Life Link III has announced plans to open a new base of operations in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in spring 2022. This new base, which marks the company’s eleventh helicopter base location throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, will provide additional air medical resources with industry-leading clinical capabilities to support Life Link III’s consortium member-owners and surrounding communities.
The Detroit Lakes base will strengthen Life Link III’s extensive and reliable network and will provide services as a 24/7/365 operation. This base will be located at the Detroit Lakes airport and will feature a hangar, offices, and crew quarters. The establishment of this new base will bring sixteen new and unique career opportunities to this area.
Life Link III is the largest hospital-based non-profit air medical consortium in the United States. Today, ten health systems make up the Life Link III consortium, a unique model which focuses on collaboration across competing healthcare providers to advance access to critical care. Essentia Health has been a member of the Life Link III consortium since 2010 and proudly serves this region through its 14 hospitals, 72 clinics and other facilities and pharmacies across Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Life Link III to expand access to emergency medical services to everyone in Detroit Lakes, Becker County and our surrounding communities,” said Tanner Goodrich, Essentia’s senior vice president of operations. “In emergency situations, timely access to care can be the difference in life and death. The commitment to access and quality by Essentia Health and Life Link III will improve health outcomes in the communities that we serve.”
“Life Link III has been a great care partner to Essentia Health throughout the years, from relocating a helicopter to the Detroit Lakes area to assisting in medical coverage for large-scale community events,” said Joe Newton, senior director of emergency medical services for Essentia. “We are excited to have them locating here full-time to provide rapid transportation and care for seriously injured or critically ill patients in need of time-sensitive treatment. These patients often had to wait for air medical resources from Fargo, Bemidji, Brainerd or Alexandria. Detroit Lakes is an ideal location to serve the needs of rural hospitals and EMS services in the area.”
“We are proud to support the evolving needs of Essentia Health, this region, and the critically ill and injured patients who depend on us every day”, said Josh Howell, Chief Executive Officer at Life Link III. “Together, Life Link III and Essentia, as well as our valued healthcare, public safety and EMS partners, will work collaboratively to ensure an unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and exceptional patient care.”
Life Link III helicopters and airplane are medically-configured and equipped to serve as flying intensive care units (ICUs). Advanced clinical capabilities and equipment featured on-board include point-of-care laboratory testing, point-of-care ultrasound, and LUCAS mechanical CPR. Whole blood is also carried on-board every flight.
More information regarding the base opening date and plans for a community celebration will be released in early 2022.
This press release was prepared and distributed by Life Link III and Essentia Health.
