Baudette, MN – CHI LakeWood Health is bolstering its commitment to providing exceptional emergency medical care to the Lake of the Woods community and surrounding areas with a significant investment in new, life-saving equipment. Thanks to a recent allocation of $294,000 in state emergency ambulance service aid, the team at CHI LakeWood Health has strategically acquired vital tools to enhance its EMS capabilities.
“Our priority is always the well-being of our community,” said Jeff Stampohar, President of CHI LakeWood Health. “This funding allows us to equip our team with the best possible resources to respond effectively and efficiently to emergencies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.”
After careful assessment of the service’s needs, CHI LakeWood Health has invested in the following critical equipment:
● A New Ambulance: This modern ambulance replaces an aging vehicle, ensuring reliable and safe transport of patients to the hospital. The new ambulance is equipped with the latest technology to support patient care during transport.
● A LUCAS device: This automated chest compression system provides consistent, high-quality chest compressions during cardiac arrest. The LUCAS device is a mechanical CPR device that delivers uninterrupted chest
compressions, freeing up emergency medical personnel to focus on other critical interventions and improving the chances of survival for patients experiencing cardiac arrest.
● Two Defibrillators: Defibrillators are life-saving devices that deliver an electrical shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. These new defibrillators provide the team with the most up-to-date technology to effectively treat patients experiencing life-threatening arrhythmias.
The investment in this new equipment reflects CHI LakeWood Health’s ongoing dedication to providing the highest quality emergency medical care to the community. By equipping its team with the latest technology and resources, CHI LakeWood Health is ensuring that residents have access to the best possible care during critical moments.
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to enhance our EMS services,” Jeffry Stampohar, President of CHI LakeWood Health concluded. “This investment underscores our commitment to the health and well-being of the Lake of the Woods community, and we are proud to continue serving as a trusted provider of emergency medical care.”
In related news, CHI LakeWood Health received its part-time Advanced Life Support (ALS) license for its EMS service line last fall. ALS refers to a higher level of emergency medical care provided by paramedics, involving advanced procedures such as administering medications and advanced airway management. To further support this service, CHI LakeWood Health recently welcomed a new part-time paramedic to the team, bringing them one step closer to fully realizing their ALS capabilities.
About CHI LakeWood Health
CHI LakeWood Health has been an integral part of the Baudette community since 1950. The campus includes a 15-bed acute-care Critical Access Hospital, a Skilled Nursing Facility, and a family-practice Rural Health Clinic. LakeWood offers a variety of medical services, including Public Health, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies, Behavioral Health, Telemedicine, Visiting Nurse and Ambulance Services.
CHI LakeWood Health is part of CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 through the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health. CommonSpirit Health is committed to creating healthy communities, delivering exceptional patient care, and ensuring every person has access to quality health care. CommonSpirit Health operates 142 hospitals and more than 1,000 care sites across 21 states. In FY 2023, CommonSpirit Health provided $2.9 billion in community benefit.
**Contact:**
Carrie Davidson, Marketing and PR Manager
218.634.3454
carrie.davidson@commonspirit.org