Mercy MedFlight celebrates 20 years - KOAM TV 7

Mercy MedFlight celebrates 20 years

Mercy MedFlight celebrated its 20th anniversary today on their helipad in Joplin.

MedFlight started in 1992 with one twin engine plane on the Saint John's campus.

It relocated its helipad to Mercy hospital and has since expanded, adding a second aircraft based at Nevada Municipal Airport.

MedFlight has helped nearly 12,000 patients in their 20 year history.

"The folks that fly these helicopters put their lives on the line to save our lives." says MedFlight patient Rod Landrum.  "My wife, my family, and myself are very thankful for 20 years of service.  I wouldn't be here six years ago if they wouldn't have trained, if all the trauma they have dealt with in the past."

"There is nothing better than knowing you can help somebody," says Scott Keatts of MedFlight.  "You don't hear 'thank you' every day and that is not why we are doing it.  Having the skills and training to help someone means a lot."

MedFlight is licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.  It is one of 149 air medical transport services to be accredited by the commission on accreditation of medical transport systems.