NICEVILLE — Okaloosa County and Air Methods Corp. will close GULFlight 1 medical helicopter service out of Twin Cities Hospital on Nov. 30.
The helicopter, which has been operating since June 2006, is no longer needed because of a decrease in calls and because there are more medical helicopters in the area than needed, according to Larry Hall, field operations manager for Air Methods, which runs the service.
“We found we do have an overabundance and can perform with the same coverage with one less helicopter,” Hall said. “We are working on some strategic plans to ensure that we give the same level of care. The coverage is still going to be there.”
Dino Villani, the county’s public safety director, said there are three other medical helicopters located in the surrounding counties — two in Walton County and one in Escambia County.
Air Methods also operates those helicopters.
The helicopter based in DeFuniak Springs could be moved to Okaloosa County or to a closer location in Walton County to ensure fast response times.
Even with GULFlight operating, the other helicopters were used often to airlift trauma patients in Okaloosa County, according to Villani.
“Our strategy is to bring another (helicopter) to this county, probably in the north part of the county,” Villani said. “We’re working with Air Methods now to make a decision. We should have something solid next week. We’ve been talking on a lower level for a while, so this is no surprise, and we’re hoping to have our plan ready so it will be a seamless transition.”
Hall said GULFlight 1 employees will be given other job opportunities with the company if they choose.
“Our relationship with Twin Cities and those working with GULFlight 1 have been exceptional,” he said. “This is really a corporate decision. However, I can’t expunge on the financial aspects of the decision.
“We’re going to see what works best, but nothing official has been decided yet,” Hall added. “We will make an announcement when the decision has been made.”
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