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 transporting patients to the University Medical Center.
EastCare has recently received accreditation 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 two American Eurocopter BK 117 Helicopters. Rocky Mountain Helicopters provides the aircraft and the services of six pilots and two mechanics. The aircraft are expected to fly about 1500 missions in the next year. Approximately 10% of flights are scene runs with the rest 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 five type II ambulances. The neonatal vehicles are equipped with a lift, which allows easy loading of the neonate and isolette. One of the type II vehicles is used as a backup. The two primary type II 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 5 personnel, improving the safety and comfort of the crew on the outbound journey. In the 1997-98 fiscal year EastCare transported over 2600 patients via critical ground ambulance. One ambulance is based at PCMH and four are at regional satellites with additional satellites anticipated in the near future.
