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Air Evac Lifeteam
The History of Air Evac Lifeteam
Air Evac Lifeteam was founded in 1985 in West Plains, Missouri by a group of local citizens who wanted to give people in their community better access to emergency medical care. West Plains had a population of less than 9,000 and the closest major hospital was more than 100 miles away by ground transport. The road system in this hilly, remote region of the Ozarks often makes it difficult to reach people in a timely manner. At that time, air ambulances typically were based in metropolitan areas. The company founders, including a physician and retired army colonel, believed that the people who needed air ambulance transport the most were the ones who lived far away from the major trauma, cardiac, and children's hospitals. Their goal was to provide a quality service that was affordable to the public.
They knew that the service to survive in this rural area, they would need other sources of funding, besides traditional fee-for-service billing. They discovered the REGA Foundation in Switzerland, which supported a nationwide air ambulance system by a membership program, similar to ground ambulance and fire department programs here in the United States. After meeting with the head of REGA, Air Evac Lifeteam adopted this idea, and became the first air ambulance service in the United State to offer a membership program.
Company founders knew that other rural areas would benefit from air ambulance care, and began expanding the concept into other states. Air Evac Lifeteam now operates an expansive network of mutually supportive bases.
Some bases operate from hospital facilities, and some operate from fire departments, EMS agencies, or airports. Each helicopter base remains independently owned and operated, with Air Evac Lifeteam supplying the aircraft, pilots, and medical crews.
Air Evac Lifeteam is a dedicated group of highly trained pilots, paramedics, and nurses, standing by 24 hours a day to respond to critical medical emergencies. We work closely with local ambulance services to make sure you reach the appropriate medical facility as quickly as possible. The membership program enables Air Evac Lifeteam to provide this service in communities that otherwise might not be able to support an air ambulance. Although you don not have to be a member to use the service, membership offers significant benefits.
Members who use the Air Evac Lifeteam service for critical emergencies will not receive a bill for the flight - no matter how many times a year you use the service. If you are not a member, you could pay up to $8000 for the flight. When you become a member, Air Evac Lifeteam enters the location of your home into our computer data base, enabling us to locate you quickly, no matter where you live. Memberships are valid in all Air Evac Lifeteam service areas, reaching into 12 states in the central United States. Even when you are away from home, an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter may be near you. To learn more about the benefits of becoming a member call 1-800-793-0010 or visit http://www.lifeteam.net. Or if you would like to meet with someone in your area you can call Nathan McDonald, Membership Development Supervisor, directly at 417-274-2054.
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