PHOTO: New Helipad at Vacaville Kaiser Brings Patient Care to Next Level

You could hear it before you could see it. As the Black Hawk helicopter came into sight, smart phones were at the ready and the crowd of 200 began to ooh and ahh as the rotors whirled and the skids touched down.

The Black Hawk arrived courtesy of the California Army National Guard from Mather Field near Sacramento for the March 8, 2013 grand opening celebration of Kaiser Permanente’s new helipad in Vacaville.

The 54-foot helipad is one of the largest hospital-based helipads in Northern California, capable of landing the large Black Hawk, and serving critically injured patients in the event of a community-wide disaster.

“Kaiser has demonstrated a commitment to not only the members they serve in Solano County, bur moreover, Kaiser has demonstrated their commitment to the residents and visitors of our county…they have invested in our safety and security,” said Ted Selby, Solano County EMS agency administrator as he addressed attendees.

The helipad began accepting helicopter traffic in January. “We are thrilled to bring yet another life-saving resource to the people of Solano County,” said Max Villalobos, senior vice president and hospital administrator for Kaiser Permanente in the Napa Solano area. “Not only will its size aid the community in the event of a disaster with multiple trauma victims,” Villalobos said, “But it will provide quicker access to our trauma center when minutes count.”

Kaiser Permanente’s Emergency Department is open to all – you do not have to be a member to access emergency care or trauma services.

Kaiser Permanente’s Vacaville Medical Center is currently designated as a Level III Trauma Center. Level III centers provide a wide range of care for trauma patients, including emergency resuscitation, surgery, and intensive care. Patients who require Level I or Level II trauma care are stabilized and then transported to the appropriate higher level of care.

Kaiser Permanente’s Vacaville Medical Center – which opened its Level III Trauma Center in October 2011 – is poised to compete to become Solano County’s Level II Trauma Center by the end of the year.

One of the biggest distinctions between a Level III and Level II Trauma Center is an established neurosurgery program. Kaiser Permanente Vacaville’s Medical Center has the only neurosurgery program in Solano County.

“Our trauma service takes full advantage of our world-class team, our advanced information technology and our state-of-the-art facilities,” said Steven Stricker, MD, physician-in-chief for Kaiser Permanente in Napa Solano. “I’m very proud that we can offer these resources to the community.”

This is the second trauma center for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. In 2009, Kaiser Permanente launched a Level II Trauma Center at its South Sacramento Medical Center.