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no more free rides on copter 1

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:34 pm
by hodad200
SD Helicopter Fee
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The City Council agreed today to charge patients for
transport to a hospital on the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's helicopter.
The panel's unanimous vote means patients, or their insurance companies,
will now be billed $3,250 an hour for an airlift on Copter 1.
According to a report to the City Council, the fee is needed to
``maximize the existing and growing fiscal impact to the city that occurs from
providing these services gratis.''
Since April, the SDFRD has transported 54 patients to hospitals in the
region aboard Copter 1, according to the report. A total of 61 patients were
flown to area hospitals on Copter 1 in 2006.
The city purchased Copter 1 in 2005, primarily to fight wildfires, but
it is also equipped with life-support equipment.

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:53 pm
by mike
Does this apply to the county copters too or just San Diego?

Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:41 pm
by fotoguy
Copter 10 and 12 are not set up to any transport to hospital they are just a fire and rescue rig

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:43 am
by mike
Oh I see do you think they will start transport eventually?

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:24 am
by N6766J
mike wrote:Oh I see do you think they will start transport eventually?
Personally I don't see Cptr10 & 12 transporting patients. Mercy Air has a contract with the County of San Diego. Other Copters transporting patients would have to have a minimum of a paramedic on board to transport.

The only way Cptr 1 can transport is if Mercy Air's ETA is greater than 30 minutes and Cptr 1 can be there 15 minutes before Mercy Air. The algorithim is more complicated, but that is its essence. Cptr 1 is still the primary Rescue copter because of their equipment and training.

Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:24 pm
by hodad200
N6766J wrote:
mike wrote:Oh I see do you think they will start transport eventually?
Personally I don't see Cptr10 & 12 transporting patients. Mercy Air has a contract with the County of San Diego. Other Copters transporting patients would have to have a minimum of a paramedic on board to transport.

The only way Cptr 1 can transport is if Mercy Air's ETA is greater than 30 minutes and Cptr 1 can be there 15 minutes before Mercy Air. The algorithim is more complicated, but that is its essence. Cptr 1 is still the primary Rescue copter because of their equipment and training.
everytime i hear cptr 1 fly by i think platoon or any other vietnam movie. the nolse is unmistakable.