LIFE FORCE 3, Erlanger Health System’s newest edition to its Air Medical Fleet, has found a new home in North Georgia. Gordon Hospital, located in Calhoun, Ga., officially welcomed the Bell 412 twin-engine helicopter during a noon ceremony on January 23. The IFR certified aircraft is capable of launching in minimal time and flying up to 150 miles an hour.
The new aircraft joins LIFE FORCE 1, located at Erlanger Baroness Campus in Chattanooga, Tn., and LIFE FORCE 2, stationed in Sparta, Tn. LIFE FORCE Air Medical specializes in on-scene and in-flight critical care for children and adults. Since 1988, LIFE FORCE has executed more than 20,000 medical missions, with an average of 2000 flights yearly.
“Gordon Hospital is the appropriate choice for our third base because of their central location and our outstanding relationship with the community,” said Roger Forgey, senior vice president of business development at Erlanger. With LIFE FORCE 3 in Calhoun, patients in Northwest Georgia will be able to access all levels of needed care by air in a more timely manner. The presence of LIFE FORCE 3 will allow flight times to be approximately 25 minutes or less.”
Forgey summed up the mission of LIFE FORCE, “Through the skills of a professional flight crew working in conjunction with area hospitals and emergency services, such as Gordon Hospital and Gordon EMS, LIFE FORCE is able to accelerate access to emergency care at a time when minutes matter most.”
Gordon Hospital is equipped and ready for LIFE FORCE 3, with a helipad that has been IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) rated by Erlanger, and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Gordon will also provide on-campus barracks for the flight crew, which includes specially trained nurses, paramedics, and communications specialists.
“Our partnership with Erlanger will benefit the citizens of Gordon County and surrounding communities through excellent trauma service that saves lives,” says Carlene Jamerson, president and CEO of Gordon Hospital.