Northwest MedStar to provide management service for AirLink

Bend, Ore. - Northwest MedStar will begin to provide management services and program oversight today, Oct. 5 for AirLink Critical Care Transport.

AirLink will continue to be owned by Bend-based Cascade Healthcare Community.

CHC entered the agreement with Northwest MedStar, based in Spokane, Wash., to achieve better operational efficiency and to align with a critical care transport group with similar goals, services and operational structure. James A. Diegel, FACHE, president and CEO of CHC, said the partnership with Northwest MedStar will give AirLink access to management expertise from a larger, established, high-quality non-profit critical care service.

"By working with Northwest MedStar to manage AirLink, we are relying on an organization with expertise in running a critical care transport business," Diegel said. "Ultimately, we are strengthening the service, assuring critical care transport services will be offered in the region for the long term."

Diegel added that Northwest MedStar's in-flight staffing and maintenance protocols mirror AirLink's. Both organizations also use Metro Aviation as their aviation vendor, which employs the pilots and mechanics to service the aircraft.

"The bottom line is that AirLink members and patients won't notice any immediate changes," Diegel said. "We will continue to provide excellent care in an environment where patient and crew safety come first."

At this point, Diegel said that the membership program will not change and all current memberships will be honored.

Northwest MedStar director, Eveline Bisson, says that the team will work to make the transition as smooth as possible.

"Both organizations have similar operating models and are aligned with similar values," Bisson said. "Each program is committed to serving the needs of the rural communities with an emphasis on safety and quality. This is a really positive move for Northwest MedStar and AirLink. Both services have strengths that complement the other and in the end our members and patients benefit."

About AirLink Critical Care Transport
AirLink averages four lifesaving missions each day, carrying seriously ill or injured residents to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Since its inception in 1985, AirLink has flown more than 14,000 missions. Currently, AirLink flies an American Eurocopter EC-145 helicopter and two 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.

# # #