ARCH Air Medical Service
Encyclopedia
ARCH Air Medical Service (ARCH was an initialism for Area Rescue Consortium of Hospitals)is an emergency medical service (EMS) that provides critical care air ambulance
service in Missouri
, Illinois
, and the surrounding regions. Air ambulance programs (also known as Medevac
) offer transport by helicopter
(rotor-wing) or fixed-wing aircraft
. ARCH Air was the twelfth program in the U.S. to offer such services when it began operating in March 1979. Transporting approximately 4,200 patients per year by rotorwing, ARCH aircraft are staffed by a pilot
, nurse and paramedic
. Flights are 80% inter-facility (hospital to hospital) and 20% scene.
Transport is also provided for specialty teams from St Marys Health Center obstetrics
, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
, St. John's Mercy Medical Center
, Creve Coeur neonatal, St Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau neonatal, Southeast Missouri Hospital
Cape Girardeau neonatal, and St Johns Hospital, Springfield, IL neonatal, University of Missouri Children's Transport Service Peds and Neonate.
Unlike what most programs in the industry practices, Arch's call signs and tailnumbers stay together no matter which base the aircraft responds from. Most Air Medical Programs will keep the call sign to identify which base the given aircraft responded from.
Arch Also have currently 1 Fixed Wing that can fly nationwide;
The Communication Center also does flight intake for the follow sister programs owned and operated by Air Methods:
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
service in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and the surrounding regions. Air ambulance programs (also known as Medevac
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
) offer transport by helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
(rotor-wing) or fixed-wing aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
. ARCH Air was the twelfth program in the U.S. to offer such services when it began operating in March 1979. Transporting approximately 4,200 patients per year by rotorwing, ARCH aircraft are staffed by a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, nurse and paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
. Flights are 80% inter-facility (hospital to hospital) and 20% scene.
Transport is also provided for specialty teams from St Marys Health Center obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
-Overview:Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center is a not-for-profit 190-bed inpatient and outpatient pediatric medical center. As the nation’s only free-standing, Catholic children’s hospital, Cardinal Glennon has provided care for children regardless of ability to pay since 1956...
, St. John's Mercy Medical Center
St. John's Regional Medical Center (Missouri)
St. John's Regional Medical Center is a hospital in Joplin, Missouri, USA.-History:The hospital was founded on October 24, 1896, by the Sisters of Mercy. The facility was expanded in 1968 to include two connecting buildings of seven and nine floors....
, Creve Coeur neonatal, St Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau neonatal, Southeast Missouri Hospital
Southeast Missouri Hospital
Southeast Missouri Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Southeast Missouri Hospital first opened in 1928 and has grown into a regional medical complex serving over 600,000 people in 22 counties in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois...
Cape Girardeau neonatal, and St Johns Hospital, Springfield, IL neonatal, University of Missouri Children's Transport Service Peds and Neonate.
History
- March 1979: The program began operations as "MARC" (Medical Air Rescue Corps) and was based at Saint Louis University HospitalSaint Louis University HospitalSaint Louis University Hospital is a hospital in St. Louis. Saint Louis University Hospital, also widely known as SLU Hospital, has been owned by the Tenet Healthcare Corporation since the university sold it in 1998. SLU Hospital remains the main teaching hospital for Saint Louis University School...
flying the Sikorsky S-55. - 1980: MARC replaced the Sikorsky S-55 with the Bell JetRanger HelicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
. - August 1987: MARC became a not-for-profit consortium sponsored by St. Louis' three adult trauma centers (Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. John's Mercy Medical Center and Saint Louis University HospitalSaint Louis University HospitalSaint Louis University Hospital is a hospital in St. Louis. Saint Louis University Hospital, also widely known as SLU Hospital, has been owned by the Tenet Healthcare Corporation since the university sold it in 1998. SLU Hospital remains the main teaching hospital for Saint Louis University School...
). The name "ARCH" (Area Rescue Consortium of Hospitals) was selected to identify the cooperative effort. Officially named, "ARCH Air Medical Services". - 1989: Paramedic added to the crew mix of pilot/registered nurse.
- 1990: ARCH replaced the Bell JetRanger with the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 aircraft, offering cabin class, twin-engine, space, speed and safety.
1990 also saw the addition of 'fixed-wing' services when it added a Beechcraft King AirBeechcraft King AirThe Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
for longer distance transports (100–500 miles from base), flights in inclement weather which prohibit rotor wing flights and specialty teams. - 1993: ARCH opens their own Communications Center after having this service done by a sister Ambulance Company owned by the Consortium to meet its own special needs.
- 1997-2000: ARCH and Mid-America Transplant, both nonprofits, buy services from for-profit SkyLife. But they get services at a 10 percent to 15 percent discount to the cost they were previously paying to charter air services. Skylife therefore expands their 'fixed-wing service' starting with ARCH's two Beechcraft King AirBeechcraft King AirThe Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
and adding two Diamond 1A jets and one Baron 58. Based at Spirit of St Louis Airport this service would be available for Organ Procurement Teams and Corporate Charters. SkyLife had contracts to provide critical care transport services with the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois in Chicago, the Iowa Statewide Organ Procurement Organization in Iowa City and Barnes-Jewish Physician Services. As well as previous commitments with Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St Johns Mercy Medical Center and St Louis Children's Hospital Specialty transport teams. - 1999: ARCH gained national recognition for its accomplishments in quality of service when it received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport SystemsCommission on Accreditation of Medical Transport SystemsThe Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems , is an independent, non-profit agency which audits and accredits fixed-wing and rotary wing air medical transport services as well as ground inter-facility critical care services in the U.S. to a set of industry-established criteria....
