HONESDALE, PA — More than 200 people, many of them first responders, turned out for a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 16, marking the completion of Wayne Memorial Hospital’s (WMH) helipad at 1839 Fair Ave. A Geisinger Life Flight chopper was on site and open to all to climb aboard and investigate.

The helipad will be used by three hospital systems. The helicopter is a mini-emergency room, complete with ventilators, IV pumps and more. It’s used to transport critical accident patients, premature newborns, cardiac patients, critical care adult, pediatric and organ transplant patients. The other two hospital systems are Commonwealth Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Hospital CEO David Hoff officiated the ceremony. He thanked the WMH Auxiliary for funding most of the $124,000 cost of the site, and the Geisinger flight crew for giving tours of their chopper. Auxiliary President Carol Sturm and past president Martha Wilson spoke about the auxiliary and its long-standing history of supporting the hospital.

Jim Pettinato, director of patient care services, concluded the ceremony by noting that it was part of a much bigger picture. The helipad was built to support an application for Level IV Trauma status, which should be completed next year.

The helipad has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Pennsylvania Aviation Bureau, but is still awaiting clearance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the completion of training for several local ambulance companies.

Life Flight Nurse Ed Gromelski, RN, was impressed by the crowd. “There’s a lot of community support here, it’s good to see,” he said.