Poor management of emergency transportation resources

Poor management of emergency transportation resources

Re: Bowers letter, June 30

Within an hour of reading Alan Bower’s letter to the editor regarding helicopter operations at Montrose Memorial Hospital, St. Mary’s Flight for Life arrived and proceeded to fly slow circuits around the hospital at low altitude. Apparently they needed to land at the MMH helipad, but it was occupied by Care Flight’s chopper.

St. Mary’s chopper made at least six plate rattling flights over my house before Care Flight’s crew showed up at their helicopter. While Care Flight was spooling up, we were treated to some additional loud over flights, followed by Care Flight’s departure, and Flight for Life’s landing.

In aircraft and medical operations is there any excuse for such poor management of emergency transportation resources? All this was a timely affirmation of Alan’s concerns.

In 1980, I moved into a neighborhood within 3 blocks of MMH. It was a quiet neighborhood, and a quiet hospital. Things change, but this is a bit much. What new dangers have arrived in the area that have driven helicopter transfers from the eight that took place between September and November of 2008 (Daily Press, Dec. 3, 2008) to the heavy traffic we see now?

I’d be willing to bet that MMH helicopter management would change very quickly if Mr. Stephen Glasmann, Ms. Tricia Dickinson, or the other members of the Board of Trustees, lived in the neighborhoods surrounding the hospital.

Jim Ferguson

Montrose