Northwest MedStar
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Northwest MedStar was a non-profit medical transport company headquartered in Spokane, Washington with bases in Spokane and the Tri-Cities, Washington area. The company serviced the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana, transporting critical-care patients using its fleet of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and ambulances.
In 1994 Providence Health Care merged with Empire Health Services, creating Inland Northwest Health Services.[1][2] Through this merger, the companies air ambulance services were also merged, creating Northwest MedStar.[1][2] Also in 1994, the company partnered with Metro Aviation for operation services.[2][3]
In 1996, Northwest MedStar became accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).[3]
In October 2009, Northwest MedStar took over management of AirLink Critical Care Transport, owned by Cascade Healthcare Community.[2] In 2009, Eveline Bisson, a director at the company, was named Program Director of the Year by the national Association of Air Medical Services.[2]
In 2012, the company earned the air medical industry's Program of the Year award.[3][4][5] Also that year, Northwest MedStar earned the Communicator of the Year Award for the work of Stephen Thompson.[5]
In September 2015, the company hired Matt Albright as its new director.[6] In 2016, Life Flight Network purchased the company from Inland.[1]
MedStar offered a membership program allowing families to cover any emergency flights during the year for one price.[2]