By Rob Stapleton
Alaska Journal of Commerce

The air ambulance business in Alaska is on the threshold of change as two of three companies operating in Southcentral Alaska have agreed to merge.

LifeGuard Alaska and Aeromed International have agreed to operate as LifeMed Alaska.

LifeGuard is operated by Providence Health and Services Alaska, and AeroMed was formed under the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corp.

“These two air ambulance services are on call every day, providing outstanding quality care to Alaskans when they need it most,” said Providence CEO Al Parrish in a written release. “The alignment of our shared goals of the highest-quality care and safety standards, along with our not-for-profit missions to serve all Alaskans makes this a beneficial partnership for Alaska.”

The April 28 announcement said the two companies would operate under one umbrella corporation until this fall. The new company plans to be operational Oct. 1. In the interim, both companies will continue to operate with no break in service, according to the announcement.

An acting CEO will run the company until a permanent executive is named in the fall, said Providence spokeswoman Becky Hultberg.

Providence's LifeGuard air ambulance service suffered a tragic accident on Dec. 3, 2007. Four people on a medevac flight died when a flight from Cordova to Anchorage crashed in a windy blizzard over Prince William Sound.

Debris from the helicopter was found Dec. 8, although the helicopter and three occupants were never recovered. The body of John Stumpff, 47, a flight nurse from Sterling, was found on the north shore of Passage Canal near Whittier.

LifeMed Alaska will continue the bases and services provided by LifeGuard and Aeromed, including operating bases in Anchorage, Soldotna and Bethel, and offering transport services for adult, pediatric, neonate and high-risk obstetric patients.

The combination of the Providence and Y-K Health Corp. air ambulance service leaves only LifeFlight, which operates emergency medevac service for Alaska Regional Hospital.

LifeGuard has been operating in Alaska for 22 years, with bases in Anchorage and Soldotna. Aeromed International has been operating for 11 years from bases in Anchorage and Bethel.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at rob.stapleton@alaskajournal.com.