As we navigate the rapidly changing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our communities, the Mercy Flights team remains vigilant in our focus on caring for neighbors, friends and families. With guidance from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and local and state health authorities, we continue to monitor the situation closely and work with our partner fire departments and hospital systems to ensure that our communities have access to the care they need.
Mercy Flights takes pride in being a regional leader in Emergency Medical Services and being prepared for any potential outbreak of an infectious disease. In addition to following our comprehensive procedure for infectious diseases, we are also responding immediately to updated guidelines and practice changes specific to COVID-19 as the global pandemic evolves.
Some of our standard infectious disease procedures include:
- Daily reviews of staff levels, safety guidelines, resources and supply chain
- Extensive cleaning of all equipment and facilities
- In-depth patient screening via incoming 911 calls
- Use of personal protective equipment for staff working with all patients
On Friday, March 13, Mercy Flights hosted a statewide video conference with Ed Racht, MD and chief medical officer at Global Medical Response to provide additional insights about COVID-19. The conference was made available at no cost to all EMS providers in Oregon via live streaming to strengthen our collective response to the current situation.
We understand that many of our community members are facing personal and professional challenges related to the spread of COVID-19. While there is still uncertainty about the road ahead, we continue to encourage the practice of prevention. There are a number of things we can all do to minimize the spread of the virus. We ask that you follow the CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and those around you.
Mercy flights was founded in 1949 with a social mission to serve residents in need. As the only nonprofit medical transport company in Oregon, we remain committed to this mission during challenging times like these, and far into the future as well.
