Air Methods Acquires Baptist LifeFlight

Air Methods Corporation announces that it acquired the four bases of Baptist LifeFlight, owned by Baptist Health Care (BHC) of Pensacola, FL. The change is effective immediately, with continued service to three states along the Gulf Coast, including the Florida panhandle, southern Alabama up to Montgomery, AL and southern Mississippi. Mike Allen, Air Methods’ president of Domestic Air Medical Services, states “Air Methods is honored that Baptist Hospital has chosen to allow us to continue the proud history and tradition of this high quality service to the community. As BHC’s partner in providing high quality aviation services to the region, we now will have the opportunity to serve the Gulf Coast region through all facets of our air medical skill sets. We are proud that most of the clinical and management professionals from Baptist LifeFlight have joined Air Methods as we move forward in this new service model.”

The four bases are located in Pensacola, FL, Semmes, AL, Greenville, AL, and Hattiesburg, MS, each with an EC130 aircraft owned and operated by Air Methods. Prior to the acquisition, Air Methods staffed each location with five employees, including four pilots and one mechanic per base. As part of the acquisition, 43 clinical Baptist employees joined the Air Methods team. In addition, Air Methods acquired substantially all of Baptist LifeFlight’s assets, including the program name, branding and medical equipment.

“Air Methods has been a great partner to us for quite some time now,” says Andy Terry, vice president Revenue Management, Baptist Health Care. “We believe this opportunity will ensure the longevity and viability of the program we strongly believe in. With the resources Air Methods has to offer, the program and employees will draw from a larger network for future success of Baptist LifeFlight for many years to come.”

Baptist LifeFlight was the third hospital-based aeromedical helicopter program in the United States. The program will continue to fly adult and pediatric critically-ill and injured patients to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, FL, Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL, Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery, AL, University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL and Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg, MS.