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CareFlite will base an air medical aircraft at the North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville beginning on July 27th. The state of the art Bell 407GX will provide interfacility transports and respond to scenes for patients needing air medical transports. The aircraft will be available 24/7.
CareFlite replaced its entire helicopter fleet with Bell 407GXs and Bell 429s over the last four years at a cost of $35 million. The oldest joint use air medical program in the United States, CareFlite now operates the youngest helicopter EMS fleet in the country.Like all CareFlite aircraft, the Gainesville based Bell 407GX will be staffed with a Flight Nurse, Flight Paramedic and an Air Transport Pilot.
Cooke County Judge Jason Brinkley issued the following statement: “Cooke County is excited about CareFlite’s announcement that it will base a helicopter in Gainesville. This will undoubtedly help decrease response times and better serve the emergency medical needs our citizens. I want to thank CareFlite for their continued commitment to Cooke County.”
Gainesville Mayor Jim Goldsworthy issued the following statement: “Thanks for the call this morning. It is great to hear that CareFlite is going to have a fixed location here in Cooke County. Having them positioned in our area will be a great asset and certainly be an additional layer of safety for our citizens.”
CareFlite President and CEO James C. Swartz said that the company is looking forward to opening the new base later this month. “CareFlite has served Gainesville and Cooke County since its founding in 1979. The basing of a helicopter at NTMC is the next logical step in CareFlite’s commitment to serve North Texas communities including Cooke County. We look forward to an even closer relationship with NTMC and Cooke County EMS.”