Arrowhead Emergency Medical Services Association

was founded at 1985 as a not-for-profit corporation with the mission of functioning as the lead EMS planning agency in NE Minnesota.
 
AEMSA was the successor to the state agency aspect of the Regional Development Commission.  The Association serves the seven county region of Northeast Minnesota.  The region consists of the following counties:  Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Itasca, Lake and St. Louis, covering 18,222 square miles or roughly 23% of the total square mileage of Minnesota.

The Arrowhead EMS Association serves over 170 agencies including ambulance services, first responder/fire/rescue, industrial-medical, law enforcement, hospital emergency departments, air medical, training institutions, and other private individuals/agencies. In 2009, the region’s ambulance services responded to over 32,000 calls, most of which included first responder assistance. In the region, approximately 80% of EMS services are provided by volunteers. According to the Minnesota EMSRB (April, 2001), the average primary service area covers 520.6 square miles versus the state average of 256.83.  This coverage is nearly two times larger than the state average.  Some areas are in excess of 50 miles from an initial ambulance contact. 

The Association initiates regional planning and operations which address essential components
and elements of a regional EMS system.   Its purpose is to decrease morbidity and mortality from emergency and critical incidents, through facilitating, evaluating and implementing EMS activities. The Association strives to promote better public understanding of EMS in NE Minnesota and surrounding areas.

In order to meet the mission of the Association, the staff is a creative, results oriented team
using innovative methods to facilitate EMS education, support and guidance.  Being creative and results oriented there is a constant intrinsic drive to challenge the traditional “in-the-box” concept.