By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
ST. GEORGE – St. George Clinic officials announced the new Health Net landing pad project at their facility has been completed. Construction began in July 2015 and the helipad was able to be used in September 2015 – and last week, the project was completely finished including a fence and paint. Julie Strawderman, Chief Operations Officer for St. George Clinic, said they are pleased the helipad is completed.
“It has actually been used a couple of times,” Strawderman said. “We finished the fencing and the painting around it, but it has been used.”
Strawderman said the landing zone was a much needed addition to the community.
“There have been many times we needed to call the ambulance, but if there are out and about, something else was needed,” she said. “Plus, it takes a couple of hours to get to Morgantown by ambulance and with Health Net, the patient is there in 18 minutes. It is just so much faster.”
Strawderman said patients air lifted to Morgantown from the new landing zone include one from a house fire and for a couple of car accidents.
“It is a very good location and putting in the pad was the right thing to do,” Strawderman said. “The nearest emergency department is 35 to 45 minutes away. When they call a helicopter in from Ruby Memorial Hospital, the aircraft already has the coordinates keyed in to fly in and land at the helipad. It automatically lights up and it is pretty easy for them to land.”
Strawderman said she thinks this is the helipad in the county. “I believe this is the only helipad in the county,” she said. “The project was funded through an emergency preparedness grant with a match from the St. George Clinic.”
She said having the helipad in the community serves a great need.
“No one wants to see it used because that means someone is suffering and that is sad,” she said. “But it is great to know from takeoff, the patient is only 18 minutes from getting the help they need.”
