Spectrum Health and Munson Healthcare officials today signed a non-binding letter of intent to explore a potential collaboration between Aero Med’s operations in Big Rapids and North Flight EMS Air Division. Their goal is to enhance the critical care emergency air transport services available in northern Michigan.
The letter of intent launches a due diligence process that allows both parties to explore and analyze medical air operations in northern Michigan. Due diligence would likely be completed in 2015.

Both organizations believe collaboration could:
•Enhance service and access
•Improve operational, cost and service efficiency
•Maintain a longstanding tradition of quality and safety
•Improve capacity and create a greater combined service area
•Provide enriched education and training for crews

“In the era of health care reform, all health organizations are looking to become more efficient while ensuring superior care is provided to their patients,” said Richard C. Breon, president and CEO, Spectrum Health. “North Flight and Aero Med both have a strong tradition in serving our regions. We’re confident this collaboration will result in enhanced service and access, along with maintaining a quality program for the people of Northern Michigan.”

Both organizations have services operating in northern Michigan with North Flight based in Traverse City and Aero Med located in Big Rapids. The collaborative operation would operate from a base located in Traverse City. Aero Med will continue its west Michigan operations based at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids.

“North Flight Air has proudly served the citizens of northern Michigan for 28 years,” said Ed Ness, president and CEO of Munson Healthcare. “We believe this collaboration is the best way to ensure high quality air EMS service continues to be available to the people of northern Michigan for years to come.”

The feasibility of this collaboration will be reviewed and determined as part of the due diligence process. Further details will be shared once that process is complete.

Munson Healthcare is a nonprofit network of hospitals and related organizations delivering a broad array of health care services to the residents of 24 counties in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula and eastern Upper Peninsula. Munson Healthcare includes eight community hospitals committed to the well-being of the each patient and to delivering high quality, safe, affordable health care. Eight supporting organizations contribute to regional health care through coordinated services that result in quality, convenient, easy to use care for patients and their families.

Munson Healthcare owns Munson Home Health, Munson Medical Center, Munson Mobile Imaging, the Munson Dialysis Center, North Flight EMS, and Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort. Munson Healthcare has joint ownership of Great Lakes Mobile PET, Northern Michigan Supply Alliance, and the Northwest Michigan Surgery Center. Munson Healthcare manages Kalkaska Memorial Health Center and Kalkaska Dialysis Center, Mercy Hospital Cadillac, and Mercy Hospital Grayling; and has affiliation agreements with Charlevoix Area Hospital, Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord, and West Shore Medical Center in Manistee. For more information, please visit munsonhealthcare.org/aboutmhc.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 11 hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 170 ambulatory and service sites; 1,080 employed physicians and advanced practice providers including members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a 575,000-member health plan. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 21,400 employees. The organization provided $250 million in community benefit during its 2013 fiscal year. In 2014, Spectrum Health was named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems® by Truven Health Analytics.