ROCK SPRINGS – Many days and nights, residents can hear the familiar sounds and lights of a helicopters as it speeds across the skyline to Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County.

On Wednesday, Guardian Flight gave an update to the MHSC Board of Trustees on the services they provide.

Just over two years ago, MHSC signed Guardian to provide air support to enhance services for the residents of Sweetwater County. Guardian spokesman Shanon Pollock said their main goal is a quick transport time and they have strict guidelines they follow to accomplish this.

Currently Guardian’s average response time is 10 minutes. The average transport time is approximately 70 minutes per patient. In the couple of years since they have been here, Pollock said they have served approximately 10,000 patients and have averaged 250 transports per year.

Adam Hatch has provided the local leadership for Guardian. He explained to the trustees the majority of patients they transport are cardiac patients who make up approximately 47 percent of the total number. Around 25 percent were medical, such as car accidents and other similar issues.

Hatch also explained their Rapid Acute Physiology Score, which monitors patients conditions, shows the condition of the patients they transport remain in the same condition or improve during the flight.
Another subject Guardian presented to MHSC was their community support and sponsorship. “This means a lot to me,” Hatch said. “I am a member of this community. I moved here and have a house here. I am part of this community.” Hatch said that Guardian has participated in the Sweetwater County Fair, Wyoming’s Big Show, has provided sponsorship to the National Finals High School Rodeo and has been a part of the FMC Wellness Day.

New hanger proposal

The biggest surprise of the presentation was the discussion and plans of improvements to the helipad. Both proposals would include a hanger at MHSC which would speed up transport and response times even more.
The first proposal would be a larger hanger which would have crew quarters, storage and would house two helicopters. The second proposal would be a smaller hanger that would house one helicopter and would only provide a small storage area.

Both Hatch and Pollock made sure the board knew that Guardian would pay the entire bill for the project.
“We are not asking a penny from you for this project,” Hatch said.

Guardian really focused on the proposal with a larger hanger. Hatched noted that with the cold weather and the conditions, the crew would be onsite and not have to make it the MHSC first to pick up the patient. They would already be right there.