SAN JUAN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER

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Island Air receives safety excellence award

Island Air to provide 24/7 medical transport

posted 01/16/03
The cost of air transport to mainland medical facilities from San Juan Island will drop from $5,000 to about $500 thanks to an agreement between Island Air and the hospital district. Last night (January 15, 2003) San Juan County Hospital District Commissioner Lyle Tarte said," Island Air has agreed to provide 24/7 coverage."

The FAA limits medical flights to one airline per geographical region. Tarte said Island Air is the designated airline here. He said it is a great choice noting it recently received the Aviation Safety Excellence Award from Phoenix Aviation Managers. "That is like getting an Oscar," Tarte said.

The hospital district will pay Island Air $36,000 a year and will provide a pager. Island Air will bill the patients for the flights. Estimates are it will cost between $500 and $750. Medical Center Director Deb Wiggs noted that is a significant savings from the $5,000 to be flown off in a helicopter.

Island Air will transport patients needing basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS). (NOTE: a previous version of this story incorrectly stated ALS wasn't available on the fixed wing). Insurance carriers usually cover at least part of the cost of the flights for patients needing ALS.

Tarte said there are other advantages besides the cost. Family members will be able to fly with the patient on Island Air. "One of biggest problems was weather. A helicopter cannot fly in certain kinds of weather. We wanted someone here that could meet that need." He noted nine times out of 10 when the weather has grounded the flights from the mainland, pilots can still leave the island.

Weather will play even less of a role in a few months. Jackie Hamilton, owner of Island Air, said the airline is "getting very close to flying IRF (instrument flight rules)."

Dr. Michael Wingren told Tarte, " I want to thank you and your committe for the completion of a loop. This is very workable and will allow us to feel like we are part of an integrated team.

The hospital board expects to sign the letter of agreement at their next board meeting on February 19, 2003.

$40,000 fix for medical transport problem

posted 09/03/02
If you are in a life-threatening medical situation on San Juan Island and the weather cooperates, you can be airlifted by a helicopter to a mainland hospital. If you are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, the cost will be covered. Other insurance policies pay varying amounts of the cost. "It is a $5,000 ride if you don't have insurance. Regence pays $700 of the cost," said Dr. Susan Mahoney. Many insurance companies won't cover any portion of the ride if it is not life-threatening.

Dr. Michael Wingren believes San Juan County Hospital District needs to address the transportation issue. "Forty percent aren't insured, "he said. "(and when they have insurance) insurance doesn't want to pay for it."

"The problem is getting people off the island when they are sick," San Juan County Hospital Administrator Deb Wiggs told the hospital board at their Aug. 21 meeting. Dr. Marcia Zacharias said three-fourths of the time with emergency patients is spent trying to arrange transportation.

In the past islanders could purchase $100 Medflight insurance policies which covered their portion of the flights. Insurance companies were billed for the flights. Medflight policy holders had no out of pocket costs. The end of the $100 policies was announced in November 2001 because of state insurance regulations. The last of the policies expire at the end of September 2002.

The option of using fixed-wing aircraft for medical tranportation is now a "hit-or-miss" situation. When Medflight provided the medevac service to the islands, they had arrangements with Island Air for backup services. Island Air pilots carried pagers and were available if needed.

Airlift Northwest took over the medical evacuation service in 2000 after Medflight was discontinued by St. Joseph's Hospital. The oncall arrangement with Island AIr was also discontinued.

Paramedic Jim Ricks made a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners in July, 2002.

When no fixed wing aircraft is available after hours, our doctors have been forced to put routine medical problems on the helicopter. This is not only a misuse of the helicopter service, but adds often unaffordable expenses to the patients. The helicopters come from the mainland and when weathered in, they cannot fly into the county even though we have conditions favorable for flying. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of the flights made for medical reasons in and out of the county were traditionally flown on fixed wing aircraft. Charter costs to these patients were less than $200, while average helicopter fees are $5,000. The patient's family cannot fly with the patient on the helicopter while in most instances they can fly with the patient on the fixed-wing aircraft.

He suggested the county create a County Public Transportation Authority funded by property taxes. The funds would be used to pay for a dedicated fixed-wing aircraft system. He estimated initial capital costs would be $1.4 million and annual operating costs would be $810,000. The patients would be charged $650 per ride.

Commissioners suggested Ricks approach the emergency services providers on each island. San Juan Island EMS Administrator Frank Wilson told the hospital board, "The county commissioners showed us what they would like to do - nothing."

Wingren told the hospital board, "We don't need a $1.6 million solution. We could look at ways of carving out available pilot time." The number of hours a pilot may fly are limited. By paying for on-call services, the hospital district would ensure a pilot would have hours available and would be physically available (i.e. they cannot drink alcohol prior to flying).

Wilson said Island Air had offered to provide on-call service for $40,000 per year.

Wingren said, "One lawsuit makes $40,000 look pretty small."

Paramedic Weyshawn Koons said, "The truth is if we had an on call pilot, we wouldn't have the problem. Basically it is a $40,000 fix."

The hospital board assigned board member and EMT Lyle Tarte to research the problem and report back to the board.

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