Manitoba's first hospital-based roof-top helipad became officially operational Monday at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.
"With this site open, it will be easier and faster for Manitobans to get the emergency care they need," says Goertzen. "This partnership between the WRHA, HSC and STARS is a great example of health
partners working together to make a real difference for patients, and further strengthens our health care system."
The helipad sits on the roof of the new, 91,000-square-foot Diagnostic Centre of Excellence, located between pediatric inpatient units of HSC Children's Hospital and the Ann Thomas Building, which houses critical care services including intensive care units, operating theatres and emergency departments.
Ray Rempel of Steinbach is a flight paramedic for STARS. He says they often talk about the "golden hour." That means that from the time of an accident, the victim needs to be into a tertiary care centre and ideally in the care of a surgeon within sixty minutes.
"Prior to this announcement it just made it very difficult for us to get a patient to a tertiary care centre and in the hands of a surgeon or a critical care physician in that time frame," says Rempel. "Now obviously we can begin to make that happen."
He says the opening of this helipad will, no doubt, save lives.
Rempel says the helipad will also help ground EMS resources to stay in their local communities. Prior to this, a ground ambulance needed to be pulled in order to transfer a patient from airport to hospital, tying up that ambulance for up to ninety minutes.
Test flights were performed last week, so that STARS air medical crews and pilots could familiarize themselves with the new location. Patient transport can begin immediately.
Mon, Apr 29, 10:00 AM
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