In a medical emergency, every second matters when it comes to receiving life-saving treatment. That’s true no matter where you live, but it’s an even greater concern in parts of rural Indiana. While the nearest emergency room may be close by, patients may require transfer to a higher-acuity hospital for specialized or critical care. In those situations, the need to travel several miles quickly can be both urgent and life-altering.
Ascension St. Vincent has adopted new technology - a big red StatFlight button - to reduce the amount of time it takes for one of its StatFlight helicopters to reach a patient in need. With a single push, a rural hospital can summon a chopper and get it in the air immediately, cutting 10-12 minutes off the time it takes to transport.
StatFlight buttons were installed in nine rural hospitals in January and 25 more buttons have been ordered. Ascension St. Vincent is the first health care system in Indiana to install the buttons. Most are installed in hospital emergency rooms, but one hospital placed a second button in its intensive care unit (ICU). The StatFlight button system uses its own cellular network, which means hospitals do not need an analog or wireless internet connection.
“This is a groundbreaking and life-saving tool that will enhance our air transport capabilities across Indiana,” said Tony Myers, Director of Operations for Ascension St. Vincent. “Many times the emergency situation calls for treatment at a Level I emergency room like we have here in Indianapolis. Our network of StatFlight helicopters are now better equipped to reach patients in time for that life-saving treatment.”
Here is how it works: The hospital presses the pre-programmed StatFlight Button, which automatically alerts the nearest StatFlight base of the location and preliminary data regarding patient condition. The flight crew is immediately assembled and put on standby - a process that can take on average 10-12 minutes. A follow-up phone call with the hospital is still necessary to obtain additional medical information, but by then the helicopter is already in the air.
This investment in state-of-the-art technology, along with new helipads on top of the new Women and Infants Hospital, exemplify Ascension St. Vincent’s dedication to the life and well-being of Hoosiers across the state. In Indiana, more than half the state’s 92 counties have a shortage of primary health care providers and many are facing barriers such as long drives for critical care. With the StatFlight program’s six launch locations and the new StatFlight Buttons, Ascension St. Vincent will better serve those who are most in need.
Dennis Pruett, MSN, RN Clinical Manager, at Ascension St. Vincent Jennings, said the southern Indiana hospital has used the button three times already and it has helped streamline the process dramatically.
“The staff will press the button and this sets a chain of events into motion. The really nice thing is that before we had the button, we had to call and request a weather check and have someone near the phone to answer when StatFlight called back,” said Pruett. ”Now, all of that has already been done when we receive our first call from StatFlight. It has enabled us to have more staff available to assist with patient care instead of sitting at the desk to wait for a return call.”
Hospitals with StatFlight Buttons
- Ascension St. Vincent Salem
- Ascension St. Vincent Jennings
- Schneck Medical Center (ER and ICU)
- Reid Health Connersville
- Rush Memorial Hospital
- Henry Community Health
- Memorial Hospital Jasper
- Daviess Community Hospital
