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Air Evac Lifeteam expands Operations With A New Base in Savannah, Tennessee
Air Evac Lifeteam, an independently-owned and operated air ambulance provider, has expanded its service area in Tennessee with the opening of a base in Savannah. Air Evac Lifeteam crews provide on-the-scene medical care and rapid transport to medical facilities during life-and-limb threatening medical emergencies.
“We are thrilled to be located in Savannah, and look forward to partnering with this area’s wonderful healthcare agencies and serving the residents of Savannah,” said Savannah-native Jeff Davis, Regional Director of Base Operations for Air Evac Lifeteam. “From a personal standpoint, I’m proud to offer Air Evac’s services to my hometown, and we look forward to being a vital part of the Savannah community.”
The base is located at the Savannah-Hardin County Airport (90 Airport Lane), and is one of 11 bases in Tennessee. Program Director Glynn Mooney will be in charge of all operations at the base, which will provide employment for 12 to 15 individuals and serve communities within a 70-mile radius of Savannah. Other Tennessee bases are located in Jackson, Lewisburg, Lafayette, Crossville, Martin, Waverly, McMinn County, Coffee County, Waynesboro and Dyersburg.
Davis said the addition of Air Evac Lifeteam offers many benefits to the Savannah community. No public tax dollars are needed to support Air Evac Lifeteam, which has 92 bases in its nationwide network of air ambulance services. The company also offers a membership program to residents who – for an annual fee – will never be charged for a flight. The membership is valid throughout the 14-state Air Evac Lifeteam service area, so residents are covered when traveling through most of the central United States.
Charlotte Burns, CEO of Hardin Medical Center, said she is excited about Air Evac Lifeteam’s arrival in Savannah. “Hardin Medical Center is pleased that Air Evac has made a decision to base a helicopter in our county. The quicker response time will be an added benefit to those patients who are experiencing life-threatening emergencies when time is of the essence. We appreciate the quality service that Air Evac has provided to our community in the past, and we look forward to the same quality service being provided in the future.”
Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis, like Burns, said he is excited to have Air Evac Lifeteam in the Savannah community. “Air Evac Lifeteam will help our citizens in case of a dire medical emergency, so they can have quick access to the best healthcare possible. We’re also happy that Air Evac Lifeteam decided to invest in our community. We’re very proud to have them here.”
An Air Evac Lifeteam crew, which includes a registered nurse, paramedic and pilot, is on call at each base 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Crew members are trained in advanced pre-hospital care in order for medical care to begin at the scene and continue en route to the hospital. This same training also allows for critical care hospital-to-hospital transfers. The Savannah helicopter is also equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, including the use of NVGs (Night Vision Goggles). NVGs are particularly useful on nights with little illumination in identifying emergency scene landing zones in difficult terrain, such as mountains and hills, by raising night-time vision to 20/20.
Air Evac Lifeteam, headquartered in West Plains, Mo., is the largest independently-owned air ambulance service in the country. Since its founding in 1985, Air Evac has transported more than 200,000 patients in need, serving as the critical link to improved response time and immediate access to medical care facilities across 14 states.
“We are very pleased to be located in Savannah,” said Air Evac Lifeteam President Seth Myers. “This is a great addition to the already quality health services available in this area. We would like to thank Hardin Medical Center, county and City Officials, Savannah-Hardin Airport management and officials, and the residents of Savannah and the surrounding counties, for their support in the opening of this base. We look forward to working with them in serving their patients.”
Myers said the company is excited about expanding its service area into Savannah.
“Our mission is to save lives and positively impact outcomes during life-or-limb-threatening medical emergencies, and we can do this by providing rapid access to definitive emergency health care,” said Myers. “Our goal is to provide quality health care to area residents, and we have unwavering dedication to our mission.
“The opening of this base is part of an ever-expanding commitment by Air Evac Lifeteam and the health care community in this region to improve access to trauma care for residents of southwest Tennessee,” he added. “The people of this region are very fortunate to have access to quality health care services through their local hospitals and EMS providers. Our goal is to be an extension of that excellent service by providing rapid transport in critical medical situations.”
Air Evac Lifeteam was one of the first air ambulance services in the country to offer a membership program. Members pay an annual fee and, if they are flown by Air Evac Lifeteam for life- or limb-threatening medical emergencies, they do not have to pay for the flight. Memberships are valid throughout Air Evac Lifeteam service areas, so members are covered while traveling through Air Evac Lifeteam service areas. Annual memberships are $50 for an individual, $55 for a couple and $60 for a household or three or more.
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