AirMed One Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
March 23, 2018
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center proudly marks the fifth anniversary of AirMed One. The helicopter, which offers vital transport services to patients, first took flight on April 7, 2012.
"We are proud that AirMed One has reached this significant milestone," said Ihor S. Sawczuk, M.D., president of Hackensack University Medical Center. "Along with providing critical care in the air, AirMed One is valued for participation in important service events that help to inform and support our extended community."
Community events have included: National Night Out, a law enforcement initiative across the U.S. to promote community building; Landing Zone Operations, a continuing education opportunity provided by AirMed One and offered to local EMS, firefighters, law enforcement and other community partners; providing required education for First Aid Badges for Brownies and Girl Scouts and First Merit Badges for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts; Junior Police Academy presentations to raise awareness of Hackensack University Medical Center resources and support; and Prom Crash events, which involve role playing and DWI reenactments, working with local police and school administrators to emphasize the dangers of drinking and driving.
Looking back on its inaugural mission, highlighting the need for this level of care, AirMed One was initially pressed into service an hour-and-a-half after its official beginning.
"My team members and I are fully committed to this service because when people call 9-1-1 and need transport to our facility, they are in dire need," said Joseph Solda, RN, BSN, CFRN, NREMT-P CMTE, AirMed One chief flight nurse. "People put their trust in us. Our team shares a passion for providing the best care for people in their time of need."
AirMed One was the first aircraft in New Jersey to utilize the LUCAS® chest compression system, which performs high-quality chest compressions when a patient goes into cardiac arrest. Last year, AirMed One became accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport System (CAMTS) on its first attempt. Licensed in both New Jersey and New York, the entire AirMed One team has been recognized for board certification in flight.
To date, AirMed One has logged 1,264 patient care missions – and climbing.
About Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center, a 775-bed nonprofit teaching and research hospital located in Bergen County, NJ, is the largest provider of inpatient and outpatient services in the state. Founded in 1888 as the county's first hospital, it is a part of the Hackensack Meridian Health family, one of the largest networks in the state comprised of 28,000 team members and more than 6,000 physicians. Hackensack University Medical Center was listed as the number one hospital in New Jersey in U.S. News & World Report's 2016-17 Best Hospital rankings - maintaining its place atop the NJ rankings since the rating system was introduced. It was also named one of the top four New York Metro Area hospitals. Hackensack is one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more years in a row. Becker's Hospital Review has listed Hackensack University Medical Center as one of the 100 Great Hospitals in America for 2017. Hackensack University Medical Center is one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country according to Practice Greenhealth, and received 25 Gold Seals of Approval™ by The Joint Commission – more than any other hospital in the country. It was the first hospital in New Jersey and second in the nation to become a Magnet® recognized hospital for nursing excellence; receiving its fifth consecutive designation in 2014. Hackensack University Medical Center has created an entire campus of award-winning care, including: the John Theurer Cancer Center; the Heart & Vascular Hospital; and the Sarkis and Siran Gabrellian Women's and Children's Pavilion, which houses the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital and Donna A. Sanzari Women's Hospital, which was designed with The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center and listed on the Green Guide's list of Top 10 Green Hospitals in the U.S. Hackensack University Medical Center is the Hometown Hospital of the New York Giants and the New York Red Bulls and is the Official Medical Services Provider to The Northern Trust PGA Golf Tournament. It remains committed to its community through fundraising and community events especially the Tackle Kids Cancer Campaign providing much needed research at the Children's Cancer Institute housed at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital. To learn more, visit www.HackensackMeridian.org.