posted April 17, 2024

Program will result in nearly 20,000 new trees planted in national forests across the U.S.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Apr 17, 2024 – JeffSTAT, Jefferson Health’s medical transportation service, and Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical services provider, have partnered together as part of a carbon offset program with the National Forest Foundation—the first of its kind in the air medical services field.

Air Methods and Jefferson Health together provide approximately 2,300 patient flights per year. As part of this partnership, every patient flight this year will result in eight trees planted in national forests across the United States.

“We recognize the importance of finding innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change and improve environmental health in our communities,” said Baligh R. Yehia, MD, President, Jefferson Health. “This collaborative partnership with Air Methods and the National Forest Foundation underscores Jefferson’s commitment to improving lives while working to create a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

This initiative will result in nearly 20,000 new trees planted. With one hundred trees being able to remove 430 pounds of air pollutants in one year alone, this partnership will provide enough trees to balance the carbon produced by jet fuel from the JeffSTAT program annually.

“As the air medical leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure we are doing our part to protect our environments. By partnering with JeffSTAT on this program, we are demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship,” said Air Methods CEO JaeLynn Williams. “By supporting reforestation efforts, we can contribute to the well-being of the local communities we serve and the ecosystems where our flights operate.”

There are 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands in the United States. The National Forest Foundation works to ensure that the right trees are planted in the right areas during the right time of year, based on where there is the greatest need. Reforesting national forests helps to improve air quality, mitigate climate change, generate fresh water and provides a habitat for thousands of plant, fish and wildlife species.

Jefferson Health’s new carbon offset program is one of many ways that the organization is working to improve environmental health. Among Jefferson’s other sustainability-related endeavors, include: LEED certification and energy-friendly lighting in the Honickman Center, the health system’s new state-of-the-art medical facility.