Bowstring
Bowstring, MN · Health
Ashland Daily Press
Tamarack change in ambulance services aimed at providing immediate transport
The chief executive officer of Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center confirms that “challenges related to transfers” are at the heart of a decision to change the primary ambulance service to other medical centers. Tamarack has told City of Ashland officials that, effective in May, Great Divide Ambulance Service of Cable will provide the bulk of both emergency and non-emergency transfers after decades of that service being provided by Ashland ambulances. Tamarack Chief Executive Officer Luke Beirl said patients were having “extended stays” at the Ashland Medical Center’s emergency department, which he said led to “really challenging situations when people have specific diagnoses or conditions that require them to be taken to a different level of care beyond what we are able to provide.” Beirl said those challenges meant not being able to have immediate transport. “That is the challenging thing when you have patients that need services beyond what we are able to provide,” he said. Beirl observed that in cases of heart attack, Tamarack was able to get patients to the Essentia Heart Center in Duluth in as little as 90 minutes. “The reality of emergency services in places like Ashland that are relatively isolated is that time is
Ashland Daily Press
Tamarack drops Ashland ambulance for non-emergency transfers
Tamarack Health has notified the City of Ashland that it will end its longstanding non-emergency patient transport arrangement with the Ashland Ambulance Service and shift that business to the Cable-based Great Divide Ambulance Service, effective around April 10 — but city officials say no immediate layoffs are planned as a result. Mayor Matt MacKenzie said Tamarack informed the city in March that it was making the change, citing the number of transport requests the Ashland service was unable to fulfill. “Apparently they were dissatisfied with the number of trips we could not make,” MacKenzie said. “They were satisfied with our service and speak highly of it, but they were looking for a change and felt they could get more trips made by using a different group.” MacKenzie said the decision caught the city off guard. “They just announced to us that at around the first of May — about six weeks out — they were going to stop using us as the primary mover for interfacility transports,” he said. “They can go where they want, but I am just a little disappointed that they didn’t have a conversation with us about this. They just kind of announced it out of
WDIO-TV
Eversmiles Dentistry is just for kids
Eversmiles Pediatric Dentistry runs a waitlist. That’s in part because it’s one of the only dentist’s offices in northern Minnesota that’s just for kids. “Our goal is just to work with families and their children to try to set them up for the most successful mouths that you can have,” Dr. Allison Robinson said.
tcbmag.com
New U of M Medical School Campuses Address Rural Health Care Crisis
Rural health care is in trouble. Last fall, the University of Minnesota Medical School made a significant move to help address what is a critical problem. Its strategy: launch two new outstate campuses offering four-year medical education and training programs. Campuses in Duluth and St. Cloud welcomed their first four-year cohorts in August 2025.
KBJR
Minnesota bill proposes stricter ATV trail rules, sparking divide among Northland leaders
businessnorth.com
Lembeck joins Aspirus St. Luke's
Aspirus St. Luke’s (ASL) Hospital – Occupational Therapy has hired Occupational Therapist Natalie Lembeck, OTD, OTR/L. Lembeck earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. She earned her Master of Science in Exercise Physiology degree from The College of St. Scholastica. Additionally, Lembeck received her occupational therapist registered and licensed certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. She has experience in outpatient hand therapy and skilled nursing. She believes in treating the whole person, not just the diagnosis.
businessnorth.com
Aspirus Health to open new clinic in Cloquet
Aspirus Health will be opening a new primary care clinic in Cloquet this summer. Aspirus St. Luke’s Cloquet Clinic will be located in the Pine Tree Plaza and be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Patients will have access to a range of services, including family medicine, lab, radiology and more.
FOX 21 Online
Fire breaks out at new Duluth family medicine clinic
DULUTH, Minn. – Fire broke out Tuesday evening in Duluth’s Central Hillside and on a property that suffered a destructive fire four years ago. The fire happened on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 on the 500-block of East 4th Street. Smoke could be seen coming from the Palisade Direct...
businessnorth.com
Larson joins Aspirus St. Luke’s Cardiology team
Aspirus St. Luke’s Clinic Duluth - Cardiology has added Lindsay Larson, PA-C to its team. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Mercy College of Ohio, Toledo and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
WDIO-TV
Gov. Evers visits Ashland, discusses rising healthcare costs
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers visited Ashland on Thursday to identify key issues the community is facing, including rising healthcare costs. Business owners, healthcare facilities, and Ashland Mayor Matthew Mackenzie attended the round table meeting, with one person saying healthcare costs is an issue for everyone, even working families with two full time jobs.