Midwest AeroCare, a Med-Trans Corporation program, recently took delivery of a medically configured Bell 407 helicopter. Based in Pittsburg, Kan., the aircraft serves southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, and northeast Oklahoma.
Located at Atkinson Municipal Airport in Pittsburg, the Midwest AeroCare base is a preferred critical care air medical transport provider for Ascension Via Christi, the largest healthcare provider in central Kansas. Midwest AeroCare also operates an air medical transport base in Chanute. The proximity of each of these locations allows for additional air transport coverage for Crawford and Neosho Counties and the surrounding regions.
"Midwest AeroCare is pleased to be able to incorporate this additional resource into the area's healthcare assets," said Courtney Harrison, Midwest AeroCare's Pittsburg base medical manager. "This reflects an upgrade in airborne capabilities and is a positive development for patient care in our area."
The Bell 407 helicopter replaced a Eurocopter AS350. The new aircraft has a 300 nautical mile range, 140 mph cruise speed, and is equipped with state-of-the-art safety enhancements such as night vision capability, XM color weather radar, and autopilot systems. Additionally, Skytrac satellite tracking software allows Med-Trans' communication center to monitor aircraft position continuously.
Midwest AeroCare and its predecessor companies have been based in Pittsburg for more than 12 years. The operation is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), which is dedicated to improving the quality of patient care and safety of the transport environment.
