INVERMERE-Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, Kootenay East Regional Hospital District Chair John Kettle, Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft, and Interior Health representatives officially reopened the Invermere and District Hospital’s heliport recently.

“The completion of the heliport project is great news for the community and the Invermere and District Hospital,” said Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett. “Our government is committed to the provision of health services in rural areas. The completion of this project ensures patients have timely access to the best care possible.”

In August 2011, Interior Health received the go ahead from the Ministry of Health and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District to include the needed heliport upgrades in the scope of the Invermere and District Hospital Redevelopment and Emergency Department Expansion project. The total cost of the heliport project was $300, 000.

“The Regional Hospital District Board is pleased these upgrades are complete and the site has been recertified,” said John Kettle, KERHD Chair. “This was an important project for the KERHD board and the community and I’d like to thank everyone involved for getting the Invermere heliport upgraded so quickly.”

Upgrades to the heliport included relocating and enlarging the size of the helipad to accommodate larger helicopters, lowering and marking of light standards, moving BC Hydro poles, and installing height restriction gates.

“I’d like to thank the staff and physicians at the Invermere and District Hospital, BC Ambulance, and STARS Air Ambulance along with Interior Health’s patient transport office for their work in ensuring safe patient transport while the necessary upgrades were being done,” said IH Board Chair Norman Embree. “Patient care is at the heart of what these teams do and they do an outstanding job.”

STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) helicopters were able to resume landings at the Invermere and District Hospital’s heliport on Monday, August 27th. In addition to landing at a certified heliport STARS and B.C. Ambulance can use the “EK Autolaunch” protocol which enables local ambulance attendants to request STARS at the scene of a major accident.

Operations at the Invermere and District Hospital’s heliport have been on hold since June 2010 when Transport Canada identified that upgrades were required to meet current safety standards.

The $4.3 million ER Redevelopment project at the Invermere and District Hospital was completed in October, 2010.