Further details have been released regarding Colorado-based Air Methods’ plans for utilizing its recently signed lease of helipad space and offices at the county’s new 911 Center.
Read More: Commissioners sign agreement to provide helipad access at 911 Center
Air Methods shared with LebTown that the helipad space will be used to extend WellFlight, an existing joint venture the company has with regional hospital system WellSpan.
Air Methods spokesperson Lindsey Emmons said that an existing base in East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, will move to the Lebanon County 911 Center in early 2024. According to LNP coverage, the WellFlight Lancaster base originally opened in March 2023.
“Air Methods works with its partners to ensure the most efficient, reliable, and safe service and continually evaluates service needs,” said Emmons. “With the new partnership with Lebanon County, WellFlight is better positioned to meet the needs of our patients and partners.”‘
The Lancaster base followed an original joint venture dating to 2009 between WellSpan West and Air Methods for service to Chambersburg and Waynesboro hospitals. After those hospitals became part of WellSpan Health in 2018, the program was first expanded to Adams County with a Gettysburg base in 2020 and then to Lancaster County in 2023.
The Adams County contract with Air Methods is similar to Lebanon County’s contract with the company. According to Gettysburg Times archival coverage, Air Methods paid $34,900 annually for the use of space in its 2020 agreement, quite close to the $36,000 Air Methods will pay Lebanon County for helipad and crew quarters access.
The contract requires Air Methods to move its helicopter off the helipad if a third-party requires use of the helipad, or if the helicopter is taken out of service for maintenance.
Emmons said that Air Methods employs different service models nationwide, but the WellFlight program in particular is a community-based service (CBS) model, which means that WellFlight will serve anyone needing critical care.
“Under the CBS model, Air Methods owns and operates the entire base operation and these conditions will include Air Methods bearing full financial responsibility and assuming all risk,” said Emmons.
Emmons said that most base locations have a $3 million operation, with 85% fixed costs and 15% variable costs. “WellFlight in Lebanon County will be no different, investing millions back into the community,” said Emmons.
The base will employ two dedicated aviation mechanics, four pilots, four nurses, and four paramedics. Individual flight teams consist of a pilot, nurse, and paramedic, who the company says receive state-of-the-art speciality training.
“Pilots are trained using Level D Full Flight Simulators, the highest fidelity flight simulator approved by the Federal Aviation Administration,” said Emmons. “Clinicians receive hands-on training through Air Methods Ascend, an in-person and online training program that allows clinicians to perform at the top of their licensure.”
Emmons added that Ascend is also available to medical personnel across the country.
Among Air Methods’ local base staff is Tierany Dowd, who happens to be the wife of county emergency services director Bob Dowd.
According to a LebTown review of county email records, as well as LebTown’s own email exchange with county administrator Jamie Wolgemuth, Bob Dowd had disclosed the conflict as soon as Air Methods’ expressed interest in a possible lease at the new emergency services building, and was not involved in any financial negotiations, which were conducted by assistant solicitor Tom Long and Wolgemuth. However, in his position as EMS director, Dowd necessarily was and remains involved with operational aspects of the aircraft on the site and physical crew quarters there, according to Wolgemuth.
“In terms of conforming to generally accepted ethical standards, Mr. Dowd immediately and sufficiently informed his employer of his wife’s employ with Air Methods and was recused from all financial aspects of the negotiations of the lease,” said Wolgemuth in an email.
According to email records, Dowd mentioned at one point in an email to Long and Wolgemuth that the helicopter would have WellSpan advertising on it, and because of that, Commissioner Mike Kuhn – a longtime employee of the Good Samaritan Hospital, owned by WellSpan since 2015, who remains employed by the healthcare system in a part-time capacity – may need to recuse himself.
However, the planned use for the helipad space to operate as a WellFlight base was not explicitly mentioned at the Thursday, Nov. 16, commissioners’ meeting where the agreement was ratified, and neither was Bob Dowd’s recusal from financial negotiations due to the conflict nor any context regarding Kuhn’s consideration of recusal.
In an interview with LebTown, Kuhn said that he was not aware that Air Methods provided the service for WellSpan until being approached by Dowd about the possible lease last fall. Kuhn noted that it has been a longtime issue to find appropriate and safe landing places for medical helicopters over the years, and he thought it was a great move in terms of public safety.
Kuhn said he did not have any conversations with other WellSpan employees about this program before, during, or after the lease was being negotiated, and that his role with WellSpan is limited to 5 to 10 hours per week in a development/fundraising capacity.
“Helicopter transports have nothing to do with my role at WellSpan,” said Kuhn, noting also that the contract was revenue-generating for the county and in line with other contracts the company has signed in Pennsylvania.
The county does not consider the lease as a business relationship between itself and WellSpan, according to Wolgemuth.
“To the extent that they are a provider to WellSpan is between WellSpan and Air Methods,” said Wolgemuth. “We are not privy to their contract and WellSpan could change or discontinue their transport provider without any effect on our lease with Air Methods.”
Still, Kuhn said that in retrospect, it wouldn’t have hurt to have pointed out explicitly that he was aware of the link to WellSpan and explain why he didn’t feel recusal was necessary.
“It certainly wouldn’t have hurt if I noted that for the record, just to avoid any appearance of inappropriate involvement,” said Kuhn, adding that he still believes the county did the right thing for taxpayers both in terms of public health and revenue-generation, but doing it over again, he would have addressed the second-degree relationship between the county and WellSpan directly.
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