Liberty Regional Medical Center hosted the ribbon cutting of Lifestar 2, which will be based in Hinesville, on Monday, October 17.

Lifestar 2 functions as a mobile ICU, providing a higher level of care, continuing the care started at the hospital or from the scene.

“We opened the base two months ago and we’ve been seeing a reason why this aircraft is positioned where is it in Hinesville,” said Patrick Lamontine, account executive for LifeStar program in Georgia and South Carolina. “They’ve been doing great things. It is critical to be able to get those patients to a high level of care when that is needed and it’s amazing to see how quickly and how much they have already had to jump into the mix. We’re honored to be an extension of care to the local EMS agencies and the surrounding counties as well.”

In the last month alone, Liberty Regional Medical Center’s emergency room has treated 3,000 patients.

“If you have happened to come around our emergency room lately, we have been overwhelmed,” said Tammy Mims, CEO of LRMC.

Normally, the hospital treats 27,000 people a year in its emergency room. Those who are not treated and discharged or either admitted or sent to a higher level of care.

Mims said having LifeStar 2 will mean even greater care for Liberty County residents.

“Now we have an even faster response and an air ICU to start treatment sooner,” she said.

The helicopter also will carry something most ambulances don’t – blood. In fact, an air nurse gave a patient blood recently while in transit on the air ambulance.

“This is improving the quality of life for our citizens of Liberty County,” said Chairman Donald Lovette. “This facility has saved many lives and I am happy to be part of the process where we continue to provide the quality of life for our citizens and what they deserve.”

County Administrator Joey Brown also took note of an air ambulance’s impact.

“I have been touched personally in my family with a life that has been saved by a unit like this,” he said. “They would not have been saved without an air evac.”

The LifeStar 2 is a Bell 407. LifeStar 1, based in Springfield, is also a Bell 407.

LifeStar officials are scheduling an open house for January when the Liberty County base, including crew quarters, helipad and hangar, is fully completed.