By Angela Hill

Medical helicopters on route

Oct 29, 2010 | 9:50 AM

Medical helicopters are on their way to the skies above Saskatchewan.

STARS, the Shock, Trauma Air Rescue Society, in Alberta, an organization with 25 years of experience will be lending their expertise to this province.

“STARS is next door to Saskatchewan, many people go back and forth across the border every day, our industries go back and forth across the border every day and we don’t really see a border in that context in needing to provide health care in all our jurisdictions. We are very excited about participating in Saskatchewan,” said Dr. Greg Powell, the President and CEO of STARS.

“I think in any jurisdiction, the power is with the partnership. If you can create a union of government, community, corporations, individuals, you can generate more enthusiasm, better funding and innovation than you can in any other model that we’ve come across. We think, very enthusiastically, that the model will work well in Saskatchewan.”

Powell says STARS has had continued support in Alberta and has been very successful.

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One of the initiatives outlined in Wednesday’s throne speech, is expanding emergency medical services using this helicopter system.

Rod Gantefoer, Melfort MLA, is spearheading the process.

“The rotary division, which will be a new division under STARS, will provide some advanced helicopter services that will cover a very great part of the southern part of Saskatchewan, virtually all of southern Saskatchewan, south of La Ronge,” he said.

“It’s going to take, 14 to 16 months to put this all in place. That’s going to give us the time it takes for us to visit with the trauma teams in Saskatoon and Regina particularly and working together to ensure we have the resources we need.”

The helicopters can be used to respond both to emergency medical situations, such as heart attacks in rural areas and traumas, such as car accidents.

Trevor Dutchak, head of the Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association and owner operator of Parkland Ambulance, said he’s looking forward to the integration of helicopters.

“Hopefully the integration of the rotary wing into the fixed wing and obviously ground ambulance will be an asset,” he said.

ahill@rawlco.com