Saint Mary’s Celebrates 10-Year Partnership with Survival Flight

Saint Mary’s Regional Health System is proud to celebrate 10 years of collaboration with Survival Flight, marking a decade of expanded access to critical air medical services for patients across the Arkansas River Valley. 

Survival Flight 7, based at Saint Mary’s in Russellville, completed its first flight on July 16, 2016. Since then, the Survival Flight team has worked alongside Saint Mary’s, local emergency responders and other healthcare professionals to help provide timely transportation for patients in need of advanced or specialized care. 

This collaboration has strengthened emergency response capabilities throughout the region by helping connect critically ill and injured patients with the appropriate level of care as quickly and safely as possible. 

The late Steve Perry was instrumental in bringing the Survival Flight base to Russellville. His vision and leadership helped establish an important resource that continues to serve communities throughout the region. 

“For the past 10 years, Survival Flight has been an important partner in our shared commitment to serving patients during some of their most critical moments,” said Casey Willis, Saint Mary’s CEO. “We are grateful for the skill, dedication and compassion their team brings to our hospital and the communities we serve.” 

Survival Flight provides emergency air medical transportation and is staffed by highly trained flight crews prepared to respond to a wide range of medical emergencies. Having the Survival Flight 7 base located at Saint Mary’s allows hospital and flight teams to coordinate quickly when air transportation is needed. 

“This anniversary represents more than a decade of flights. It represents countless moments of teamwork, trust and compassionate care,” said Latricia Maynard, Survival Flight 7 base clinical manager. “We are honored to serve alongside Saint Mary’s and look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.” 

Survival Flight will recognize the milestone during a 10-year celebration on Thursday, July 16, at the Survival Flight 7 base, located at 1813 W. Main St. in Russellville. 

Saint Mary’s thanks the pilots, nurses, paramedics, mechanics and support teams who have contributed to 10 years of service and collaboration.