Frequently Asked Questions (Supplied by Air Evac)
Q: What are the key details of the announcement?
A: Air Evac is expanding its facilities to include a new headquarters in O’Fallon, Mo., and IT and Accounting positions in Dallas. The new locations enhance AEL’s ability to deliver air medical transportation services throughout the country and position the company for future growth.
Q: What is happening to West Plains?
A: West Plains will continue to retain a significant portion of our operations and will continue to be the location of the largest single group of employees for Membership, Patient Accounts, and the Completion Center. Air Evac will transition most of its Communications Center functions to O’Fallon over time through growth and attrition, but will maintain a Communications Center in West Plains to ensure redundancy.
Q: When is O’Fallon expected to be fully operational?
A: The new locations are expected to become operational by November 2012.
Q: What are the implications of this move for the existing Air Evac facilities?
A: The Patient Accounts group out of Houston, Mo. will be relocated to West Plains. This relocation will occur before the end of the year. We are currently working through the timing for this move, however, it will follow the AEL Headquarters move.
Q: What impact will the move have on Air Evac’s customers?
A: We will continue to provide high quality service to our customers while growing to better service communities across the country.
Q: Will staff levels change significantly during the transition?
A: No, Air Evac plans to keep staffing levels constant during the transition. Approximately 6 percent of the workforce will be affected, and nearly 450 positions will remain in West Plains.
Q: What is the rationale for expanding to O’Fallon?
A: Our rationale for expanding to O’Fallon is three-fold – the move will provide better access to the bases, broader access to potential employee pool, and overall, improved service primarily due to ease of travel and more centralized location.
Better access to bases means we will have…
Better access to major airport hub which will provide better access to bases
Streamlined delivery of parts/ supplies to bases
Easier time connecting field personnel to HQ
Broader access to potential employee pool means we will have…
Large regional talent pool from which to draw
Ability to attract national management talent (both within the company and from outside) to provide the company with leaders for our growth
Improved service means we will have…
An enhanced ability to deliver on our mission: to provide emergency air medical transportation in rural areas
Q: Why was O’Fallon selected?
A: After researching and analyzing more than 20 locations, O’Fallon was selected based on its ability to provide increased air access to dispersed company operations, access to a large local labor pool, ability to recruit national talent and attractive real estate options for AEL and its employees.
Q: What functions are moving to O’Fallon? How many positions will this move impact?
A: Air Evac’s Headquarters functions are moving to O’Fallon, MO (45 mi west of St. Louis)
~ 120 employees from corporate offices and Part 135 operations and maintenance
New Comm Center pod (to supplement operations in West Plains)
Operational Control Center, Medlink & Maintenance Control
Functions moving include:
Air Evac executives and staff support
Aviation Operations and training
Development
Education
HR
Information systems (partial, 2 remain, 5 to Lewisville, Texas and 4 to O’Fallon)
Part 135 Maintenance and records
Materials Management/Supply Chaiin
MedLink, Maintenance Control and Operational control
Public Relations
Safety
Q: What functions are moving to Lewisville? How many positions will this move impact?
A: Certain Accounting & IT positions are moving to Lewisville, TX. Approximately 30 positions will move, which will complete our accounting/IT integration
Q: What functions are moving to West Plains? How many positions will this move impact?
A: Patient Accounts is being centralized in West Plains. Approximately 45 Patient Accounts positions will move to West Plains and the Houston, MO office will close.
Q: What functions are remaining in West Plains? How many positions are remaining?
A: The majority of positions (approximately 450 employees) will remain in West Plains – as it will retain a significant portion of our operations.
The following functions will remain in West Plains:
• Membership
• Patient Accounts
• Part 145 Completion Center
• Facilities Management
• Resource Utilization
• We also plan to maintain a small Communications Center in West Plains for redundancy.
Q: Will relocation and / or severance be offered?
A: We take pride in our identity as a family company and will continue to take care of our people the best way we know how. Therefore, we are choosing not to involuntarily sever positions that are moving. Affected employees will be given the opportunity to move and be provided with relocation assistance. We want to do everything we can to keep each and every employee as we look towards the future.
Q: What happens with those who do not relocate? Are they offered a severance of any kind or do they just depart from the company?
Employees whose positions are being relocated and have chosen not to stay with the company will be offered a severance package if they stay with the company until their release date which will be between Nov. 1, 2012 and February 2013. That package includes:
• Payment of their regular wage through that date
• Three months salary stay bonus
• Severance pay – 2 weeks of pay per year of service
Q: What can you tell me about the O’Fallon HQ site? Is there potential to expand as Air Evac’s workforce grows?
A: The O’Fallon headquarters will occupy 52,000 square feet, of a 78,000-square-foot, single-use office building. The facility will house 120 employees from the company’s corporate offices, Part 135 operations staff, Operational Control Center, Medlink , and Maintenance Control. The selected site has expansion potential to allow space for future growth.