N.M. Hospital Unveils New Medical Helicopter

May 11--University of New Mexico Hospital unveiled a new medical transport helicopter Tuesday, offering an option to its existing fixed-wing aircraft service.

Lifeguard Air Emergency Services, UNMH's medical transport division, also plans to add a ground ambulance later this year, said Maggie O'Donnell, director of Lifeguard.

"In essence we will become a full-service medical transport program," O'Donnell said. "That will give us the full capability to transport a patient using the appropriate mode of transport to meet the patient's needs."

Helicopters are ideal for transporting patients up to 100 miles, and fixed-wing aircraft are more efficient for longer flights, she said. Ambulances are best for transports of 30 miles or less.

The new Agusta 119Kx Koala helicopter was unveiled in a ceremony at an Atlantic Aviation hangar at the Albuquerque International Sunport.

The helicopter "is focused on closing the loop on the services we provide," UNMH CEO Steve McKernan said after the ceremony. "It will give us the option of deciding whether fixed-wing or rotor-wing aircraft is our best option."

The helicopter is owned by SevenBar Aviation, an Albuquerque-based firm, which also owns and operates Lifeguard's fixed-wing airplane, a King Air B200.

The helicopter will have a staff of 11 UNMH medical personnel working under the direction of UNMH trauma physicians. The aircraft's six pilots are employed by SevenBar.

The helicopter features a state-of-the-art ventilator and ultrasound equipment that will provide new treatment capabilities for trauma and heart patients and high-risk pregnancies, O'Donnell said.

Copyright 2016 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.