SANTA ROSA, Calif., Oct. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REACH Air Medical Services announces that the final Asset Purchase Agreement has been executed to acquire the North Bend and Klamath Falls, OR Emergency Airlift (EAL) emergent air ambulance service lines and assets. The purchase will expand the air ambulance programs of REACH, Cal-Ore Life Flight and AirLink Critical Care Transport (CCT), now collectively known as the Oregon Medical Transport Team. These programs are slated to assume EAL's operations in the Southern Oregon region in late October. Customers will be served from new bases located in North Bend and Klamath Falls, along with existing bases in Corvallis, Brookings, Gold Beach, Bend and several locations in Northern California. The three providers of the Oregon Medical Transport Team are dedicated to working with their hospital and prehospital customers to ensure transport requests result in the closest most appropriate critical care team responding to the call. Whether it is AirLink CCT, Cal-Ore, REACH, or even a program outside of the Oregon Medical Transport Team, the company's communications center will assist with critical care transport requests to the nearest appropriate medical facility.
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"In order to provide uninterrupted service, we have worked with the EAL staff and leadership to coordinate a seamless transition," says REACH President Sean Russell. He continues, "With a target start date of late October, crew hiring and training has begun, along with the purchase of new equipment and aircraft, ensuring continuous local coverage."
Those currently served by Emergency Airlift, throughout southern Oregon, should continue calling the same dispatch number they are accustomed to: 800-804-4911. EAL is providing flight services for patients throughout this month's transition.
Dan Brattain, Vice President of Fixed Wing Operations for REACH and Cal-Ore states, "This acquisition securely integrates the three programs' existing operations in Oregon and Northern California into a cohesive working relationship to better serve rural communities." The synergy has come together in the form of the Oregon Medical Transport Team concept – putting the patient's needs at the center of the transport request. For more information, visit www.OregonTransportTeam.com.
All three programs have begun outreach to hospital and prehospital customers with listening sessions and active planning for future services. Activities and communication with local communities will increase the regional knowledge and collaborative relationships ensuring understanding of the services being offered.
AirLink CCT Program Manager Kevin Schitoskey adds, "This cohesive effort results in more than 120 highly trained employees; 14 airplanes and helicopters; and, more than 10 ground ambulance units, all dedicated to serving the rural Oregon and Northern California regions."
About REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight
REACH Medical Holdings, LLC, headquartered in Santa Rosa, CA, operates REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight providing critical care air and ground transport service to communities throughout California, Oregon and Southern Texas. REACH has provided safe, patient-centered care for more than 27 years and successfully transported more than 90,000 patients to needed care. In 2011 REACH merged with Cal-Ore Life Flight, headquartered in Brookings, OR, to provide expanded air ambulance services in Northern California and Oregon. REACH and Cal-Ore employ hundreds of highly-trained nurses, medics, pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians to provide service to patients using a fleet of medically equipped helicopters, airplanes, and ground ambulances. REACH and Cal-Ore Life Flight are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS), which is the gold standard for patient care and safety for air medical transport services. For more information, visit www.REACHair.com and www.Cal-Ore.com.
About AirLink CCT
AirLink Critical Care Transport, an emergency air medical transport company, has provided critical care transport to Central and Eastern Oregon customers since 1985. The long-term commitment to clinical excellence has resulted in highly experienced clinical teams with strong ties to the communities served. Operated by St. Charles Health System since its inception, AirLink CCT joined Med-Trans Corporation in 2012. For more information, visit MyAirLink.org.
About AirMedCare Network
The Oregon Medical Transport Team is part of the AirMedCare Network. AirMedCare Network is America's largest air medical transport membership network, providing emergency access for the highest level of care for its 1.4 million members. The AirMedCare Network combines the membership programs of many leading air ambulance operators in 27 states from more than 200 air transport locations. For more information, visit www.AirMedCareNetwork.com.
The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.
