Mercy Flight films PSA to air this fall (with video)

BOWMANSVILLE, N.Y. -- You may know Mercy Flight as the fleet of helicopters above Western New York that help get people with medical emergencies to hospitals.

What you may not know is that they're a non-profit group hoping to replace some of their older models in the coming years.

To get the word out, they're filming a PSA that will soon air on your TV.

"When I went to nursing school, i said someday I will be a flight nurse, so I made it there. I'm very happy about that," said Jennifer Crotty, who is Mercy Flight's Chief Flight Nurse. "I come from the emergency room, I love emergency care, I love ER nursing, and I love critical care."

It takes people like Jennifer with a passion for helping others to keep Mercy Flight going.

The nonprofit helps fly people to hospitals from South Canada to Northern PA, and from Rochester to Ohio.

"Eighty percent of the money we get comes from the insurance companies, and then it is up to us to try and recoup that other 20 percent," explained Steve Monaco, who speaks for Mercy Flight.

That's why the team is making this PSA to help get the word out about what they do and remind people that part of their operating costs come from donations.

DGI Video, a production company, donated its time to film the PSA for free.

Donations allow Mercy Flight to keep helping patients with the financial burden.

"We do not have the board of directors and the corporate structure that you would see with a lot of the other services around the country," said Monaco. "So that being said, we are able to keep our costs low, and we're all part of the same community here in Buffalo."

The PSA debuts September 19, so look for it on TV this fall.

"Next year will be our 35th anniversary. Mercy flight was formed in 1981 as a not-for-profit, and we are one of the only true not-for-profit still left in the country operating," said Donald Trzepacz Jr., Director of Air Medical Operations.

They've flown almost 24,000 emergency care patients to date.

"We get a lot of written thank-yous, and I'm sure we get a lot of patients visiting," said Crotty. "We get a lot of families that visit us, and we are able to meet them afterwards, so it's really great and positive."

Story, video and photos:  http://www.wgrz.com

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