Dear Members of the 117th Congress:
Save Our Air Medical Resources (SOAR), a campaign dedicated to preserving access to life-saving air medical services, would like to welcome new Members and congratulate those of you who have won re-election. We look forward to working with you throughout the 117th Congress and beyond in your efforts to craft sound policy that supports emergency air medical providers and preserves critical access to health care.
Americans have faced an unprecedented year as a result of COVID-19, and as case numbers continue to climb, frontline health care workers and first responders remain committed to rising to the challenge in the fight against the pandemic. This includes the brave pilots and medical professionals who staff emergency air medical flights. To date, the air medical industry has transported more than 20,000 COVID-19 patients, a number that increases every day as the virus spreads.
Air ambulances – helicopters and fixed wing aircraft equipped with lifesaving medical equipment and highly trained medical staff – provide swift transport to the nearest hospital for patients in critical condition when every second counts. More and more often, this includes COVID-19 patients suffering respiratory distress or in need of inter-facility transport while remaining intubated. The sickest among these, which are more often Black, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic patients as the virus ravages minority populations, have a greater chance of survival with air medical transport to a facility that can provide a higher level of care.
While its role in the fight against COVID-19 is noteworthy, the air medical industry has been a critical piece of the health care system long before the pandemic and will remain so long after we have defeated this terrible virus. Air medical services are especially important in rural America, where hospital closures have significantly reduced access to emergency medical care for millions. Ninety percent of those transported have suffered a major cardiac event, stroke, or trauma such as brain injury. In an emergency such as these, every second counts to improve patient outcomes and save lives. Fortunately, the air medical industry has filled the gap left by rural hospital closures by transporting patients to the most appropriate facility in a fraction of the time it would take a ground ambulance, while simultaneously ensuring that ground ambulances remain available for less critical cases.
As you look to the important work you will undertake in the new Congress, we appreciate efforts to support this vital industry and look forward to working together to ensure patients have continued access to emergency, life-saving air medical services.
Sincerely,
Save Our Air Medical Resources (SOAR)
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