(InvestigateTV) — When it comes to a medical emergency, every second matters.
For people who live in rural areas, that help may often come from above with the use of medical helicopters.
Over the past decade, demand for air ambulance services has grown more than 50%. One factor experts say is a rising number of rural hospitals shutting their doors.
Since 2015, more than 100 rural hospitals have closed and currently, 30% of all rural hospitals in the country are at risk of closing.
As rural hospitals close and demand for medical flights grows, the healthcare industry faces another hurdle, a shortage of medical pilots.
Reporter Blair Miller flew with a crew to show us the critical need for these first responders and how they’re helping people who need it most.
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