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N.J. opens new helistop to speed critical patient transports

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton has opened a 24/7 helistop to support RWJBarnabas Health’s LifeFlight helicopters

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By Stephanie Loder
nj.com

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton recently opened a new helistop, expanding its capacity to rapidly transport critically ill and injured patients across New Jersey.

The facility, which opened Nov. 13, will operate around the clock for medical emergencies and serve as a landing site for helicopters in RWJBarnabas Health’s LifeFlight fleet.

The helistop will work alongside the hospital’s ground ambulance team to transfer patients requiring trauma, stroke, cardiac, or specialized care.

RWJBarnabas Health operates New Jersey’s largest hospital emergency medical services program.

The hospital has more than 1,700 emergency medical service workers and serves over 200,000 people each year.

The health system launched its Mobile Health air medical program in 2019.

Mark E. Manigan, president and chief executive officer of RWJBarnabas Health, said air transport offers the fastest route between facilities.

“When every second counts, the shortest distance between two points is an important thing,” Manigan said in a statement.

“If we need to get a patient from here to New Brunswick, the quickest, shortest, fastest way possible is a direct shot, in the air, in a direct line,” he said.

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