Oregon Medical Flight Company Takes Over Northwest MedStar

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — An Oregon-based nonprofit air ambulance company is taking over Northwest MedStar, creating one large medical flight network across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

The Spokesman-Review reports the move means Life Flight Network will eventually operate a network of 22 bases with 27 helicopters and 12 small airplanes across the four-state region. The company says it will be the largest nonprofit air ambulance program in the country.

Life Flight Network, based in Aurora, Oregon, also plans to open new helicopter bases in Washington in Walla Walla and Colville. It will take over six existing MedStar bases, including one in Missoula, Montana, and five in Washington state.

Life Flight currently dispatches all aircraft out of Boise, Idaho. The company will keep MedStar's dispatch center at Felts Field in Spokane open.

The deal comes after years of rapid expansion from both companies, spurred by growing demand for air ambulances as rural hospitals have closed or curtailed services.