Kathy Butler is the Communications Coordinator for the communication (dispatch) center at LifeFlight Eagle.
The communication center is the hub of the LifeFlight Eagle program managing all radio and phone traffic with LifeFlight Eagle aircraft, requesting agencies and the hospitals we serve. Kathy’s background makes her especially well suited for her job. She spent eight years as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for MAST, the ground ambulance service in Kansas City, Missouri.
At that time, MAST was contracted to provide the communication center services first for Research Eagle and then later for LifeFlight Eagle when that program and the Spirit of Kansas City Life Flight merged in 1996. In 1998, LifeFlight Eagle formed its own communication center and Kathy joined the team as one of the original communication specialists. She became restless after a couple of years and in 2000 she left to pursue a career in law enforcement. Fortunately for us, it didn’t take her long to realize that she was much happier at LifeFlight Eagle and she returned working her favorite shift—nights!
Her life took a turn in August 2007 when she accepted the position of Communication Coordinator. She was used to multi-tasking coordinating flights, providing pilots and crews with accurate patient information, as well as landing zones details, rendezvous areas, hospital destinations, and tracking the flight paths. Her new position moved her to the day shift which naturally reflects LifeFlight Eagle’s business day with a lot more people around. In addition to various other duties, she also became responsible for two important functions, the shift schedules and submitting payroll to the bookkeeping department.
Kathy is a lifelong resident of the area, originally from Excelsior Springs. She now lives in the Holt, Missouri, area with husband Bruce and son Garrett who will be a year old in April. Bruce is the Chief with Claycomo Fire Department, as well as a full-time firefighter with Liberty Fire Department. Kathy is just as busy at home as she is at work!
Thanks Kathy for more than ten years of service with LifeFlight Eagle! We look forward to many more.
