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HCA Florida Healthcare expressed appreciation to the Levy County Board of County Commissioners for approving a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) at its meeting last week. The COPCN is required to base air ambulance services, operated by Air Methods, in Levy County.
HCA Florida Healthcare is proud to partner with Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service, to provide air ambulance services for seriously injured or ill residents or visitors.
With anticipated air ambulance service to begin by spring 2026, this new lifesaving air ambulance service will provide residents with greater access to quicker response for trauma, stroke and other medical emergencies.
“The amount of time to get a seriously injured or ill patient to hospital treatment, is one of the most critical factors in saving lives,” said HCA Florida AirLife Medical Director Dr. Amit Rawal, an emergency medicine and EMS physician at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital. “With the availability of air ambulance services, we will reduce transport times to definitive lifesaving care for our patients. In partnership with local 911 EMS agencies, we will save more lives and reduce long-term disabilities from traumatic injuries, stroke, heart attack and other serious conditions.”
HCA Florida Healthcare and Air Methods look forward to continuing to work closely with the emergency medical services providers serving this community to enhance access to critical healthcare services across North Central Florida.