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Miami, FL – The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners (BCC) unanimously approved an application for a helipad at Jackson South Community Hospital, moving the hospital closer to readiness for being a part of Jackson Health System’s expansion of its world-renowned trauma service. The helipad approval satisfies one of the state requirements to bring a Level 2 trauma center to the residents of south Miami-Dade County. On March 19, 2013, the North Miami Beach City Council voted 5-2 to approve the construction of a helipad for Jackson North Medical Center, which sits in that community.
“The combination of approving votes for both trauma helipads at Jackson North last month and Jackson South today is a vote for saving lives in all of south and north Miami-Dade County,” said Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System. “When tragedies unfortunately occur, victims will be taken to the closest trauma center, and Jackson wants to provide those centers.”
Trauma centers at Jackson South and Jackson North will bring those specialized services closer to victims in need. They also provide immediate access to the experts at the world-class Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
In seeking approval for the helipads, Jackson conducted extensive studies, including acoustical and safety evaluations. Hospital officials also met with homeowners interested in the impact that the proposed helipad could have on their neighborhoods. Both helipads would be located to safe areas of the hospital campuses, and helicopter transports would be landing roughly one to three times a week on average. Most trauma patients are transported by ground.
Mr. Migoya expressed Jackson’s gratitude to the BCC as well as optimism that state regulators will draft appropriate new rules for determining where and when new trauma centers will open. Thanks to the resources of Ryder – Miami-Dade County’s only adult and pediatric Level 1 trauma center – Jackson North and Jackson South are the community’s best-prepared hospitals to bring that service into our neighborhoods. Jackson has received approval from the FAA for both helipads.
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