RWJUH Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, now has a new Heli stop (or helistop) allowing air transportation as a quicker option to transfer patients who need advanced or specialized care. Seth D. Rosenbaum, MD, MMM, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at RWJUH Hamilton, answers questions surrounding a helistop, its importance, and its impact to patient care at RWJUH Hamilton and the community. A formal unveiling and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for mid-November.
A helistop is a designated landing and takeoff area for helicopters, a Department of Transportation site. Unlike a larger heliport, which might have fuel and maintenance facilities, a helistop is typically simpler—it is a safe, marked landing pad (often on the roof or on hospital grounds).
How will this impact patient care at RWJUH Hamilton?
The helistop at RWJUH Hamilton will help save lives by reducing the time it takes to transport critically ill or injured patients to a higher level or specialized medical facility. It will allow for rapid patient transfers, particularly for trauma, cardiovascular emergencies, and time sensitive neurological cases. Additionally, for patients requiring specialized care elsewhere or patients who need a fast transport to facilities such as Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.
How does this benefit the community?
- Faster emergency medical transport.
- Increased access to advanced or specialized care.
- Improved readiness for disasters or possible mass-casualty events.
- Highlights the hospital’s investment in high-quality, lifesaving services, but more importantly, helps transfer patients quicker to save their lives.
Is a helistop safe?
Helistops obviously have some noise during landing and takeoff, but these flights are only for emergencies. Landings are typically infrequent and occur only when needed to save lives. Trained crews coordinate landings and patient transfers to ensure safety for patients, staff, and nearby residents. Air crews are trained to observe noise abatement procedures during landing and takeoff whenever possible.
When will the helistop be used?
It’s available 24/7, day and night, to handle true medical emergencies. It is primarily for air ambulance services transporting critical patients. This also will not replace ground ambulances but complements our existing EMS services. The helistop provides faster transport for help save those critically injured or needing advanced care like individuals who have experienced a trauma, stroke, and/or cardiac emergency.
Watch the Helistop event here!
To learn more visit, rwjbh.org/hamilton