10-09-00 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 9. 2000 to the elevators which are sized appropriately. From those elevators a patient can go directly into the trauma center and this was determined to be the most ideal location. When the hospital found out that the Memorial Foundation had plans to add an additional five (5) floors to their building, the 8 -1 flight ratio which is required by the FAA from that location flying directly south on the flight path prohibited that as a location. Therefore, the alternative site was to shift to the north and the west to this new location. This will give a clear and free flight path to the south directly along Lafayette Street and the 8 -1 ratio is acceptable. This location was not only the ideal site but it is the only site that gives the hospital direct access to the trauma center. Mr. Rick Lawrence, General Manager, Air Angels, 320 Kress Road, South Bend, Indiana, informed the Council that he has three (3) issues he would like to address. First is the commitment to excellence which is what Memorial Hospital has done. He stated that they could have looked at cost and gone with a single engine aircraft instead of a multi- engine aircraft. They looked at their dedication to the community and to safety. Mr. Lawrence noted that people have looked at the Bell 222 and stated that it is an eighteen (18) year old machine and it is unsafe. This aircraft has been tested with hundreds and thousands of flight hours. In 1983 -1984 when the aircraft was put into EMS use, it had an engine problem and the engine was re- manufactured. Today there are two hundred thirty five (235) EMS programs with sixty - threeper cent (63 %) ofthose programs operating this aircraft. The 222 is the most stable EMS aircraft. The pilots that work for Air Angels are all five thousand (5,000) or greater hour pilots that go through a rigorous training program. In regards to noise, the Bell 222 is one of the more quiet aircraft. The 222 landing at fifty -five (55) feet for approximately eighty per cent (80 %) of the transition to land will be fifty (50) decibels. He noted that this noise will last for seven (7) minutes. In regards to accidents, from 1980 to December of 1999, there have been ten (10) accidents in the Bell 222 and four (4) of them were EMS related. Mr. Snyder concluded by stating that this helicopter is a safe aircraft with safe crews and he believes this is a needed service. Dr. Scott Thomas, Director of Trauma Services at Memorial Hospital, 21481 Brick Road, South Bend, Indiana, indicated that the number one cause of death in the United States from ages one (1) to forty -four (44) is trauma. The golden hour of trauma is the first precious moments whereby death and disability can be minimized if access can be obtained. The hospital wants to make this a reality so that the trauma team can access those patients in the golden hour. Data supporting helicopter versus ground transport indicates at least a twenty -five per cent (25 %) to fifty -two per cent (52 %) decrease in mortality can be seen if patients can be transported by air to the trauma center that is appropriate and get the trauma team involved right away. The location of the helicopter is paramount to a successful outcome and access is critical. He noted that from his standpoint there is no higher priority. He stated that he believes that the ideal location for this helicopter is adjacent to the most important structures in the hospital such as the emergency room, the operating room, the surgical suites, the intensive care unit, the blood bank and radiology. He noted that at times they will have to get the team on the helipad, access the situation and make a determination very rapidly so the patient can survive this golden hour of trauma. Dr. Scott submitted an article regarding what happens when you don't locate your helipad at the right location and read portions from the article. In conclusion, Dr. Thomas stated that this service will upgrade the level of care in the community. At this time, Mr. Bancroft stated that this concludes the presentation and he urged the Council to support this Resolution. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Richard Werner, 200 Fisher Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, indicated that he serves as counselor to President Father Malloy and is Director of Campus Ministry. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for the Homeless and as a Director of Memorial Hospital. He stated that when Father Malloy became the President he urged them to become involved in activities within the City of South Bend. The first fruit of that policy decision was the lead role the University played in establishing the Center for the Homeless. One of the partners in that effort has been Memorial Hospital. They will provide them with preventive and effective medical care. As a member of the Board of Directors of Memorial Hospital Mr. Werner stated that he can testify to the professional way in which these studies have been carried out over 1