From left are Kim Dorman, Wilma Sellers, Annie Lee and Libby Stedman. Not pictured are Jim Sikes and Dave Andrews.

The call came in to the MEDUCARE communication center late one afternoon in 1990. A small airplane had crashed in Summerville after its engine failed and the wings had been ripped from the plane. The pilot, suffering from respiratory distress and multiple trauma, was still trapped inside the wreckage, Kim Dorman, MEDUCARE flight paramedic, remembers.

Dorman, Joe Turner, R.N., and a pilot boarded the twin engine MEDUCARE helicopter, equipped with life-support equipment and medical supplies for virtually any emergency situation. Within minutes, they arrived at the scene to begin critical care procedures that ultimately saved the pilot’s life.

This year MEDUCARE celebrates its 10th anniversary—a decade of providing the highest level of emergency care to critically ill or injured South Carolinians.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, MEDUCARE Transport Service receives calls from county agencies and other hospitals in South Carolina who have patients needing immediate medical intervention as a result of severe, life-threatening or potentially disabling conditions. Depending on the needs of the patient, MEDUCARE arranges emergency transportation using its helicopter, fixed wing airplane or ground ambulance services.

As a Level I Trauma Center, the highest level designated by the American College of Surgeons, MUSC Medical Center is capable of treating any type of critical illness or injury, explained E. Douglas Norcross, M.D., director, Trauma Service and Surgery-Trauma Intensive Care Unit (ICU). MEDUCARE was created in 1987 to provide the same high level of emergency care to patients while en route to the Medical Center.

Several key issues made critical care transport a necessity: the special needs of critically ill newborns; the highly skilled nursing care required when transporting patients with medical problems like coronary disease; and the need to transport directly from trauma scenes, said John M. Kratz, M.D., former medical director of the MEDUCARE program.

When a call comes into the communication center, the “hub” of MEDUCARE, communications specialists go to work. These team members, who are part of the National Association of Communications Specialists, chart nautical miles, plot courses, and work with both referring and receiving physicians to make sure the emergency transport process runs smoothly. They’re involved in every part of the transport process, including determining the best mode of transportation and medical team for the situation.

The adult critical flight team, consisting of a nurse and paramedic, transports trauma patients of any age and medical patients older than age 16. MEDUCARE’s advanced life support team, consisting of a paramedic and an emergency medical technician, provides transportation of non critical care patients of any age.

Because the majority of pediatric trauma incidents are respiratory related, especially in premature infants, respiratory therapists on MEDUCARE’s staff complement the care provided by pediatric neonatal flight nurses on the pediatric critical care team.

Lillian Carroll, MEDUCARE pediatric team leader and flight nurse, remembers Austin, a baby boy born at Charleston’s St. Francis Hospital just a few months ago. A hole in the tiny boy’s diaphragm had allowed part of his intestines to push through into the chest cavity, blocking his lungs from developing normally and making breathing very difficult. Though St. Francis is just miles away from MUSC, the medical care that the baby needed en route called for the services of MEDUCARE.

Within minutes the pediatric team and EMT driver had arrived at St. Francis in the MEDUCARE mobile ICU which is equipped with an isolette and all the smaller equipment needed to treat critically ill infants. After conferring with the physician and baby’s parents, Austin was transported to MUSC where surgery to repair his hernia was performed. Today, Carroll reports, he’s a happy, healthy baby.

Since 1987, MEDUCARE has provided a total of 28,002 transports: 21,224 ground transports, 6,916 helicopter transports, and 762 airplane transports. The MEDUCARE BK 117 helicopter, which transports within a 150-mile radius, is used when a patient’s condition requires intensive medical attention en route; distance causes serious delays in definitive medical care; or ambulances are hindered by road conditions, traffic congestion or inaccessibility. It can transport two patients simultaneously. When transport out of this radius is needed, a King Air E90 twin engine turboprop plane is used. The plane, equipped just like the helicopter, is available for emergency and non-emergency transports across the United States, and Canada, if needed. It’s also available for returning patients to their hometowns after treatment—like the case of a patient injured in an automobile accident in South Carolina who has no other means of getting home or to a local hospital or rehabilitation facility.

Ground transport is available for more routine transfers. Four advanced life support units are available for patients whose conditions are stable but require highly skilled care en route.

Annie Lee, Wilma Sellers, Jim Sikes, Kim Dorman, Libby Steadman and Dave Andrews have been with the MEDUCARE team since its inception. Dave Andrews, MEDUCARE head pilot, said, “It’s very satisfying to see how MEDUCARE has grown over the years.”

Wilma Sellers, administrative assistant, has worked with all sides of MEDUCARE. “I came to MEDUCARE from the nursing department excited about the beginning of a new program,” she said. “I have seen the program evolve from the delivery of the helicopter to the addition of the ground team.” Wilma is retiring this year after 30 years of service and said, “I will miss the excitement of something different happening each day, and the incredible group of people I have worked with.” MEDUCARE looks forward to serving the people of South Carolina and the surrounding regions for many years to come, and thanks everyone for their support during the first 10 years of service.

To request an emergency transport, call MEDUCARE at 792-3311. For routine transfers or discharges, call 792-7997.

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of MEDUCARE from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7. MUSC faculty and staff are invited to stop by the horseshoe and G-lot to take a first hand look at the MEDUCARE helicopter, ambulance and other equipment used by the transport teams. MUSC president James B. Edwards, D.M.D. will make brief remarks at 10:30 a.m. in the horseshoe.

Charlotte Webb, Creative Services, contributed to this article.