First Flight of Wyoming Takes Off in Summer 2023
Written by Andrew-Rossi on May 2, 2023
Cody Regional Health (C.R.H.) and St. Vincent Healthcare, part of Intermountain Health, have partnered to launch Wyoming’s only hospital-owned flight program: First Flight of Wyoming.
This joint venture flight program will serve the needs of the Greater Wyoming Basin Region with high-quality, cost-effective transport services. Cody Regional Health operates the largest E.M.S. network in Northern Wyoming, while St. Vincent Healthcare has operated HELP Flight, an air medical transport program, for over 40 years.
C.R.H. and St Vincent/I.M.H. have modeled First Flight of Wyoming to allow Bighorn Basin and surrounding hospitals to participate in the ownership and oversight of First Flight of Wyoming.
“With the recent closures of E.M.S. services and the high costs of air medical transport, we feel that the establishment of an air medical flight program located in the Bighorn Basin will provide a lower cost and a higher quality of care to patients in Northern Wyoming,” said Doug McMillan, Cody Regional Health C.E.O. “St. Vincent’s longstanding HELP Flight program was a pioneer in air medical services and continues to be at the forefront of hospital-based flight services, making them the ideal partner for this joint venture endeavor.”
“St. Vincent Healthcare is committed to creating healthier communities and helping to ensure those we serve receive high-quality, lifesaving care close to home. First Flight of Wyoming helps to achieve that by providing much-needed air ambulance services to the communities of northern Wyoming,” said Jen Alderfer, President of St. Vincent Healthcare and the Montana/Wyoming Market for Intermountain Health. “We are thrilled to partner with Cody Regional Health in this endeavor and look forward to bringing these services to the Bighorn Basin.”
“Our goal is to launch First Flight of Wyoming early this summer with a rotor wing aircraft. It’s important to both organizations that we have the right team and equipment in place to make this new venture a success,” stated Keith Ungrund, President of First Flight of Wyoming. “We know this service will save lives and save patients money in the long run.”
The Bell 407 aircraft and crew will be based at South Big Horn County Airport in Greybull, allowing shorter response times to communities in the Bighorn Basin.
