Allina Medical Transportation: Ambulance and medical transport in Minnesota

Brian LaCroix, president, Allina Medical Transportation: We mark the tenth anniversary of the attacks of 9-11. Many of us have indelible memories of where we were and what we did that day.

Jeff Czyson, certified emergency manager: And then at 9:03, just a few minutes after sitting back down with my daughter and feeding her, I watched live as the second plane flew into the tower. And I sat there with my mouth hanging open.

Mark Dascalos, previous first responder at Oklahoma City bombing: My wife, when I told her something is going on and we don't know what it is, she said instead of saying anything else, she just said, "Please don't go to New York City."

LaCroix: There were heroes that day and they are heroes still. All across Minnesota and indeed, all across the nation, there are men and women who stand ready to serve those who need help.

Even though we were miles away from the actual attack site, things changed for us for us here in Minnesota and around the world immediately. I recall that we had about a 30 percent increase in run volume. There was palpable anxiety in the community. And an eerie silence in the hours and days ahead when all air traffic came to a halt.

Jeff Lanenberg, certified emergency manager, Allina Medical Transportation; former district chief of the Bloomington, Minnesota, Fire Department: If there is anything that stood out in my mind that day it was heading east on 86th Street, behind pretty much a full assignment of fire vehicles, engines, trucks, and myself as a chief. And then seeing family members stepping outside of their houses in clusters and groups. And they were scared.

Angie Fox, dispatch supervisor, Allina Medical Transportation: I think that people, now because something like that is a reality, that they really think about everything that happens and what the possibilities are. It gets you to think about what you really need to do on an everyday basis.

I don't think any of us on that day could have imagined these huge buildings falling down and taking that many first responders and responders with them.

LaCroix: So on the tenth anniversary of 9-11, we honor those who died, we pay tribute to those who responded, and we thank those who served, then and now.

On screen: A tribute to the victims and survivors of 9-11 from Allina Medical Transportation of Minnesota

All across America there are men and women who stand ready to serve when we need them. All committed to helping us handle our worst day. We honor them and thank them all.

In an emergency,
call 911.

For non-emergency medical transportation,
call 651-222-0555.

Allina Medical Transportation is one of the region's largest ambulance and medical transport services.

We serve more than 80 Minnesota communities, where about 1 million people live.
We employ around 400 paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers, maintenance and administration and support personnel.
Our services include priority medical dispatch, 911 pre-arrival instructions, emergency and non-emergency ambulance response, the Greater Minnesota Ride program, wheelchair transport, and Flight Care (in-flight medical kits) program.

Communities we serve

Our primary service area encompasses about 1,200 square miles in the Minneapolis / St. Paul metropolitan area and greater Minnesota.

North metro

South metro

Apple Valley, Lakeville, Farmington (ALF)

New Ulm

Isanti County

Wright County

In the news

Allina Medical Transportation leaders remember 9-11, changes it brought

Fox 9 News interviews Allina Medical Transportation President Brian LaCroix and Operations Supervisor Jeff Lanenberg about the lasting changes 9-11 made to emergency medical services. See the interview on allinanews.com.

ALF Ambulance decreases response times, saves money

Ambulances arrive two minutes faster in Apple Valley, Lakeville and Farmington since Allina Medical Transportation started responding to emergencies in those communities. Read the story on lakeville.patch.com.

Learning hands-only CPR

Hands-only CPR is so simple that Charles Lick, MD, medical director for Allina Medical Transportation, can teach it in less than three minutes. See him teach KSTP news anchors on allinanews.com.

Emergency response

In this photo of the side of an Allina ambulance, a paramedic stand behind a patient on a stretcher.

Our status management and priority medical dispatch systems ensure the best-equipped ambulance and best-trained professionals arrive at the scene.

In 2009, we responded to about 54,000 emergency calls.

Allina Medical Transportation crews respond exclusively to medical emergencies at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

Emergency ambulance service

Our paramedics and emergency medical technicians respond to emergency calls and handle transfers between health care facilities, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This requires expertise in airway management, electrocardiograms and other livesaving methods.

Electrocardiograms

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.

Learn more about electrocardiograms our health encyclopedia.

In an emergency, dial 911.

a 911 dispatcher takes an emergency call

911 communications center

Our dispatchers give 911 callers the information they need to handle an emergency medical situation until the ambulance arrives. They can instruct callers on how to deal with choking, sudden cardiac arrest, imminent childbirth and other emergencies. They are certified by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.

Choking

Choking is when someone can't breathe because food, a toy, or other object is blocking the airway (throat or windpipe).

Learn about choking first aid in our health encyclopedia.

Sudden cardiac arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when a quivering of the heart muscle cause the heart to stop pumping blood through the body.

Learn more about sudden cardiac arrest.

Childbirth

Childbirth the process a pregnant woman goes through to give birth to her baby.

Learn more in our pregnancy manual.

Mobile communications unit

Allina's mobile communications unit brings emergency dispatching out into the field. It is used for pre-scheduled events and responses to emergent incidents where on-site communications and coordination enhances emergency medical service (EMS) operations.

Bringing this technology to the scene has proven very successful. This resource is shared among EMS agencies statewide to assist with natural disasters and other large-scale emergencies.

Non-emergency services

For non-emergency medical transportation,
call 651-222-0555.

Even when it's not an emergency, we make sure people get to the care they need.

Greater Minnesota Van Service

Our van drivers bring residents of Greater Minnesota to and from medical care in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

As one customer said, "The driver was especially pleasant - a big plus when you're going for your first surgery in 21 years."

Wheelchair service

Our drivers help non-emergency patients who use wheelchairs get to and from clinic appointments, or go home after a hospital stay or an emergency room visit. Occasionally, our drivers also provide medical transportation to people who need help walking.

Scheduled ambulance service

Traditionally known as basic life support, this service provides ambulance and stretcher transportation for non-emergency patients who are too sick to ride in a wheelchair. Many are hospice or nursing home patients who are living with chronic illness and need qualified personnel to bring them to and from the clinic, hospital or therapy center.

Flight Care (in-flight medical kits)

In-flight medical kits are an FAA requirement for all commercial airline flights. In 2009, we resupplied 1,677 expanded emergency medical kits to Northwest / Delta, Mesaba, Compass and Sun Country airlines.

Special events: Standing by in case of an emergency

To arrange this service or to learn more about it, call 651-228-8480 or e-mail emsevents@allina.com.

All special event coverage is based on availability.

Medical emergencies can happen in a crowd. That's why you'll find our paramedics and emergency medical technicians on duty at civic events, concerts and sporting events.

Sponsors of events in our primary service area can ask Allina Medical Transportation to provide medical coverage in any of these ways:

Advanced life support golf cart: A paramedic certified in advanced life support will patrol the grounds in a specially equipped golf cart.
Basic life support golf cart event: An emergency medical technician certified in basic life support will patrol the grounds in a specially equipped golf cart.
Basic life support unit coverage: Two emergency medical technicians will stand by with an ambulance equipped for basic life support.
Advanced life support unit coverage: At least one paramedic and one emergency medical technician will stand by with an ambulance equipped for advanced life support.
Bike team coverage: A team of emergency medical professionals will circulate throughout the event on bicycles. The team includes at least one paramedic.