This episode was supposed to be the original Season 1 finale but ABC ended with 1x09 "Who's Zoomin' Who?" They wanted the show to end alongside Desperate Housewives so added the planned last five episodes of Season 1 to the beginning of Season 2 instead.
The helicopter which flies the Shaman to the helipad - actually located at Fischer Plaza - is an Agusta A109/Mark II, tail N2MF which can be seen for a few frames during the overhead shot. The aircraft is part of the Airlift Northwest fleet.