Apollo, Sister Helicopter To AirCare, Now Located At CHI Health St. Francis

CHI Health St. Francis is pleased to welcome Apollo MedFlight to Grand Island. Starting April 10, the 24-hour emergency and non-emergency air medical transport service moved its Columbus base of operations to the hospital. 

Apollo MedFlight, headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, works with hospitals and communities across the United States to enhance critical care transport. The company also partners with CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney to provide one of the state’s longest running medical flight program: AirCare.

“As medical hubs for the state, the service area for St. Francis and Good Samaritan is geographically vast. With the addition of a second helicopter in central Nebraska, we can help even more of our patients receive the timely, live-saving care they need,” said Ed Hannon, president, St. Francis.

St. Francis will provide dedicated working and sleeping space for the flight crew located near the hospital’s rooftop landing pad. At CHI Health Medical Plaza, two blocks to the east of St. Francis, a secondary landing pad is available for temporary relocation of Apollo’s aircraft. This arrangement allows for additional air medical services to unload on the hospital’s roof. Apollo MedFlight will also keep a hangar at Grand Island Regional Airport.

“We are excited to again partner with the CHI Health family, this time at St. Francis. They are a leading example of providing quality care to rural communities and patients. Our role is to continue to elevate the already high standards they have established over many years while doubling access to care-especially when seconds count,” said Steve Kahle, Apollo MedFlight, regional business development director.

Like AirCare, the Apollo MedFlight helicopter at St. Francis will transfer to and from all medical facilities-including those outside the CHI Health system. The process for medical personnel to request a transport is the same for the two helicopters. If your community is closer to Grand Island, dial Apollo toll free at 1-833-263-3247. If you are closer to Kearney, continue to dial AirCare at 1-800-474-7911. Either number will connect you to the closest helicopter to your facility. 

Unlike AirCare, Apollo MedFlight will employ the helicopter's medical crew based at St. Francis while AirCare’s medical crew will remain employees of Good Samaritan.

“We refer to our central Nebraska presence as two crews, one team. Our Apollo and AirCare crews work seamlessly together, backing each other in partnership with St. Francis, Good Samaritan, and other hospitals we serve. While the new aircraft at St. Francis may look different from AirCare, our unwavering commitment to our community remains the same,” said Kahle.