LIFEBEAT AT SOUTHEAST BECOMES PART OF ARCH

LifeBeat Air Medical Service at Southeast Missouri Hospital becomes a part of ARCH Air Medical Service Inc. today.

James W. Wente, Southeast administrator, announced LifeBeat's affiliation with Mercy Air Service Inc., a nationally known air ambulance transportation provider, Friday afternoon following approval by the hospital's Board of Trustees Executive Committee Thursday night.

Mercy Air, which provides regional service in southern California, the state of Nevada and the St. Louis area, acquired ARCH earlier this year. ARCH currently bases helicopters at St. Louis, Joplin, the Spirit of St. Louis Airport/Chesterfield; Sparta, Ill., and starting today in Cape Girardeau.

Wente said the affiliation is a step toward LifeBeat's participation in the development of a regional air ambulance network.

David Dolstein, president of Mercy Air, said the Cape Girardeau base will operate as part of the ARCH system.

The decision to select Mercy Air was made following extensive research of "what we believe is in the best interest of our region, the hospital and the staff," said Wente. "This included selecting a company known for its excellent record of service and patient care standards, its commitment of safety and its community involvement. In seeking input from LifeBeat employees, we found they were supportive and enthusiastic about an affiliation with Mercy Air and ARCH.

"The continuity of a high level critical care air medical service and the safety of multi-engine aircraft were very important to them," added Wente.

All LifeBeat flight team members will be offered positions, either with Mercy Air or the hospital.

John Taylor, a LifeBeat flight nurse, said the flight crew was happy with LifeBeat, "but we're positive and enthusiastic with ARCH and Mercy."

"We don't look at this transaction as a sale but rather the natural evolution of LifeBeat into an even higher level of regionalized service," said Wente. "Through our arrangement with Mercy Air we're confident the region will continue to benefit greatly from this expanded multi-engine helicopter transport system."

Specific terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Dolstein said ARCH would provide all factors of air medical service for hospitals and first responders throughout the region.

"We're pleased to work with LifeBeat in establishing a Cape Girardeau base as an expansion of Arch's community-based service," said Dolstein. During its 21-year history, ARCH has completed 36,010 accident-free missions.

ARCH also offers fixed wing service for longer air medical missions. The fixed wing service is based at Spirit of St. Louis Airport.

"A hospital's core business is providing care and treatment of patients once they're in the hospital," said Dolstein. "For ARCH, the core business in providing rapid, comprehensive critical care patient transport."

LifeBeat will remain based at Southeast until a suitable community location can be found, said Dolstein. That probably will occur within six months.

Dolstein said ARCH would look at fire stations, a private ambulance service and the local airport as possible locations.