Air Angels

[sikorskypilot]

February 19, 2009

 

AIR ANGELS, INC. TERMINATES OPERATIONS

BOLINGBROOK, IL -- February 19, 2009 – Air Angels, Inc., air and ground ambulance services, will cease operations effective immediately.

 

Jim Adams, CEO of Air Angels, states, “Since the purchase of Air Angels in 2007, we have attempted to build a viable Midwest base of expansion and operation. Recent and ongoing events lead us to believe that our venture in Illinois is no longer viable. A great deal of effort, exploration and research has gone into making the difficult decision to close Air Angels. It is especially painful to make a business decision that requires not only the loss of employment of many people, but a reduction in valuable life-saving services to their community, as well.”

 

Adams continued, “We would like to sincerely thank our employees, our regional hospital and emergency medical services partners, and the communities we have served for their support in our efforts. We have delivered 60-day termination notices to all Air Angels employees. Operations are completely suspended immediately in both our ground ambulance and air (helicopter) units.”

 

Representatives of Air Angels will be contacting regional hospitals, emergency medical services agencies, and other transport providers in order to assure that both ground and air transportation for critically ill and injured patients will be uninterrupted.

 

Air Angels, Inc. was founded in 1998 as one of the Midwest's only full-service air and ground critical care transportation providers. Air Angels pilots, nurses and paramedics cared for and successfully transported thousands of patients to regional healthcare facilities and emergency agencies throughout Illinois, Indiana and surrounding states.

 

SUMMARY: Effective Thursday, February 19, 2009, Air Angels, Inc. has permanently suspended operations in both its ground and air ambulance units;

33 employees of Air Angels have received 60-day notices to end their employment

Representatives of Air Angels will be contacting regional hospitals, emergency medical services agencies, and other transport providers in order to assure that both ground and air transportation for critically ill and injured patients will be uninterrupted.

 

A sad day, in ems. Good Luck to all the employees who helped critical care patients in the Chicagoland area, and lets never forget the ones that are not with us still today.

 

Pilot Dell Waugh, 69, of Carmel, Ind.

Nurse William Mann, 31, of Chicago

Paramedic Ronald Battiato, 41, of Peotone, Ill.

Patient 13 month old Kirstian Blockinger of Leland, Ill.

Pilot Michael Russell, 52, of Waukegan

Edited February 20, 2009 by sikorskypilot

[West Coaster]

That's a shame, lots of really good talent joining the unemployed list these days.

[klas]

"Recent ... events lead us to believe that our venture is nor longer viable..."

 

Riiiight. This sounds like they are taking there marbles & leaving to make a point. The Trib report states that the family of the patient killed filed suit, alleging, "...widespread negligence and failure to practice federal safety recommendations."

 

Sounds like they are laying groundwork for Bankruptcy so the family doesn't collect.