Gundersen to headquarter one of its MedLink helicopters in Decorah

(Photo courtesy of Gundersen Health System)

Gundersen Health System has announced that beginning June 1st one of their MedLink AIR helicopters will be based at the Decorah airport.

To meet growing demands, Gundersen will add a second MedLink Air helicopter on a six-month trial basis.  One of the helicopters will be stationed at the Decorah airport from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. each day, while the other helicopter will be stationed at the Sparta-McCoy Airport in Wisconsin.

"Adding the second helicopter will allow us to better respond to the needs in our communities," explains Gundersen MedLink AIR program director Stephanie Hill.  She adds, "Having our aircraft based outside La Crosse will help us to better cover our entire service area. This will give us greater reach and allow us to handle a greater volume of flights from our regional hospitals and accident scenes. In most cases it will also shorten transport time, especially from some of our remote locations. This should result in better patient outcomes for time-critical emergencies such as stroke and heart attack."

Gundersen will be using existing medical flight crew during the trial period.  Near the end of the trial period Gundersen officials will decide whether to buy the second helicopter.

Gundersen began MedLink AIR services in 1992.  It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has a service area of 150-mile radius of La Crosse.  MedLink AIR is on track to transport more than 500 patients in 2016.