posted September 28, 2023

Service Continues in Springfield with Day Base in Decatur

DECATUR, IL – Sept. 28, 2023 – Saints Flight helicopter emergency medical service now has two base locations within a 24-hour period as it adds a day base in Decatur at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital to better serve the entire region. The Saints Flight critical care team will begin day base services on Monday, Oct. 2. 

Saints Flight is already serving the City of Decatur and Macon County residents and visitors with its current base in Springfield, IL at HSHS St. John’s Hospital. With the added day-base location in Decatur, IL, the team is now even better positioned to provide comprehensive medical care service, faster response times, increase access to healthcare, and improve support not only for Saints Flight partners but sister locations throughout the state.

“Our number one mission is to save lives and serve the community with the highest level of care,” said Regional Director Aaron Bradshaw. “By having two base locations within a 24-hour day, our radius of service is greater, ultimately impacting more lives.”

The team provides support to first responders and hospitals, offering the community critical care 24/7/365 and responding to emergency medical and trauma events including heart attacks and strokes, burns, and other incidents—essentially serving a flying intensive care unit. Equipped with industry-leading equipment and medical devices on every flight, the team carries blood and blood products (i.e. blood plasma) to positively increase patient outcomes through pre-hospital care. Additionally, the clinical team is extensively trained to provide, when needed, advanced airway intervention; cardiac and blood flow monitoring; ventilator management; and other advanced surgical procedures.

Saints Flight is part of Air Methods, the nation’s largest air medical services provider. Saints Flight clinicians and pilots have years of experience in the field and receive advanced, ongoing training. Nurses and paramedics have access to Air Methods Ascend, an in-person and online training program that allows clinicians to perform at the top of their licensure. Ascend is also available to medical personnel across the country.

Recently, Kirby Ambulance Service in Monticello, IL selected Ascend’s online EMS Review program to provide additional training for their emergency medical technicians and paramedics. With this partnership, the ecosystem of access to quality healthcare remains high in central Illinois.

Air Methods is committed to providing affordable air medical service to all who need it. They are in-network with most major health insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, Humana, and many others. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability.

Pre-paid membership is not required with Air Methods. The Federal “No Surprises Act”, which went into effect on January 1, 2022, eliminated the need for memberships from any air medical provider. Under this Act, patients are only responsible for the copay, coinsurance, deductible, or maximum out-of-pocket cost outlined in their healthcare plans, regardless of which company handles the transport. In an emergency requiring air medical service, the first available carrier should transport the patient to the hospital and a patient should never delay care while waiting for a particular carrier based on a membership.