As with any situation or emergency, UMC was prepared to continue providing patient care for our community during the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary grounding of all flights in El Paso, which included air medical services.
After midnight, when UMC became aware of the temporary closure of airspace in El Paso through local news reports, conversation amongst several El Paso hospital CEOs began to determine what the impact would be and how we could assist each other through what was initially reported to last 10 days.
During the temporary grounding, UMC remained fully operational and did not experience issues with transfers via air medical services, but was prepared nonetheless to respond by other means, if it became necessary.
Capacity, staffing, critical supply levels, and contingency protocols remained at the forefront to ensure patient safety while air transport was unavailable. Coordination was maintained with our healthcare partners, as well as Emergency Medical Services.
As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, we at UMC pride ourselves in the safety protocols, routine drills and continuity of care plans that are in place to ensure we have an adequate supply of medical equipment and resources to continue providing the uninterrupted patient care our region depends on.
