The Evolution of REACH
REACH Air Medical Services, headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, provides helicopter and airplane patient transportation for critically ill or injured patients. REACH has bases in Concord, El Centro, Lakeport, Marysville, Redding, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Thermal, and Upland, California, as well as Corvallis, Oregon and San Antonio, Texas.
Milestones
In April 1987, REACH 1 began providing helicopter air ambulance services to Northern California using twin-engine, instrument-flight-capable Agusta 109A aircraft. REACH Air Ambulance originated as a program of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. In October 1988, the program transitioned to a private operation, with Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital as its prime sponsor.
In 1989, REACH expanded service to include the use of fixed-wing aircraft.
In 1993, Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland selected REACH to be its primary provider of air ambulance services for critically ill or injured children. This facility, a pediatric trauma center, supports the highest volume pediatric intensive care unit in northern California. This relationship has catalyzed REACH's heavy emphasis on pediatric critical care education and training. REACH has transported thousands of critically ill or injured children to Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland
In July 1993, REACH begain service from a second base of helicopter operations (REACH 2) at the Solano County Airport in Vacaville, California. This base
was relocated to Executive Airport in Sacramento in 1998.
In October 1996, REACH established a 24-hour state-of-the-science communications center.
In 1998, a third rotor-wing base (REACH 3) was was established at Buchanan Field in Concord, California.
In March 1998, REACH achieved CAMTS accreditation.
In March 2000, REACH established a full-time clinical training institute.
In April 2000, REACH initiated a relationship with Redding Medical Center (now Shasta Regional Medical Center) in northern California. This base was designated REACH 5.
In October 2000, REACH founder, Medical Director and CEO, John L. McDonald, M.D. passed away. Gary McCalla, M.D. assumed the Medical Director position.
In April 2002, the first annual Dr. McDonald JUST GO! run/walk takes place, raising money for the John L. McDonald, M.D. Paramedic Education Scholarship which is administered by the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.
In early 2004, REACH 6 was established in Lakeport, California.
In February 2005, REACH constructed a new facility at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport. REACH consolidated its primary maintenance facility as well as the REACH 1 operations at this location.
In 2005, REACH 2 was relocated from Sacramento to Lodi, California. REACH 7 was established in Marysville, California.
In June 2005, REACH formally established a second fixed-wing operation, REACH 55, in Santa Rosa, California.
In August 2005, the REACH for Life membership program was launched.
In May 2006, REACH 8 was established in Corvallis, Oregon.
On April 17, 2007, REACH marked twenty years of service.
On July 1, 2008, REACH 9 was established in El Centro, California to provide rotor-wing service to Southern California. This base was the first to use our new generation helicopter, the Eurocopter EC135.
2008 also saw the formation of an expanded Board of Directors to provide strategic direction and counsel to help propel REACH into the future.
On July 17, 2009, REACH 11 opened in Thermal, California at the Desert Resorts Regional Airport to provide services to communities throughout Riverside County and surrounding areas.
On October 21, 2009, REACH 12 opened in San Antonio, Texas. The operation is a partnership with Methodist Healthcare to provide service to residents located throughout Bexar county and most of South Texas.
On December 1, 2009 REACH 2 moved operations from Lodi to Stockton Airport in San Joaquin county, California.
On March 1, 2010, REACH opened a new base in Upland, California. The public/private partnership provides life-saving 24/7 emergency helicopter service to San Bernardino County and surrounding areas as part of the county's system of air
ambulances.
