Close friends will know that recently, during the March month, circumstances developed which lead me to devote time and energies to supporting and assisting my very best friend, an 88 year old neighbor, while some critical heart issues were handled through the medical system. In this process, at one point, a late night emergency evacuation by local rescue squad personnel was required, after a heart catheterization and stent procedure days earlier had resulted in severe chest pains. Here on the Northern Neck of the Chesapeake Bay, the local community hospital was unequipped to provide any emergency triage or life support services in this situation. The ambulance crew engaged for my friend’s service call instead, was directed to take him immediately and directly to the hospital helipad for chopper evacuation from our local hospital four miles from his home. His wife and I were directed to begin the drive to Richmond and anticipate a cell call from the chopper staff to direct us in route, to the specific cardiac care facility where he would be treated. My good friend was transferred from the ambulance to the medevac helicopter and then transported precisely fifty-six (56) miles while in the air for a mission total of twenty-seven (27) minutes flying time. Earlier this week a bill for the medevac helicopter transport and onboard staff emergency services arrived in their mailbox. The bill was [read closely now] for $40,800! An invoice for that kind of expense to cover a twenty-seven minute fifty-six mile chopper flight almost caused another heart attack. One could lease a Gulfstream G-5 and fly coast to coast for less than half!
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:56:01 +0000