverage of air medical services is one of the first programs to arrive in Lake County due to the integration of Lake Health and University Hospitals. The arrival guarantees Lake County and its surrounding communities will have access to potentially lifesaving air medical services.

“As part of the Lake Health and University Hospitals integration, we are committed to expanding services to meet the growing healthcare needs in the community and coordinating care with our EMS and fire departments,” said Cynthia Moore-Hardy, FACHE, president and CEO at Lake Health. “Together, we can strengthen the delivery of high-quality care close to home for our residents and patients, transporting them to the right place at the right time as safely and efficiently as possible.”

UH AirMed utilizes twin-engine helicopters with instrument flight capabilities and is dedicated to safely transporting critically ill and injured patients to tertiary care. The helicopters can fly under a range of weather conditions and provide enhanced 24/7 access to verified trauma centers across the UH system.

“UH is always searching for appropriate ways to provide access for our patients, whether they’re traveling to or being treated within our health system across Northeast Ohio,” said Eric Beck, DO, MPH, UH chief operating officer. “This additional base will enhance our ability to offer the safest, most advanced life-saving air medical services for patients with time-sensitive health issues.”

All UH AirMed aviation services are provided by PHI Air Medical. PHI Air Medical maintains a dedicated crew of pilots, nurses and communications specialists at each base, all exceptionally trained and ready to respond to crises. The teams are also familiar with Northeast Ohio’s unique geography and adhere to rigorous protocols to ensure optimal care quality and safety.

Lake Health provides 24/7 emergency services in Lake County at TriPoint Medical Center in Concord, Lake West Medical Center in Willoughby and the Madison Emergency Department. Staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who specialize in treating medical emergencies, the TriPoint and Lake West emergency departments are designated by The Joint Commission as Primary Stroke Centers, while the Lake West Emergency Department is also an accredited chest pain center by the American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services. UH also has nearby emergency departments at UH Richmond and UH Geauga medical centers.

UH operates a regional network of state-designated trauma centers to meet the needs of injured patients in Northeast Ohio. UH Cleveland Medical Center and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital are designated Level 1 regional trauma centers. They provide leadership in education, research and system planning to ensure high-level care is accessible for any patient with complex and/or life-threatening injuries. The resources of these Level 1 trauma centers include 24-hour in-house coverage by fellowship-trained trauma surgeons and prompt availability of specialists with expertise in the care of injured patients

UH’s regional trauma network also includes six existing Level 3 trauma centers, UH Geauga Medical Center, UH St. John Medical Center, Southwest General Health Center, UH Portage Medical Center and UH Parma Medical Center. UH Elyria Medical Center is a provisional Level 3 Trauma Center. UH’s Level 3 trauma centers provide access and initial evaluation for trauma patients in the communities they serve. These centers have the resources to evaluate and care for the majority of trauma patients with minor to moderate injuries.

For those patients that have resource needs beyond their capabilities, Level 3 centers can provide life- and limb-saving resuscitative measures and stabilize patients for transfer to the Level 1 trauma center. UH’s trauma centers have all been rigorously reviewed and verified by the American College of Surgeons. UH is also a member of the Northern Ohio Trauma System (NOTS), which provides coordinated regional trauma care to patients throughout Cuyahoga County and the seven-county Northeast Ohio region.

This press release was prepared and distributed by University Hospitals.