Aspirus MedEvac
Aspirus MedEvac is a not-for-profit medical transportation and air ambulance service providing emergency air and ground medical transport for critically ill and injured individuals in North Central Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.[1][2] The fleet comprises 1 helicopter and 12 ambulances. In late 2015, Aspirus MedEvac achieved NAAMTA Medical Transport Accreditation for their rotor-wing and ground programs.[3] Aspirus MedEvac has transported more than 25,000 patients.
History
Aspirus MedEvac originated as Aspirus Critical Care Transport in a single ambulance in 1995.[4] In 2007, the air and ground programs were combined and rebranded as Aspirus MedEvac.[5] The same year, MedEvac received its first aircraft (a Bell Helicopter 206) from CJ Air Systems.[6] CJ Systems was thereafter bought by Air Methods Corporation.[7] Air Methods was the vendor for the Aspirus system competitor; therefore, the decision was made to switch to PHI Air Medical as a part 135 vendor.[8] Under the agreement, PHI Air Medical provides the helicopter, mechanics, and pilots; and, Aspirus provides all aspects related to medical care and clinical oversight. In 2008, MedEvac upgraded their helicopter from a Bell 206 to a Bell 407 which boasted greater speed and range capabilities as well as all around increased performance more suitable for HEMS. 2017 marked the 10 year anniversary of air medical transport provided by Aspirus and Aspirus MedEvac[4]
In January 2021, Aspirus Health announced plans to acquire Ascension's Spirit air and ground transport service in addition to 7 Ascension hospitals and 21 clinics in Northern Wisconsin.[9]
Air Transport
The MedEvac Bell 407 helicopter is equipped with safety gear including night-vision goggles, satellite tracking, and enhanced operational control.[1] Medevac medical crews are extensively trained in critical care medicine. Both paramedics and nurses must have a minimum of 3–5 years experience in related fields as well as achieve special certifications such as FP-C and CFRN.[10][11][12] The flight team has a broad scope of practice and can provide nearly all acute care procedures needed to stabilize a critically ill patient.[13] MedEvac is supported by Aspirus Wausau Hospital's Level II Trauma Center with the added benefit of being able to carry multiple units of blood products on every flight.[14] In March 2021, Aspirus MedEvac announced the helicopter base would be relocated to Woodruff, WI to provide more timely access to critical care in Northcentral Wisconsin.[15]
Ground Transport
Aspirus MedEvac has ground ambulances based in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and North Central Wisconsin. Wisconsin bases include: Weston/Wausau, Medford, Rhinelander, Wisconsin Rapids, and Stevens Point. In addition, MedEvac has several bases in the UP that provide both CCT and 911 services.
In 2014, Aspirus MedEvac expanded its medical transport services into the Upper Peninsula opening a ground base near Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital.[16] Thereafter, Aspirus added 911/transport rigs in Iron River and Crystal Falls.[17] The Iron County Bases also provide 911 services for Watersmeet, MI.[17][18] In 2017, Aspirus purchased 3 LUCAS CPR machines for UP bases to help increase out-of-hospital survival.[19]
Aspirus ground ambulances are typically staffed with an EMT/driver, NREMT-P/CCP, and a Critical Care Nurse.[20] The ground transport rigs have nearly all the capabilities of the aircraft minus in situ blood products. Ground transport is able to provide speciality transports such as NICU and ECMO teams. MedEvac primarily provides medical transport for the Aspirus Network; however, they also serve as an additional resource to Spirit Medical Transport (owned by Ministry Health Care/Ascension).[21]
Advanced Life Support Paramedic Intercepts
Aspirus MedEvac also provides ALS intercepts for municipal EMT-Basic Fire/EMS services.[1] Intercepts are primarily provided in Marathon County, Forest County, & Taylor County (and some of Price County) WI. Most commonly, MedEvac is requested for patients that require pain management, cardiac related illness, trauma, and patients with unstable hemodynamics.[20] On average, MedEvac is requested for 1-2 intercepts per day in Marathon County.[22][23]
Neonatal Intensive Care Transport Team
Working in conjunction with Aspirus Wausau Hospital's Anya Marie Jackson Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), MedEvac is equipped and trained to provide both air and ground NICU transport.[24] Thanks to a donation from the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation, MedEvac was gifted 2 transport isolettes enabling MedEvac and the transport team the ability to safely retrieve twins. When MedEvac is unavailable, South Area Fire will provide an ambulance and convey the NICU team and isolette to the patient and back to the receiving NICU facility.[25]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Medical Transport | Our Services | Aspirus Wausau Hospital". www.aspirus.org. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ Pacholke, Neena. "Aspirus MedEvac celebrates 10 year anniversary". Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 2018-06-24. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Aspirus MedEvac Achieves NAAMTA Medical Transport Accreditation". PRWeb. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 WSAW Staff. "Aspirus celebrates 10 years of air transport service". Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ "CJ Systems Aviation Group Launches "MedEvac" to Serve Wausau, Wisc. - Vertical Magazine". Vertical Magazine. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ Struve, Alison. "New Medical Helicopter to be Put Into Use This Week". Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ "Air Methods Acquires CJ Systems". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ "PHI Air Medical :: National Map". phiairmedical.com. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- ↑ "Aspirus Health signs agreement to acquire Ascension care sites in north/central Wisconsin". www.aspirus.org. 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ↑ "PHI Air Medical :: Training". phiairmedical.com. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ "Medical Transport | Our Services | Aspirus Wausau Hospital". www.aspirus.org. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ "IBSC & BCCTPC - Program Recognition". www.ibscertifications.org. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ↑ "Aspirus Keweenaw Staff Receive CALS Training". CALS. 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ↑ "Wisconsin Air Medical Council". wisconsinamc.com. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ↑ "Aspirus MedEvac Helicopter to Change Home Base". www.aspirus.org. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ↑ "Aspirus MedEvac | WNMU-FM". wnmufm.org. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Aspirus MedEvac to Serve Watersmeet | Press Room | Aspirus Iron River Hospital". www.aspirus.org. Archived from the original on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2018-06-19. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Krall, Ken. "Aspirus MedEvac To Begin EMS Service In Watersmeet, Michigan". Retrieved 2018-06-24.
- ↑ WLUC. "Aspirus MedEvac receives mechanical CPR machines". Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Medical Transport | Our Services | Aspirus Wausau Hospital". www.aspirus.org. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ "SPIRIT". Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ "Marathon County (WI) - The RadioReference Wiki". wiki.radioreference.com. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ↑ "Annual report". Missing or empty
|url=(help) - ↑ "Aspirus NICU receives $128,000 grant from Greenheck Foundation - Wisconsin Health News". Wisconsin Health News. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ↑ "south-area-fire". south-area-fire. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
This article "Aspirus MedEvac" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Aspirus MedEvac. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
