Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines announced yesterday that it will begin operating a second air ambulance out of the Knoxville airport starting Nov. 15.

A Bell 407 helicopter will be stationed in Knoxville to better serve the areas south and east of Des Moines, including Pella, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Corydon and Bloomfield.

Currently, the Mercy One helicopter serves a 75-mile radius around Des Moines. Mercy One received 1,320 requests for transport in 2009, of which 433 came from southeast Iowa.

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