Air Evac Lifeteam’s local base in Brownwood celebrated 10 years of service Thursday with a reception and a live radio broadcast. During the celebration many city leaders, law enforcement, emergency responders, medical professionals and citizens came out to support the Air Evac staff and flight team and to thank them for the service they provide to the community.
The Air Evac base in Brownwood was opened in early 2002 as the company’s fourth base in Texas said Regional Aviation Director Mark Fisher. Other cities – LaGrange, Kerrville and San Marcos – had been opened prior to the Brownwood base.
Since their opening in 2002, Air Evac’s flight team has provided the sole air ambulance service in the area. Program Director Bobby Brinson stated that he believes his team has provided good service to the community, meeting its needs for the past ten years.
When asked about a new company, Native Air, that intends to enter the local market as an additional air ambulance service, Brinson stated that he doesn’t feel that there is a need for another service; however he said both companies will strive to work to together in a professional manner to continue to meet the medical needs of the community.
“We don’t feel there is a need for more service here, the other company is coming into the Brownwood market as a purely speculative venture,” said Brinson.
He stated that although the number of flights has increased since the first of this year as compared to other years, the team has been able to make the flights that have been necessary.
“We have seen an increasing trend in the community since the first of the year, but it’s hard to tell what is causing this, mostly it’s situational,” explained Brinson. “We have about a 50/50 split on flight causes between medical and trauma.”
Fisher explained that with the new company opening a local service, the Air Evac team is building a new landing pad for their helicopter while not in use, which is located across Crockett Drive from the Brownwood Regional Medical Center’s helipad to clear it for all services’ landing.
Brinson further explained that the Brownwood base also covers Mills and San Saba Counties which do not have hospitals in their counties, but stated that the EMS service is excellent in both areas.
“Mills and San Saba counties don’t have hospitals, but their EMS does a great job transporting patients (to adjacent county’s hospitals).”
Brinson also spoke of the base’s success in becoming a part of the community.
“We feel very connected to this community and it’s been one of our most successful bases,” said Brinson.
Senior Director of Base Operations Joe Grygiel stated that Air Evac is proud to be a part of the community.
“We’re a part of the community and we intend to stay here,” said Grygiel. “We are 10,000 members strong.”
Brinson stated that Air Evac has a strong statewide network and that their company has the capability to get five helicopters to the Brownwood area within 45-50 minutes, which shows their ability to provide whatever services are necessary at the time of an emergency.
According to an informational brochure handed out at the event, the Air Evac Lifeteam offers low cost memberships. The memberships benefit members who become patients by working on their behalf with the member’s benefits provider to secure payment for an air ambulance fight. Whatever the benefit provider pays is considered payment-in-full for the member’s flight.
Membership Director Tara Bradley stated that Air Evac is an integral part of the emergency providers in the area. She explained to a visitor during the anniversary event that Air Evac flights take patients to the closest appropriate hospital for the type of treatment needed, usually Hendrick Medical Center or Abilene Regional. Showing the visitor decals that are placed on vehicles for identification of members during auto accidents and cards for wallets, she explained that emergency providers look for these to identify patients who are members.
Pictured at top are Air Evac flight team members and administration: Andy Williams, flight paramedic & base clinical lead; Stephanie Wood, flight paramedic; Bonnie Hall, RN, flight nurse; Klint Newsom, fight paramedic; Mark Dent, flight nurse; Tara Bradley, Membership Director; Bobby Brinson, Program Director; Delette Gazaway, RN, flight nurse; Larry Newsom, Pilot; Bill Smith, Base Pilot Supervisor.
Below are other pictures of the event.
Above: Membership Director Tara Bradley and Senior Director of Base Operations Joe Grygiel speak to a member about services.
