LA JUNTA, Colo., Aug. 4, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REACH Air Medical Services announces the opening of its new air ambulance base in La Junta, Colorado, operating under the name Southern Colorado CareConnect. This much needed and anticipated emergency medical helicopter service will provide Pueblo County and an expansive surrounding region with 24/7/365 emergency air medical transport.
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CareConnect is the result of several years of collaborative negotiation on the parts of REACH, headquartered in Northern California and Parkview Medical Center, located in Pueblo, Colorado. The culmination of their efforts means that the many thousands of residents in this area, as well as visitors to the region, will have tremendously improved access to critical care air transport services. The availability of such services is especially crucial in rural and rugged areas. The La Junta location was chosen because it is centrally located among the many rural hospitals that designate Parkview Medical Center as their preferred tertiary care destination for critically ill and injured patients. These facilities, which include hospitals in Lamar, Eads, Trinidad, Walsenburg and Raton, New Mexico, have been enthusiastic advocates for CareConnect's life-saving services.
Also noteworthy are the progressive actions taken by Parkview Medical Center in recent years. The facility is now licensed for 350 acute-care beds, has a distinguished and highly-respected Cardiac Center and is the home of the region's only Level II Trauma Center. The hospital also continues to offer general acute healthcare and behavioral health specialty services and remains the area's leading women's, emergency and neurological healthcare provider. Southern Colorado CareConnect will work closely with Parkview to further enhance the capabilities of its trauma, stroke and cardiac services.
"Being able to serve this community is a privilege—and we look forward to doing so from our new location in La Junta," states Sean Russell, President of REACH Air Medical Services. "Entering the market with the support of a number of facilities including Parkview Medical Center as our primary destination hospital shows the partnership we strive for in all our practices."
"In providing trauma care and cardiac care, minutes can truly mean the difference between life and death," explained Mike Baxter, Parkview Medical Center President and CEO. "We are fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with the outstanding neighboring hospitals in southeastern Colorado and northern New Mexico, as well as Southern Colorado CareConnect, to improve access to emergency care."
About Parkview Medical Center
Founded in 1923, Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, offers general acute healthcare and behavioral health specialty services. As a private, non-profit organization, Parkview is licensed for 350 beds and provides a full range of healthcare services including the region's only certified and verified Level II Trauma Center as well as the region's first certified Stroke Center. Parkview Medical Center is the leader in cardiac, women's, emergency, and neurological services as well as behavioral health programs. As a vital healthcare source, Parkview's service area includes Pueblo County and 14 surrounding counties, which together represent 370,000 total lives.
Parkview Medical Center is the largest non-government, nonprofit, private sector employer in Pueblo County with more than 2,600 employees and provides a skilled medical staff of over 370 physicians. The impact of Parkview Medical Center's workforce triggers a strong impact on the community as their Parkview's annual payroll contributes $134 million to the economy. For more details, please visit www.parkviewmc.org.
About REACH Air Medical Services
REACH Medical Holdings, LLC, headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, provides critical care air and ground transport service to communities throughout California, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Colorado and South Texas. REACH has provided safe, patient-centered care for more than 28 years and has successfully transported more than 100,000 patients to needed care. REACH employs hundreds of highly-trained nurses, medics, pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians, who provide service to patients utilizing a fleet of medically-equipped helicopters, airplanes and ground ambulances. REACH has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) since 1998. CAMTS is the gold standard for patient care and safety for air medical transport services. For more information, visit www.REACHair.com.
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