Emergency medical pilots will soon have a base in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. Life Flight Network, an Oregon-based medical helicopter provider, recently announced plans to set up shop in Lewiston this spring.

CEO Michael Griffiths said the company is working with local officials

in hopes of operating from the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport beginning in April.

"We just want to get in there and serve the community and hopefully we can do that by getting some really decent quarters for the crew that's going to be at that station," Griffiths said.

The region is presently served by Spokane-based Northwest MedStar. A Lewiston-based Life Flight would handle calls in the Washington, Oregon and Idaho area stretching from Orofino to Walla Walla and from Moscow to Grangeville. Griffiths said the helicopter typically operates within 120 miles of its base.

The organization, which is owned by four Northwest hospital systems, merged with St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise last year. Griffiths said he was approached by local emergency medical services personnel soon after the merger about getting an air ambulance in Lewiston.

The intent of the Lewiston operation would be the same as other Life Flight bases throughout the Northwest. A mechanic, flight nurse, paramedic and pilot would staff the outpost 24/7, responding to calls when asked by EMS and hospital personnel.

Life Flight estimates the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley service will staff at least 15 or 16 full-time employees with an annual payroll of about $1.25 million.

The air medical helicopter slated for Lewiston is equipped as a mobile critical care unit. Severe trauma patients suffering from heart attacks and strokes, as well as traffic and industrial accident victims, are among the patients who would require the service.

Lewiston Fire Chief Gordy Gregg said Life Flight's arrival should get patients who are hurt in remote areas to the hospital in a more timely fashion.

"The time issue is pretty significant, especially in those issues of trauma where time's of the essence," Gregg said.

Lewiston medics will call on the air ambulance service if they receive a call in a remote part of the region that the helicopter could get to quicker, Gregg said. The two agencies have also talked about staffing a Lewiston paramedic on some Life Flight calls.

"It enhances our ability to do our job," Gregg said of the air ambulance. "Our area is about 1,700 square miles, so if we run into a wreck or something where we need assistance, where someone needs to have surgery, then someone can get to ER faster than we can get there."

Whether Northwest MedStar would continue to serve St. Joseph Regional Medical Center was not clear Tuesday. Tom Pfliger, the hospital's vice president of professional services, was unavailable to discuss the arrival of Life Flight.

Aurora, Ore.-based Life Flight has 10 helicopters at nine other bases in the Northwest. The not-for-profit agency's other Idaho bases are in Boise, McCall and Mountain Home.

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