Northwest MedStar

Inland Northwest Health Services
Northwest MedStar
P.O. Box 469
Spokane, WA 99210-4069
Non-Profit Org.
US POSTAGE
PA I D
Spokane, WA
Permit # 1194
northwest
MedStar Member News
2015
________________
Spring/Summer
1 (855) 856-4687  nwmedstar.org  membership.nwmedstar.org/
Help our membership grow
Tell your friends or family members how NW MedStar’s
affordable membership can save them money. And
remember membership makes a perfect gift.
NW MedStar
membership only
year for a family
membership
(855) 856-4687 www.nwmedstar.org
Member Group Highlight: Okanogan-Ferry County Chapter
of the Washington Pilots Association
At 83 years old, Bob Hoffman of Twisp, Wash., says he is old enough to know better than
to ride a scooter. But that’s what he did last summer during the area fires when he was
side-swiped by a deer on his way into town. “That’s the last thing I remember until folks
were putting me into the back of a helicopter,” Bob says. From Twisp, Bob was cared for and
transported by NW MedStar to Confluence Health in Wenatchee, Wash. With broken ribs and
clavicle, Bob says at that moment he knew the value of his membership.
Bob, a pilot, invited Linette Gahringer, NW MedStar membership coordinator, to speak at his
organization’s meeting: Okanogan-Ferry County Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association.
“I’ve been encouraging everyone to get it because I know the joy of knowing it’s there,” he says.
Only six months since the association signed up, half its membership have the assurance of
knowing NW MedStar will cover the costs of a critical care transport insurance doesn’t.
Suzy Beck of NW MedStar, Bob Hoffman, and
Russell White, Aero Methow Rescue
If your organization or workplace is interested in learning more about NW MedStar’s group membership program,
contact us at (855) 856-4687 during business hours 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday.
Welcome New Employees
NW MedStar welcomes the following new employees to our team:
Jon Alleman, RRT
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Jeremy Blackman, RRT
Transport Registered Respiratory Therapist
Taylor Bradley
Communications Specialist
Kari Carbajal, RN, Registered Nurse
Heidi Cooper, RN, Registered Nurse
Luke Eckhoff, Communications Specialist
Eric Foti, EMT, Emergency Medical Technician
Blake Hance, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Matthew Lindsey, Communications Specialist
Rachael Lockwood, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Ryan Martin, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Jennifer Middleton, RN, Registered Nurse
Nathan Miller, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Paul Mocko, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Nicholas Monaco, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Matthew Pacheco, RN, Registered Nurse
David Pope, EMT-P, Paramedic
Robert Ridley, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Kayte Salter, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Mathew Schroeder
Communications Specialist
Dan Schurg, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Kevin Sills, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Joshua Starbuck, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Derek Wilson, EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
Laurie Wilson, RN, Registered Nurse
Andrew Zemke, EMT-P, Paramedic
Health Care Professionals Make a
Difference in the Care Continuum
By: James Nania, MD, Medical Director for Northwest MedStar
MPD of Spokane County EMS Council
This Issue

Health Care Professionals Make a Difference in the Care Continuum

Enhanced “Members-Only”
Site Now Live
May celebrated health care professionals
by recognizing local inter-professional
teams of medical providers for the
important work they do in saving the lives
of others as EMS or in hospitals across
the region. When Northwest MedStar
responds to an emergency, we are part
of the continuum of care which ensures
medically appropriate health care options
are available. As the medical director for
NW MedStar, this is something our team
sees on a daily basis. Our critical care
transport service is one of many links in
the continuum chain.

Missoula Girls Explore Air
Ambulance Careers

Group Membership Comes Through for Diabetic Toddler
Celebrating One-Year Anniversary after Taking to the Air from the Missoula and Brewster bases

We’re in Your Community

Reciprocal map

Facebook Favorites
Take Carl Evans of Chattaroy, for example.
Some might say he is pretty lucky to have
narrowly missed being critically impaled
by a tree branch that measured 4 inches in diameter during last summer’s windstorms
that struck the area. Carl’s vehicle was hit by a falling tree limb that came through the
windshield, pinning him to his seat. The car left the road and stopped about 100 yards
from where the tree branch came into the vehicle.
The first link in the continuum of care came from an off-duty paramedic who stopped
to help Carl. The paramedic called 9-1-1, which resulted in Spokane County Fire
District #4 responding to the scene—the second link. It is not unusual for off-duty first
responders, or good Samaritans, to be the first on the scene of accidents like this. Their
training and medical knowledge are critically important when seconds matter.
The third link in the continuum came when NW MedStar was called in by the fire
department. As our team arrived, Carl was safely being taken out of the vehicle. The tree
limb entered through Carl’s right pelvis, and his left arm was injured nearly to the point
of amputation. Crews worked together to trim the tree branch so it would fit inside the
NW MedStar helicopter—bravely, Carl was alert and in stable condition throughout the
whole ordeal.
Continued on page 2

