[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 77 (Friday, June 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING OSF SAINT FRANCIS ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIFE FLIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RAY LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend OSF Saint Francis 
Medical Center, based in Peoria, Illinois, for the 20th Anniversary of 
their Life Flight program. The OSF Life Flight program is the largest 
of its kind in Illinois. Due to the central location of Peoria, the 
Life Flight helicopter travels great distances to ensure my 
constituents, and others in surrounding areas, access to lifesaving 
medical technology at their innovative medical center.
  In 1984, OSF Saint Francis initiated the Life Flight air transport 
service to serve 18 Central Illinois counties and 26 area hospitals. 
Since its inception, 20,000 critically-ill patients have been 
successfully transported by Life Flight, making it the busiest such 
service in Illinois. The flawless safety record and level of medical 
care maintained by Life Flight is a testament to the professionalism of 
the pilots, mechanics, nurses, communication specialists, and 
physicians involved in every voyage. With the addition of a second 
helicopter in 2002, OSF St. Francis now has the unique honor of being 
the only hospital-based, two helicopter program in Illinois.
  It is with great pride that I recognize OSF Saint Francis on the 20th 
Anniversary of their Life Flight program and thank them for the past 
two decades of outstanding service to Central Illinois.

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