Life Flight to open base here

SANDPOINT — An Oregon-based nonprofit air medical transport service announced plans Tuesday to establish a base in Sandpoint.

“Our decision to proceed follows substantial area research and dialogue with a number of community leaders and health care professionals to confirm there was an air medical transport need we could meet,” Michael Griffiths, CEO of Life Flight Network, said in a statement announcing the company’s intentions.

The helicopter base is slated to open in March, although its location is still under consideration, according to Erick Borland, marketing director for the Aurora, Ore.-based company.

Borland said there has been “positive” discussions with Sandpoint Airport officials but said no details have been finalized.

The company plans to assign as many as 15 employees to the Sandpoint base, including flight nurses, flight paramedics, pilots and mechanics. The payroll for the highly-skilled personnel is forecasted to exceed $1 million annually.

Life Flight Network’s plans were cheered by Bonner County’s medical community.

“It is going to be really good to have this additional resource for the people of northern Idaho,” said Sharon Bistodeau, who manages the nursing department at Bonner General Hospital.

Crew members and the rotor-wing assigned to the base would be available on a 24/7 basis.

“The Life Flight Network opening a full-time operating base in Sandpoint represents a major step forward for emergency medical services in Bonner County as we will now have access to immediate air transport for critical patients,” Bonner County EMS Chief Rob Wakeley said.

Life Flight strategically positions its bases throughout the Northwest and Intermountain West to maximize its coverage. The company’s choppers can typically fly 300 nautical miles before refueling, which means the Sandpoint base will be able to serve residents in north and north-central Idaho, northeast and north-central Washington, and northwestern Montana.

Moreover, the company’s existing base in Lewiston is prepared to provide fixed-wing service and backup rotor-wing support should the need arise. The company also has bases in Boise, Pocatello, Mountain Home. Other bases are located in Oregon and Washington.

Life Flight has been in operation for more than 30 years and is owned by a consortium of four health systems in the Northwest.

n Information: www.lifeflight.org