Sanford displays its new helicopter in Jamestown

The latest Sanford Health helicopter was on display Tuesday at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

The Sanford Lifeflight Team from Fargo touched down at the JRMC’s helipad to display its new Eurocopter for the public.

“The new air ambulance from Sanford Health will continue to help JRMC’s Emergency Department provide quick access to advanced care for patients in the area,” said Todd Hudspeth, CEO at JRMC.

Sanford will use the new helicopter beginning July 1. This will serve as one of three helicopters that JRMC utilizes for helicopter transportation, according to Michelle Kunrath, public relations coordinator with JRMC.

The new helicopter is a big improvement from previous ones Sanford has used, according to Chad Erickson, pilot for the Sanford Lifeflight Team.

“It’s a little bigger than the old one and has greater capabilities all around,” he said. “With its full autopilot feature, that’s going to be huge especially if we run into inclement weather during a storm or something of that nature.”

JRMC’s helipad also makes the helicopter trips better for patients.

“At the old hospital, we used to have to land at the airport and then take an ambulance from there to the emergency room,” said Jesse Tischer, Sanford Lifeflight Team paramedic and vice president of the Sanford Health Network Fargo Region.

Now that the helicopter can land almost directly next to the emergency room at JRMC, Tischer said, the level of patient care should be even more improved.

“It’s great because we can land right here and the patient gets care immediately,” he said. “And now on this new helicopter we’re able to have a critical care paramedic and nurse on every flight as well as a respiratory therapist if necessary.”

Tischer said the new helicopter makes for just under a 45-minute trip between Jamestown and Fargo.

Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwillhide@jamestownsun.com

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