Despite noise concerns, helipad will open Oct. 13
The apparent leader of this opposition, Dana Moore, president of the Charles Village Civic Association, could not be reached for comment.
Dr. John C. Wang, chief of the Heart Institute's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, said he believes that the helipad will be vitally important to patients.
"[Having a helipad] can mean the difference literally between life and death," he stated. Flights will begin on Monday.
The helipad will be a long overdue addition to help improve the level of patient care, according to Schindler.
"We're one of five full-service cardiac hospitals in the state, and we were the only one that didn't have a helipad, which limited a patient's access to our hospital," she said.
UMH is home to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Heart Institute, the only top-100 cardiovascular hospital in the Baltimore region, and the Curtis National Hand Center, the largest of its kind in the nation.
The new helicopter pad was constructed specifically to serve cardiac and hand trauma patients.
Schindler noted that many patients will not be from the surrounding area but will fly in from out of state.
Previously, patients had to be transported to UMH by ambulance, a ride that took 20 to 30 minutes. The helipad will drastically reduce this transit time.
Schindler predicted that the volume of cases would remain low, estimating about three hand traumas per month and one to five cardiovascular cases per week.
She also noted that the addition of a helipad was not a precursor to future expansion.
"We have no desire or intention to turn into a trauma center," Schindler said.
Last year's construction approval on March 21 came with a clause stating that usage of the helipad for shock trauma cases "would require Mayor and City Council approval."
According to a hospital press release, new cardiac physicians have been hired to provide care for the extra cases that the helipad will bring to the hospital.
Dr. John C. Wang, chief of the Heart Institute's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, said he believes that the helipad will be vitally important to patients.
"[Having a helipad] can mean the difference literally between life and death," he stated. Flights will begin on Monday.
The helipad will be a long overdue addition to help improve the level of patient care, according to Schindler.
"We're one of five full-service cardiac hospitals in the state, and we were the only one that didn't have a helipad, which limited a patient's access to our hospital," she said.
UMH is home to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Heart Institute, the only top-100 cardiovascular hospital in the Baltimore region, and the Curtis National Hand Center, the largest of its kind in the nation.
The new helicopter pad was constructed specifically to serve cardiac and hand trauma patients.
Schindler noted that many patients will not be from the surrounding area but will fly in from out of state.
Previously, patients had to be transported to UMH by ambulance, a ride that took 20 to 30 minutes. The helipad will drastically reduce this transit time.
Schindler predicted that the volume of cases would remain low, estimating about three hand traumas per month and one to five cardiovascular cases per week.
She also noted that the addition of a helipad was not a precursor to future expansion.
"We have no desire or intention to turn into a trauma center," Schindler said.
Last year's construction approval on March 21 came with a clause stating that usage of the helipad for shock trauma cases "would require Mayor and City Council approval."
According to a hospital press release, new cardiac physicians have been hired to provide care for the extra cases that the helipad will bring to the hospital.
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