Page 20 Area Community Guide • March 2026
MEDICAL FACILITIES
nutrition consults provided by the Penny George™ Institute for Health and Healing.
Cambridge Medical Center and the Allina Health Isanti Clinic offer personalized, confidential, coordinated care locally, with the support and resources of a large system. Stay in your own community while getting“ big city” care.
Allina Health Isanti Clinic: 300 Fifth Ave. NE, Isanti, 763-688-9700, http:// www. allinahealth. org / isanti
LAKES REGION EMS
from page19
Lakes Region EMS is an Advanced Life Support ambulance service, serving suburban and rural communities located just north east of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Lakes Region EMS has three bases in Minnesota and two in Wisconsin: Rush City, North Branch, Lindstrom, St. Croix Falls and Milltown. It serves communities over 650 square miles, covering portions of both Minnesota and Wisconsin. This area includes 450 miles of Chisago, Isanti, Pine counties and roughly 200 square miles of Polk County, Wisconsin.
Ambulances are staffed and equipped to provide Advanced Life Support( ALS) care. This means Lakes Region EMS can essentially bring the emergency room to the patient. The paramedics and EMTs are trained in advanced lifesaving procedures and medications to provide emergency treatment for traumatic injury and both sudden and life-threatening illness. These advanced skills coupled with modern equipment available on each ambulance increases the chance for survival significantly.
From the outset, the ambulance service was three separate organizations. Like many ambulance services throughout the United States, each of the three ambulance services was originally a small rural volunteer organization. As call volume increased, volunteerism decreased and there became a need to advance the level of care they provided to their communities. At that time, the organizations began to consider a merger that would unite all three organizations into becoming one countywide organization, thus streamlining operations, administration and maximizing their ability to provide the highest levels of clinical care to the communities they served. The 1997 merger formally established Lakes Region EMS.
From this strong foundation, an organization was created that through, not only its words but also by its actions, showed its commitment to premier patient care, was focused on the best customer experience, and cared deeply about being an active part of the communities it served. Lakes Region EMS also knew that it had to be a good steward of its financial resources in order to accomplish its first three goals successfully. These principles have continued within the organization and were the foundation that created the Lakes Region EMS Four Pillars: serving customers with state-of-the-art patient care, outstanding customer service, dedication to the communities we serve, and financial health and responsibility.
In October 2014, significant growth of LREMS spurred its October 2014 move to the 22,000-square-foot building at 40245 Fletcher Avenue in North Branch’ s ESSBY Business Park. The building serves as headquarters for the nonprofit ambulance service which still includes a total of five locations in two states; presently serving an area of 700 square miles in size; and responds annually to between 6,000 and 7,000 calls for emergency-medical services. The meeting rooms on the upper level of their facility can be reserved for area non-profit organizations and government entities, free of charge. The large community education room seats up to 80 people in an education style setting, and the Community Conference room or Executive Board Room can seat 16-18 people in a discussion style setting; both have an AV screen for presentations.
Lakes Region EMS provides several education programs for the layperson, professional rescuers, and healthcare providers, including hands-only CPR, health-care provider CPR and classes for first-aid certification, as well as training for first responders and emergency-medical technicians. www. lrems. com
ECUMEN- NORTH BRANCH
Ecumen North Branch offers exceptional senior living designed to support your lifestyle and individual needs. More than simply a place to live or a place for care, Ecumen North Branch senior living spaces are designed to promote community and connection, providing a continuum of care ranging from assisted living, memory care, long-term care, and short-term rehabilitation.
Assisted Living offers one and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens. Supporting a focus on independence, expert care teams are ready to provide as much— or as little— assistance as needed.
Memory Care features Ecumen Awakenings™ program, an award-winning approach to Alzheimer and Dementia care. Studio apartments include private bathrooms and showers.
Short-Term Transitional Care provides a local option for post-surgery or injury rehabilitation. Highly trained specialists provide physical, occupational and speech therapy working closely with each patient to follow their doctor’ s plan for recovery.
Long-Term Care residents find a comforting and enriching environment for living their best regardless of chronic conditions or prolonged
MEDICAL FACILITIES see page 21