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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - A Colorado hospital has puts its air ambulance program on hold after one of its planes crashed in Wyoming nearly three weeks ago, killing three people.
The Board of Trustees for Yampa Valley Medical Center said Sunday it will begin a comprehensive review of the program.
"We remain committed to providing patients with high quality medical care," said Karl Gills, the hospital's chief executive. "That includes getting patients transported to another hospital rapidly and safely. If a patient requires transfer to a specialty center, we will facilitate that happening."
Since the crash, five patients have been transferred by air to other facilities by helicopter or fixed-wind aircraft based in other communities, the hospital said. That adds time because the aircraft first must be flown to Steamboat Springs.
"We recognize the additional time factor is not ideal; however, we believe this is the best interim plan," Gills said.
The Yampa Valley Air Ambulance was en route to Rawlins, Wyo., to pick up and transport a patient to Casper, Wyo., when the accident occurred Jan. 11 near Rawlins.
Pilot Tim Benway, 35, air ambulance director and flight nurse Dave Linner, 36, and flight nurse Jennifer Wells, 30, were killed. The sole survivor was Tim Baldwin, a 35-year-old emergency medical technician.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
The air ambulance is a 2001 partnership between the hospital and Mountain Flight Service. The hospital provides the medical flight crew and certain medical supplies and contracts with Mountain Flight Service to provide the plane, the pilot and other materials.
The Board of Trustees for Yampa Valley Medical Center said Sunday it will begin a comprehensive review of the program.
"We remain committed to providing patients with high quality medical care," said Karl Gills, the hospital's chief executive. "That includes getting patients transported to another hospital rapidly and safely. If a patient requires transfer to a specialty center, we will facilitate that happening."
Since the crash, five patients have been transferred by air to other facilities by helicopter or fixed-wind aircraft based in other communities, the hospital said. That adds time because the aircraft first must be flown to Steamboat Springs.
"We recognize the additional time factor is not ideal; however, we believe this is the best interim plan," Gills said.
The Yampa Valley Air Ambulance was en route to Rawlins, Wyo., to pick up and transport a patient to Casper, Wyo., when the accident occurred Jan. 11 near Rawlins.
Pilot Tim Benway, 35, air ambulance director and flight nurse Dave Linner, 36, and flight nurse Jennifer Wells, 30, were killed. The sole survivor was Tim Baldwin, a 35-year-old emergency medical technician.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
The air ambulance is a 2001 partnership between the hospital and Mountain Flight Service. The hospital provides the medical flight crew and certain medical supplies and contracts with Mountain Flight Service to provide the plane, the pilot and other materials.
