AdventHealth West Florida Division launched AdventHealth AirStar 1, a cutting-edge medical helicopter, on March 4, according to a news release.
The helicopter is set to redefine the landscape of patient transfers within the Tampa Bay region and will serve all 13 AdventHealth West Florida Division hospitals, the release says.
The state-of-the-art twin-engine Airbus H135 P3H will be stationed at the Lakeland Linder International Airport, strategically positioned to serve AdventHealth West and Central Florida Divisions.
AirStar will be operated by a team of 12 highly trained medical professionals, including registered flight nurses and certified flight paramedics. Dr. Fredrick Yonteck, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, will serve as the medical director of the flight program, and Dr. Michael Longley, chief medical officer of AdvenHealth North Pinellas, will oversee the division’s patient transfer center.
The aircraft, which is essentially a flying Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will be operational 24/7, 365 days a year, equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and safety features to guarantee the highest standards of medical transport.
AirStar also will be on standby for community 911 responses, providing rapid medical assistance for trauma, stroke and cardiac alert patients across multiple surrounding counties.
