CoxHealth expands air ambulance service

CoxHealth is partnering with Rocky Mountain Helicopters to expand its air ambulance service to Branson. According to a CoxHealth news release, plans are under way to put a full-time air ambulance helicopter in Branson on a 24-hour basis. Cox Air Care II will be based at Cox Health Center, Branson.

Rocky Mountain Helicopters has conducted an analysis of the southern Missouri/northern Arkansas area to determine that a full-time air ambulance service is advisable. John Mentgen, CoxHealth vice president, said in the release that the expansion will enhance the response time from the air ambulance to patients in the Branson area.

More than half of CoxHealth's air ambulance volume is currently south of Springfield. Having a Branson-based helicopter will shave 20 minutes off the aircraft's response time. According to the release, 75 percent of CoxHealth's total air ambulance requests are on-scene responses.

"That's why having a helicopter in Branson is so important. We can get to the scene and back to the facility in quick fashion, providing critical care in flight," Mentgen said.