EastCare
EastCare is the critical care transportation service of University Health Systems of Eastern North Carolina -- Pitt County. Started in 1985, EastCare provides helicopter air ambulance services to the 29 counties of eastern North Carolina. Services were expanded in 1994 to include critical care ground ambulance transport. Subsequent changes in the hospital structure have also placed the neonatal transportation system and the basic life support transfer ambulance system under the EastCare umbrella. In addition, EastCare communications is responsible for all radio traffic from air and ground EMS units transporting patients to the University Medical Center.
EastCare is currently accredited with commendation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). EastCare was selected as the 2000 Program of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), the international association of air and surface medical transport systems.
EastCare received the Helicopter World/Air Ambulance SAR 2001 Award in March 2001 at the "Search & Rescue: The Americas 2001" conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The conference was sponsored by the publishing company that produces Helicopter World and Air Ambulance magazines. EastCare received the award based on the unit's excellent performance during Hurricane Floyd and its subsequent flood.
Currently, EastCare flies three American Eurocopter BK 117 Helicopters. Air Methods provides the aircraft and the services of eleven pilots and six mechanics. The aircraft completes approximately 2400 missions annually. Approximately 20% of flights are scene runs with the remainder being interfacility transfers. The majority of patients flown are trauma victims, with cardiac patients making up most of the remaining flights. The average one-way flight time is thirty minutes.
The critical care ground transportation system consists of two neonatal transfer ambulances and ten type-I ambulances. The neonatal vehicles are equipped with a lift, which allows easy loading of the neonate and isolette. The six primary type-I vehicles are designed to accommodate two patients, with one being loaded transversely in the front of the compartment and one in the more conventional longitudinal position. The cab accommodates five personnel, improving the safety and comfort of the crew on the outbound journey. In the 2007-2008 fiscal year EastCare transported over 4500 patients via critical ground ambulance. One ambulance is based at PCMH and five are at regional satellites with additional satellites anticipated in the near future.
