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Home News UT LIFESTAR Opens New Base of Operations in Anderson County

UT LIFESTAR Opens New Base of Operations in Anderson County

Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2008

UT LIFESTAR, the aeromedical transport service of The University of Tennessee Medical Center, announced the opening of a base of operations in Anderson County. The opening of the facility marks UT LIFESTAR’s fourth remote base of operations in East Tennessee, in addition to its headquarters located at UT Medical Center.

“The addition of a base of operation in Anderson County will result in decreased transport times for patients in Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Scott and Union counties as well as in parts of Kentucky and the surrounding area,” said Jeff Gregory, program director for UT LIFESTAR. “We’ve always enjoyed a close working relationship with emergency medical services agencies in and around Anderson County, and we know the implementation of this base will be of significant, potentially life saving benefit to the patients we collectively serve.”

Gregory credits a strong spirit of cooperation and desire of officials from Anderson County EMS and Anderson County government to benefit the people in and near Anderson County for making the creation of the base possible. Located adjacent to Anderson County EMS Station 6 in the David Jones Industrial Park in the Andersonville community, the base of operations will include full-time, around the clock UT LIFESTAR crews and a Bell 407 helicopter.

“We are very pleased with this joint endeavor that not only will benefit the citizens of Anderson County but the entire region as well,” said Robert Byrd, director of Anderson County EMS. “Anderson County Emergency Medical Services’ partnership with UT LIFESTAR is a source of tremendous pride with our collective goal of patient care always being at the forefront.”

A typical ambulance ride from Clinton takes about 35-40 minutes, according to Gregory. By contrast, a UT LIFESTAR flight cuts the trip down to just six minutes, creating potentially life saving results by helping to bring patients to the care provided by a Level I trauma facility such as UT Medical Center within the “Golden Hour” following a traumatic injury. The “Golden Hour” refers to the first 60 minutes after a serious or multi-system trauma occurs. Emergency medical services professionals say trauma center intervention care within that critical time frame gives victims their greatest chance of survival.

“Director Byrd and I have considered this partnership a top initiative for well over a year now,” said Rex Lynch, Anderson County Mayor. “UT LIFESTAR has a great reputation, and we are proud to be able to work with them to provide the best possible care for our citizens. This is a great location and will allow for a quick response when the need may arise. What a great asset to our community!”

The Anderson County base will include living and sleeping quarters as well as office space for crew. An aviation maintenance technician will be dedicated to the Anderson County base. Flight crew consists of a pilot, paramedic and nurse. UT LIFESTAR now operates remote bases in Anderson, Hamblen, Monroe and Sevier counties.