Mercy Medical Angels Celebrates 50 Years of Service
The Beginning
The year was 1972, and the field of healthcare was making progress. New hospitals, new technology, and new training for doctors began to arrive in metropolitan areas. All this brought new hope for patients.
But what happened when a patient lived too far away from the big cities, and treatment was out of reach? Traveling to medical care was stressful and costly. All too often, not having transportation to medical care spelled the difference between life and death. This unseen struggle carved despair into the hearts of countless children, Veterans, and families. Who would come to their rescue when hope ran out?
This was where the story of Mercy Medical Angels began.
Getting Off the Ground
A pastor and a federal engineer met in 1972. They both felt a call to serve the public. In addition, they held a passion for aviation – in fact, they were both general aviation pilots. Together, they saw the previously unseen struggle of patients who couldn’t access the care they needed.
The pastor and federal engineer borrowed a private airplane. Using their new resource, they began flying patients in the Washington, D.C. area to life-changing, life-saving medical care. And from that effort, Mercy Medical Angels was born.
However, the demand soon exceeded what the borrowed airplane could provide. In 1977, Mercy Medical Angels purchased a Beechcraft Bonanza. This small plane made a big difference when it went full-time for charitable transportation. Then in 1985, Mercy Medical Angels acquired more aircraft. This enabled the mission to expand even more.
Reaching Higher
In 1990, Mercy Medical Angels earned a Federal Air Carrier Certificate. This was a huge accomplishment. It added to the organization’s credibility and ensured patients’ safety. In fact, Mercy Medical Angels has maintained a 100% safety record since its founding.
Mercy Medical Angels partnered with commercial airlines in 1995. This helped even more patients, especially when their treatment was too far for a general aviation aircraft. The partnerships have thrived to this day.
The operations base had moved a few times between the founding and the 1990s. In 1997, operations found a permanent home: the office suites at 4620 Haygood Road in Virginia Beach. That same year, Mercy Medical Angels created a special program called Angel Wings for Veterans. This program addressed the specific needs of Veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their families. Mercy Medical Angels was consistently setting – and reaching – higher goals.
Rising to the New Millennium
The new millennium ushered in new challenges, and Mercy Medical Angels was ready to meet them. By now, the nonprofit had managed to recruit many more pilots who volunteered their time and resources, flying patients to medical care for free.
In 2002, Mercy Medical Angels established a program called HSEATS (Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System) in partnership with the federal government. HSEATS was designed to provide relief in the aftermath of natural disasters – and it couldn’t have come at a better time. 2005 brought one of the most destructive hurricane seasons on record, which included Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Mercy Medical Angels’ volunteer pilots flew more than 2,600 relief missions in the aftermath of these hurricanes, bringing vital supplies to the people who were affected.
During the next decade, Mercy Medical Angels continued to expand its mission. In 2009, a ground transportation program was founded. Gas cards, bus tickets, and train tickets gave another option to patients in need of long-distance medical transportation. Two years later, in 2011, Mercy Medical Angels served patients across all 50 states.
Breaking Barriers, Breaking Records
2020 and the years after brought unprecedented challenges, but Mercy Medical Angels was able to adapt. Now, patients from all over the world could fly to and from the United States for treatment, thanks to the partnerships with commercial airlines.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic restricting travel, Mercy Medical Angels broke previous service records. The charity provided more than 22,000 patient trips across the globe in 2020. This enabled children, Veterans, and families to access the care they needed. In breaking this record, Mercy Medical Angels also broke barriers to critical medical care. Now, the charity is the largest provider of charitable medical transportation in the world.
Marking a Milestone
The year is 2022, and the progress from the past has paid off. This year marks a milestone for Mercy Medical Angels: 50 years of serving patients in need of transportation to medical care. During the golden anniversary, we look back at history. At the same time, we look towards the future. The future will bring new challenges, but also new beginnings.
The life-changing, life-saving work is needed now more than ever. While many things have changed over 50 years, one thing will not change. Mercy Medical Angels will remain dedicated to the mission: removing the barrier to medical care with transportation on the ground and in the air.
Here’s to the next 50 years – and continuing to "Deliver HOPE Daily” to those who need it the most!
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