DENVER, Feb. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, announced today it has entered into agreements with HCA MidAmerica and North Florida Divisions. Air Methods will provide medical communication services through its DirectCall Transfer Center for the MidAmerica Division, and has established a preferred provider agreement with the North Florida Division for air medical transport services.
As part of the MidAmerica Division agreement, Air Methods' DirectCall Transfer Center will assist with inter-facility patient transports between the MidAmerica Division's 18-affiliated hospitals and other surrounding medical centers. Air Methods' DirectCall Transfer Center will manage all incoming and outgoing calls among the health system's hospitals, physicians and other hospitals based on pre-established medical communication service policies and procedures. The MidAmerica Division has hospitals located in Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri. Operations are expected to begin in first quarter of 2013.
Effective immediately under the agreement with the North Florida Division, Air Methods is the preferred provider for air medical transport services for its Florida affiliated hospitals located in Lake City, Gainesville, and Ocala. The Company's existing air medical bases in Cross City and Lake City will work together with the North Florida Division to facilitate the interfacility transfer of critically ill and injured patients requiring air transport.
Aaron Todd, the Company's chief executive officer, stated, "We are very pleased to have reached partnerships with two of HCA's Divisions to provide these valuable health care services. We believe our industry leading transfer center service will assist this Division in keeping patients within their system, and our existing North Florida air medical system will ensure local communities have continued access to air medical transportation."
Air Methods Corporation (www.airmethods.com) is the global leader in air medical transportation. The Air Medical Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services. United Rotorcraft Division specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. Air Methods' fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features over 400 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
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