Arrowhead EMS Association

Arrowhead EMS Association (AEMSA) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization acting as the lead regional EMS planning organization serving Northeast Minnesota and Douglas County in Wisconsin since 1985. The region consists of the following Minnesota counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Itasca, Lake and St. Louis, covering roughly 25% of the total area of Minnesota. According to the 2014 census, the estimated population in Northeastern Minnesota is 326,649. AEMSA is governed by a Board of Directors with representation from all counties of the region, as well as all levels of EMS providers. The mission of the AEMSA is to function as the lead EMS planning agency in NE Minnesota. 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. AEMSA serves over 200 agencies including ambulance services, emergency medical responders/fire/rescue, industrial-medical, law enforcement, hospital emergency departments, air medical, training institutions, and other private individuals/agencies. In the region, approximately 80% of EMS services are provided by volunteers. According to the Minnesota EMSRB, the average primary service area in the Northeast Region covers 520.6 square miles versus the state average of 256.83. Some areas are in excess of 50 miles from an initial ambulance contact. Our services include: management assistance, training, education, annual EMS conference & expo, quality assurance, equipment use & maintenance, joint purchasing, communication systems designs, EMS legislative support, critical incident stress management, disaster preparedness planning and promotion of a better public understanding of EMS.