Floyd and Amber Hughes live in rural Tennessee, far from the hustle and bustle of city life, on a piece of property handed down through the generations. While the country life outside Knoxville offers many benefits, access to specialty hospitals and emergency care is not one of them. For this reason, the couple purchased AirMedCare Network’s (AMCN) membership, ensuring that if they needed air medical transportation only from an AMCN provider, they would not be financially responsible for the bill.
They had run through many possible scenarios where the need for fast medical transportation to a hospital might be necessary; snake bites and car accidents topped the list. It was last year while helping to cut down a dead tree that Floyd experienced another common scenario, chest pain.
After an initial evaluation at a small local hospital, it was determined that Floyd was having a “Widow Maker” heart attack. The frightening name is not just for effect. If not treated immediately and appropriately, only 12% of individuals will survive this complete blockage of the Left Anterior Descending Artery that supplies the heart muscle with oxygenated blood. Floyd needed a Cath Lab to reopen the blocked vessel, and that was not available at the local hospital.
Heart Attacks in Rural America- From 12% Survival to 90%
UT Lifestar, a provider in the AirMedCare Network, was dispatched to transport Floyd to the Cath lab in Knoxville where he underwent a successful cardiac catheterization, reopening his blocked artery. Fortunately for Floyd, the ICU-level medical care he received in flight and the speed with which he arrived at the Cath lab all contributed to his remarkable recovery. Because of the fast diagnosis, speed and skill of his transport team and expertise of the Cath lab team, Floyd is part of the 90% who will survive a Widow Maker when all the dominos fall perfectly into place.
Amber is grateful for the wonderful care her husband received that day in July and that they had the foresight to become AMCN members. “We never imagined we’d ever need a service like AMCN,” said Amber. “When the doctors told us they were flying Floyd to Knoxville, it was so scary. But at least I didn’t have to worry about how we were going to pay for it. We live on Social Security, and covering the cost of an air flight would have been financially devastating for us. Saying I’m thankful is an understatement. This membership truly is worth its weight in gold. The peace of mind it gives you, knowing you’re covered when the unexpected happens, is worth every penny.”
Why Air Ambulance Membership Vital in a Rural Community
Living in rural areas means that medical care appropriate to the needs of the patient can be a long distance by ground. In cases like Floyd Hughes, it becomes critical to arrive quickly at the right hospital with the services needed to get the best outcome possible. Not all hospitals have the same specialists, and rural areas may not have Emergency Medical personnel with the right training and certification to handle critical patients. Air Ambulance providers are the highest level of pre-hospital care available and ensure treatment starts as soon as the patient is loaded into the aircraft.
From Pediatric Hospitals to Stroke Centers, Specialty hospitals are not easily accessible to those in rural America, but time can be a critical component to a good outcome when specialty care is needed. AMCN and Membership for rural residents ensures that, only when our providers treat and transport to a specialty hospital, the bill will not be a concern during the patient’s recovery.
Key Takeaway about Heart Attacks in Rural America
- Rural communities often face long distances to specialized medical care, making rapid medical transportation essential in emergencies like heart attacks.
- Floyd’s case highlights the importance of quick diagnosis and access to advanced care; after a severe heart attack, he was flown by UT Lifestar to a Cath lab for life-saving treatment.
Survival rates for “Widow Maker” heart attacks increase from 12% to 90% with immediate, expert intervention and rapid transport to the right facility. - Air ambulance membership, such as AirMedCare Network (AMCN), provides peace of mind by covering costly emergency flights that can otherwise be financially devastating for rural residents.
- Not all rural hospitals have specialized staff or equipment; air ambulance services offer the highest level of pre-hospital care, starting advanced treatment as soon as patients are onboard.
- AMCN membership ensures that patients transported only by their providers won’t be burdened by bills, allowing families to focus on recovery instead of financial concerns.
*https://biologyinsights.com/what-are-the-chances-of-surviving-a-widowmaker-heart-attack/
Frequently Asked Questions:
If an AirMedCare Network Provider does not transport you, you will be responsible for payment. Our membership program only covers transports provided by our affiliates.
There is no limit to the number of transports a member may take in a year. Each transport is handled the same way and must be an emergent or time-sensitive transport as determined by a physician (or other appropriate provider) or first responder unaffiliated with AMCN.
With an AirMedCare Network membership, any person or persons who reside under one (residential) roof are covered. In the event we have a member who lives in a duplex or apartment complex, we designate the primary member’s residence/address— that is considered the “one roof”. Undergraduate college students can be covered under their parent’s membership as well as anyone previously residing in the household who is then moved to a permanent care facility.
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