This particular helicopter is specifically designed to transport injured and critically ill patients from hospitals across the state and region to INTEGRIS to receive specialized care.
INTEGRIS is the only health care system in the region utilizing a Sikorsky SK-76 for air medical transport. The unique aircraft, which is the most advanced multi-role helicopter of its kind, is being housed at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center and is owned and operated by Survival Flight.
The two organizations recently held a ribbon-cutting and interfaith blessing of the helicopter to celebrate the new collaboration. “What we do well on our own, we can do better together,” says Survival Flight Pilot Jack Windes. “This is a public announcement of the fact that we’ve arrived and that we’ve partnered with this amazing medical institution. So we can leverage both our aviation expertise along with their medical expertise to serve the community of Oklahoma and surrounding states to bring them the next level of care with purpose.”
This particular helicopter is specifically designed to transport injured and critically ill patients from hospitals across the state and region to INTEGRIS to receive specialized care. “It’s unique in that we’ve got very intensive care at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center,” says INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center President Tim Johnsen.
“The sickest of the sick come to us from all across the region and having this helicopter service here allows us to extend that care out in the field, into the scene setting or to smaller hospitals that send their patients to us. So we can send the medical team to that community to begin that high level critical care at that facility and in route back to Baptist so that care can really begin much sooner than it normally would.”
Windes adds, “What makes this helicopter different from other helicopters that service this area and other areas across the country is its size and speed.”
The Sikorsky SK-76 is considerably larger than the average medical helicopter, making it possible to carry not only additional equipment and supplies but also entire teams of medical professionals.
“You can fit two people up front, the pilot and one more person or the co-pilot, and then there’s room for four people in the back and the patient,” explains Windes. “With all the specialized medical equipment that’s back there, with the training of the really world class medical professionals both from our team at Survival Flight and INTEGRIS Baptist … it’s essentially a flying ICU.”
The helicopter just went into service on May 5 and has already made several flights to retrieve patients. “We’ve seen a wide variety already, but I would say the bulk of them have been centered around those in respiratory and cardiac failure requiring the advanced ECMO treatment.”
The aircraft can also be used for organ transplant procurement and rescue operations. “We’re posturing to be able to support the community with primary scene operations, which would be mainly focused around trauma like motor vehicle accidents and things like that,” says Windes.
“We’ve done a tremendous amount of outreach flights getting out and seeing first responders in the community – fire, ambulance and law enforcement, just showcasing the aircraft and its capabilities so they know it is yet another tool in their ability to respond to emergency situations.”
The Sikorsky helicopter is one of the fastest medical helicopters in existence and is also known for its smooth ride, which can be lifesaving in itself when dealing with a fragile patient.
Johnsen concludes, “I think the community should see this as an investment in the community’s health overall. That we are there in their hour of critical need.”
The Sikorsky SK-76 is capable of traveling 300 miles without refueling so it is ideal for retrieving patients in neighboring states like Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri.
