By Diana Keough
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Copyright 2006 Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
MetroHealth Medical Center will spend $20 million to buy three helicopters to replace and upgrade its aging Metro LifeFlight fleet.
John Sideras, MetroHealth’s chief executive officer, said the hospital wants to expand the fleet’s geographic reach so it can become the area’s dominant helicopter rescue services provider.
LifeFlight is capable of traveling 120 miles round-trip without refueling. Sidaras said as the region’s population continues to move farther from Cleveland, MetroHealth wants to be there.
LifeFlight helicopters are currently based in Cleveland, Highland Heights and Canton. Sidaras said MetroHealth is re-evaluating these locations to determine the best way to grow the program.
Right now, MetroHealth competes with the Cleveland Clinic, which has one helicopter, and University Hospitals, which has two.
LifeFlight handles trauma, critical care transport and inter-hospital transfers. Each flight is manned by two pilots, a physician and a nurse trained in trauma care, a model Sideras said is unusual among other area hospitals.
Sideras said nothing is wrong with the hospital’s four aircraft now in use. But they are more than 20 years old and reaching the end of their useful life.
The hospital board approved the purchase Monday night.