Mission Viejo : Emergency Helicopter to Extend Hospital Service

Emergency helicopter service, Med Air, has added Mission Community Hospital, one of the county’s four trauma centers, to its network, which means the aircraft will be stationed in Mission Viejo one day a week.

The one-helicopter firm shares its 24-hour service among Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, San Bernardino County Medical Center and the south county facility located at 27802 Puerta Real. The hospitals share the overhead costs. The majority of Med Air calls, which average about 40 a month, involve assistance in emergency situations, but the helicopter also serves to transfer critically ill patients between hospitals.

Med Air uses a Bell helicopter with a top speed of about 155 m.p.h. and a range of 425 miles. Medical care is provided by two nurses, and specialists can be called in for such cases as spinal injuries and heart attacks.

In addition to serving Orange County, Med Air has answered calls on Catalina Island and offshore oil rigs. Most calls, said Dr. Tom Baker, Med Air vice president, are within 150 miles of the hospitals. The cost of the service is $150 and $7 per mile, in addition to charges for any medical supplies.