Dispute Could Delay Emergency Flights to LLUMC

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that emergency flights to several hospitals, including Loma Linda University Medical Center, may see some kind of interruption in service because of a business dispute between Van Nuys Airport Aviation Companies.

The companies, Helinet and Pentastar, are at odds over a development agreement at the Van Nuys headquarters that fell through. The latter company is trying to evict Helinet’s helicopters from their current stations, according to the Times report.

But moving their helicopters could delay take-off times, Helinet President Alan Purwin told the Los Angeles Times. And that means flights transporting organs for transplantation could be affected, according to the news report.

Helinet picks up organs from hospitals around the region and flies them to UCLA Health System, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Keck Hospital of USC and Loma Linda University Medical Center.

“In organ transplantation, time is of critical importance in getting organs from donors to recipients,” said Jeff Butler, executive director of clinical services with UCLA Health System. “The faster and more efficient the transplant team can be in ... this crucial time period, the better outcomes for our patients.”

For more detailed information on the dispute, click on the Los Angeles Times story.