View source for Northwest MedStar

{{Undisclosed paid|date=December 2020}}
'''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.
== History ==
[[File:Medstar Eurocopter EC135 20070621.jpg|thumb|Northwest Medstar [[Eurocopter EC135]] over Spokane]]
In 1994 Providence Health Care merged with Empire Health Services, creating [[Inland Northwest Health Services]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Rachel|date=16 March 2016|title=Oregon-based Life Flight to take over Northwest MedStar {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/mar/16/oregon-based-life-flight-to-take-over-northwest-me/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Spokesman Review}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Crompton|first=Kim|date=11 February 2010|title=NW MedStar maintains steady climb > Spokane Journal of Business|url=https://www.spokanejournal.com/local-news/nw-medstar-maintains-steady-climb/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Spokane Journal of Business}}</ref> Through this merger, the companies air ambulance services were also merged, creating Northwest MedStar.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Also in 1994, the company partnered with Metro Aviation for operation services.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=18 June 2014|title=New Air Medical Helicopter Arrives At Northwest MedStar|url=https://www.khq.com/news/new-air-medical-helicopter-arrives-at-northwest-medstar/article_edf6dc3d-89e1-5531-abf7-3615149149e0.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-01|website=KHQ Right Now|language=en}}</ref>
In 1996, Northwest MedStar became accredited by the [[Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems]] (CAMTS).<ref name=":2" />
In October 2009, Northwest MedStar took over management of AirLink Critical Care Transport, owned by Cascade Healthcare Community.<ref name=":1" /> In 2009, Eveline Bisson, a director at the company, was named Program Director of the Year by the national Association of Air Medical Services.<ref name=":1" />
In 2012, the company earned the air medical industry's Program of the Year award.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 April 2014|title=Northwest MedStar to Open Base in Brewster {{!}} The Quad City Herald|url=https://www.qcherald.com/northwest-medstar-open-base-brewster|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Quad City Herald}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=4 November 2012|title=Business Beat {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/04/business-beat/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-01|website=The Spokesman Review}}</ref> Also that year, Northwest MedStar earned the Communicator of the Year Award for the work of Stephen Thompson.<ref name=":3" />
In September 2015, the company hired Matt Albright as its new director.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2015|title=Northwest MedStar hires new director|url=https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/spokane-county/2015/09/09/northwest-medstar-hires-new-director/71929242/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Poughkeepsie Journal|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2016, [[Life Flight Network]] purchased the company from Inland.<ref name=":0" />
MedStar offered a membership program allowing families to cover any emergency flights during the year for one price.<ref name=":1" />
==Locations==
Northwest MedStar operated multiple bases in:
* [[Spokane]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman, WA]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Moses Lake]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Richland, Washington|Richland, WA]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Brewster, Washington|Brewster, WA]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Missoula, Montana|Missoula, MT]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://www.inhs.info/eannual/2009/Pages/NWMedstar.html Inland Northwest Health Services: Northwest Medstar]
*[http://www.lifeflight.org Life Flight]
[[Category:Ambulance services in the United States]]
[[Category:Medical and health organizations based in Washington (state)]]