(CAMTS). Of eight air ambulance programs in Missouri, five have CAMTS accreditation and two are operated by ARCH Air Medical Services, Inc. - 2000: ARCH Air Medical Services, Inc. was acquired by Air MethodsAir MethodsAir Methods, Corp. is the largest publicly owned emergency medical services helicopter operator in the United States, with a fleet of over 300 medical transport helicopters that average 85,000 transports and 100,000 flight hours per year as of December 2006....
Corporation, which operates air ambulance programs across America. 2000 also saw the acquisition of LifeBeat Air Medical, from Southeast Missouri HospitalSoutheast Missouri HospitalSoutheast Missouri Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Southeast Missouri Hospital first opened in 1928 and has grown into a regional medical complex serving over 600,000 people in 22 counties in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois...
. ARCH is now known as Arch Air Medical Service. Air Methods was not interested in SkyLife Aviation and did not purchase that part of ARCH and therefore Skylife closed their doors December 31, 1999. - 2009: Arch now utilizes A-Star 350's for many outline bases as well as the BK-117's.
- For over 30 years: Arch Air Medical Service has operated an accident free safety record.
Current Arch Air Medical Service bases
The Helicopter Service area is around 150 miles around each base.- Arch 8 - Granite City, IllinoisGranite City, IllinoisGranite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...
N880SL BK 117 - Arch 11 - KidCopter - Granite City, IllinoisGranite City, IllinoisGranite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...
N911KD BK 117 - Arch 7 - Farmington, MissouriFarmington, MissouriFarmington is a city in St. Francois County located south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St...
N127LN A-Star - Arch 15 - Warrenton, MissouriWarrenton, MissouriWarrenton is a city in Warren County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated at 7,398 in 2008. It is the county seat of Warren County. Warrenton is located in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. Warrenton's slogan is "A City for All Seasons."-Geography:Warrenton is located...
N115LN A-Star - Arch 12 - Sullivan, MissouriSullivan, MissouriSullivan is a city that straddles the border of Franklin County and Crawford County in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 6,351 at the 2000 census. Stephen Sullivan founded the city in the late 1850s and cleared brush, which facilitated the building of the railway depot there, and the...
N217LN BK 117 - Arch 3 - Sparta, IllinoisSparta, IllinoisSparta is a city in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,486 at the 2000 census.The city was the principal filming location for the 1967 film In the Heat of the Night.-Geography:Sparta is located at ....
N330SL BK 117 - Arch 9 - Litchfield, IllinoisLitchfield, IllinoisLitchfield is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,815 at the 2000 census, and 6,588 in 2009. It is located in south central Illinois, south of Springfield and on the northern edge of the Greater St. Louis Metro-East area.-Attractions:The Ariston Cafe is one of...
N990SL BK 117 - Arch 14 - Effingham, IllinoisEffingham, IllinoisEffingham is a city in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,384 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Effingham County....
N563AM A Star - Arch 2 - Spare Aircraft - St Louis, Missouri N122SL BK 117
- Arch 4 - Spare Aircraft - St Louis, Missouri N440SL BK 117
Unlike what most programs in the industry practices, Arch's call signs and tailnumbers stay together no matter which base the aircraft responds from. Most Air Medical Programs will keep the call sign to identify which base the given aircraft responded from.
Arch Also have currently 1 Fixed Wing that can fly nationwide;
- Arch 18 - Chesterfield, MissouriChesterfield, MissouriChesterfield is a second-ring western suburb of St. Louis and is the largest city in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census the population is 47,484. Chesterfield also celebrated its 20th birthday in 2008.- Geography :...
N854AL Pilatus PC12
The Communication Center also does flight intake for the follow sister programs owned and operated by Air Methods:
- AirLife 1 - Urbana, IllinoisUrbana, IllinoisUrbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
N365CH BK 117 - MedFlight 1 - Joplin, MissouriJoplin, MissouriJoplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
N550SL BK 117 - Medflight 2 - Nevada, MissouriNevada, MissouriNevada is a city in Vernon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat of Vernon County. Nevada is the home of Cottey College, a junior college for women operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood....
N123LN A Star - LifeStar 1 - Joliet, IllinoisJoliet, IllinoisJoliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
N154AM BK 117 - LifeFlight 1 - Evansville, IndianaEvansville, IndianaEvansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
N247SM Bell 407 - Saints Flight 1 -Springfield, Illnois N211SL BK 117
- Saints Flight 2 -Streator, IllinoisStreator, IllinoisStreator is a city in LaSalle and partially in Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. It is the center of the geographic region known as...
N102LN A Star - AIR METHODS CEASED SAINTS FLIGHT 2 OPERATIONS 10/01/2010 - Staff for Life 1 - Columbia, MissouriColumbia, MissouriColumbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
N10UM BK 117 - Staff for Life 2 - Osage Beach, MissouriOsage Beach, MissouriOsage Beach is a city in Camden and Miller counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Osage Beach is located at ....
N126LN A Star - Staff for Life 3 - LaMonte, Missouri N549AM A Star