Air Life of Oregon officially changes name to AirLink Critical Care Transport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bend, Ore. – Cascade Healthcare Community’s emergency air services program Air Life of Oregon, announced today its official name change to AirLink Critical Care Transport. The new name represents connections across all aspects of emergency medical services between ground crews, pilots, medical flight staff, rural and urban hospitals. Ultimately, it is link between an emergency incident and critical care that saves lives.
During a press conference today to announce the new name Chris Pollard, director of AirLink, said these connections and the idea of team work were all part of the selection process.
“As we contemplated the hundreds of options for names and identities, it became evident that AirLink displayed clearly what we do,” Pollard said. “We link communities and people to the medical services they need.”
AirLink averages four lifesaving missions a day. Crews have flown more than 14,000 flights since the program’s inception in 1985. The program has two bases in Bend, one at St. Charles Bend and the other at the Bend Airport; and one in La Grande. The service responds to emergencies in a 130,000-square-mile coverage area in Oregon and transports patients throughout the Pacific Northwest.
James A. Diegel, FACHE, president and CEO of Cascade Healthcare Community also spoke at today’s press conference and said AirLink represents CHC’s vision to provide an integrated, regional health care system.
“Our goal as a health system is to provide access to quality health care to any and all across the region,” Diegel said. “For some patients, AirLink is their first contact with our health system and it is a vital contact. One that is often responsible for saving someone’s life.”
The critical care transportation service changed names as a result of recently switching aviation vendors. With the change, the service lost its affiliation with the federally trademarked Air Life name. Working with Sublime Design Group of Bend over the past few months, the team narrowed down its list of hundreds of suggestions to AirLink. Sublime also developed the new logo and overall identity of the critical care transport service.
While AirLink caregivers are excited about their new identity, Pollard said, they are also committed to continuing to provide the same high level of service that has made the Air Life name respected in the region. Crews are already out flying in aircraft newly painted with the AirLink name and logo.
AirLink’s membership program, including benefits, will remain the same under the new name. Members will receive packets in the mail soon with new cards and bumper stickers with the new AirLink logo.
For more information call 1-800-353-0497.
About Air Life of Oregon
Air Life averages four lifesaving missions each day, carrying seriously ill or injured residents to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Since its inception in 1985, Air Life has flown more than 14,000 missions. Currently, Air Life flies an American Eurocopter EC-145 helicopter and three Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing airplanes. In addition to a full-time pilot, a critical care nurse and a respiratory therapist with advanced training in heart, trauma and emergency care are aboard each flight. A perinatal nurse is also available for expectant mothers and newborns.
About Cascade Healthcare Community
Cascade Healthcare Community, Inc.(CHC), headquartered in Bend, Oregon, owns and operates the St. Charles medical centers in Bend and Redmond, leases and operates Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville and provides management services for Mountain View Hospital (MVH) in Madras. CHC is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with nearly 3,000 caregivers in Bend, Redmond and Prineville. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with CHC to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.
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