Northwest MedStar, the region’s premier critical care transport program, has enhanced its regional service, purchasing an additional helicopter and adding a weekend day base in north central Washington. These additions will increase Northwest MedStar’s presence and provide greater access to communities in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana and northeastern Oregon.

“The purchase of an additional helicopter shows our commitment to the region and ongoing investment in the expert staff, operations and equipment,” said Nancy Vorhees, chief operating officer for Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), the parent organization of Northwest MedStar. Northwest MedStar purchased a Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter that includes the next generation of avionics and enhanced situational awareness for pilots. It can be spotted by its updated paint design. Beginning mid-June, Northwest MedStar will have five helicopters serving the region.

Beginning June 15, 2013, Northwest MedStar will have a helicopter weekend day base in the north central region of Washington, improving access and availability to critical care transport in the Okanogan, Chelan and Douglas counties during the busy summer months. During weekdays, the helicopter will be used at other bases throughout the service region.

“We are excited about the opportunities this new base will bring to the communities, local hospitals and EMS personnel throughout north central Washington” said Eveline Bisson, program director for Northwest MedStar.

For more information on Northwest MedStar visit: www.nwmedstar.org
• MedStar on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NWMedStar
• MedStar on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NWMedstar
• MedStar on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/theBuzzINHS

Northwest MedStar, a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) accredited critical care transport program and named 2012 Program of the Year, provides high-quality care and transport to over 3,700 patients each year from its bases in Spokane, TriCities, Moses Lake and Pullman, Washington. All flights are conducted by, and operational control over all aircraft is exercised solely by Metro Aviation, Inc. A division of Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), Northwest MedStar also offers a membership program that shields people from emergency air transport costs not covered by health insurance. To support Northwest MedStar’s ongoing services through a commitment to the foundation, visit www.inhs.org/foundation.

Editor note – the actual aircraft is a EC135P2+mode, registered N403MS, serial 0718.  As we release this story, the helicopter is still officially registered as N189V with a pending change of N# awaiting confirmation by the FAA