Helistop saves time and lives

Photo submitted by Bill Kerans, SHLH.

Photo submitted by Bill Kerans, SHLH.

LUDINGTON — The new helistop landing pad at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital has been used about five times since it opened on Jan. 22. Previously the helicopter landed at Mason County Airport in order to transfer emergency patients to Grand Rapids, taking away valuable time. The flight takes about 30 minutes to downtown Grand Rapids, but an additional 15 minutes was usually added because the patient needed to be transported by ambulance from the hospital to the airport.