PHX Reporter

BannerAir, Banner Health’s hospital-based air ambulance transport service, today opened a base at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, its fifth base in Arizona. The opening was commemorated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in collaboration with the Casa Grande Fire Department, Eloy Fire Department, and the Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce.

The base will be home to a new BannerAir helicopter, allowing for more coverage of Arizona communities and those in need of life-saving emergency transport. Since BannerAir launched in 2021, the service has also added antivenom and blood transfusion products onboard its helicopters to provide better treatment for patients suffering from snake bites or severe trauma.

“We’re extremely excited about the addition of this new base in Casa Grande and what it will mean for the community and all of Arizona,” said Richard Swedbergh, chief operating officer of Banner Health Emergency Transportation. “This is another step forward in providing better care to the people we serve, especially for those in rural areas where getting to a hospital can be more difficult.”

The new base became fully operational today and is the second base to open at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. BannerAir's helicopters are staffed with highly trained pilots, nurses, and paramedics who provide treatment to critically ill patients of all ages. Other bases are located in Casa Grande (two bases), Payson, Queen Creek, and Sun City West.

“The addition of Banner 5 to our Casa Grande location will improve our ability to respond quickly to emergent needs in both local and surrounding communities,” said Aimee Kollat, director of flight services for BannerAir. “We hope to provide even more relief to emergency medical service partners on the ground by providing quick, efficient transport for critical patients.”

About Banner Health

Banner Health is one of the largest secular nonprofit health care systems in the country. In addition to 33 hospitals, Banner also operates an academic medicine division, Banner – University Medicine, and Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with one of the world’s leading cancer programs, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner’s array of services includes a health insurance division, employed physician groups, outpatient surgery centers, urgent care locations, home care and hospice services, retail pharmacies, stand-alone imaging centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation services behavioral health services a research division and a nursing registry To make health care easier 100% of banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits Patients may also reserve spots at banner urgent care locations can book appointments online with many banner-employed doctors headquartered arizona banner health also has locations california colorado nebraska nevada wyoming For more information visit bannerhealth.com

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