Staying Fit with Homemade Granola

Member Group Highlight: Okanogan-Ferry County Chapter
of the Washington Pilots Association

Welcome New Employees
More than just fast transport,
NW MedStar’s highly trained
flight teams deliver the most
advanced care throughout
transport. We bring the ICU
to you.
If you need critical
care transport, ask for
NW MedStar.
Member News  2015  Spring/Summer
nwmedstar.org  membership.nwmedstar.org/
Continued from page 1
Enhanced “Members-Only” Site
Now Live
The new membership site is now available online with features allowing you
to manage your account. The secured access to the site allows members
to create a login to easily check the status of your membership or gift
membership—and sign up to renew your membership with the ease of a click.
You can also help us save resources by providing your email address for
quick and easy communications from the membership office regarding
your account. Take a test drive on the site today and create your personal
account: https://membership.nwmedstar.org/
Health Care
Professionals Make
a Difference in the
Care Continuum
“We are one of many components of what
makes successful outcomes for patients,”
says David Sewell, NW MedStar chief flight
nurse. “As the rapid transport link, our goal
was to continue the care Carl was already
receiving by EMS and keep him stable and
as comfortable as possible throughout the
flight.”
NW MedStar made their way to the fourth
link in this continuum of care chain to
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
& Children’s Hospital where our crew was
met by their quick response team. For
someone as seriously injured as Carl was
in this case, the extra hands and fastaction by everyone involved was essential.
Have questions? Here are some tips for getting started on the new member site:
•Set up an online account: Visit https://membership.nwmedstar.org/
Membership/Lookup
•Renewal notices: We’ll contact you either by email or mail when it’s time to renew.
•Communication preference: To update the way you receive notices and newsletters, please contact our office.
•Purchase a gift membership: First, log into your account then click on “Buy a Membership” in the upper right corner. Once completed, the gift will appear in your profile, and you can view and renew it in the future through your personal account.

If you have any problems while on the site, please contact the membership office at (855) 856-4687 or
membership@nwmedstar.org.
2
Carl was immediately taken in for
surgeries that included removing the tree
limb, repairing his fractured leg and fully
amputating his left arm. His leg suffered
from nerve damage from where the limb
impaled him. This type of injury causes
“drop foot,” where his ability to lift his foot
is impaired. In the weeks and months to
follow his stay at Sacred Heart, Carl would
work to learn how to navigate with an
injury affecting his ability to independently
take a shower or even get out of bed.
Prior to leaving Sacred Heart, Carl was
met by the next link in the chain. Case
managers from St. Luke’s Rehabilitation
Institute, a division of NW MedStar’s parent
organization INHS, guided Carl through the
continuum, ensuring he was aware of what
was going on throughout his stay.
Facebook Favorites
One of the best parts of landing zone
training is meeting all the amazing first
responders in our region working to keep
us safe! Thank you Cascade Medical
Ambulance, Chelan County Sheriff’s
Office and Chelan County District #6
volunteer firefighters, Chelan County Fire
District #3, and Lake Wenatchee Fire &
Rescue for training with us!
Photo by Mark Kuhns
Our fleet continues to grow! This beautyAirbus H135 (formerly EC135) helicopter
brings our fleet to twenty-one critical
care transportation units. We are honored
to work alongside EMS and health care
providers throughout Washington, north
Idaho and Montana.
Respiratory Therapist Jack K.,
from our Tri-Cities base gives
a wave as the team lifts off.
NW MedStar’s Chief Respiratory
Therapist, Bob Montgomery
instructs these first year
med students from Pacific
Northwest University of
Health Sciences in intubation
using standard methods and
advanced/difficult airway
tools such as the Bougie,
King LT airways and video
laryngoscopes.
INHS Community Wellness
INHS Community Wellness serves the region with an eye toward better health. Visit www.wellness.inhs.org for more information.
Staying Fit with Homemade Granola
Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
¾ cup shaved (flaked) unsweetened coconut
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup vegetable oil
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup raisins
½ cup craisins
Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, and brown sugar. In a separate
bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and
15 minutes (you can adjust time based on how crunchy you like it), stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins/craisins and mix until evenly distributed.
7
Member News  2015  Spring/Summer
nwmedstar.org  membership.nwmedstar.org/
We’re in Your Community
By mid-August, Carl became an inpatient
at St. Luke’s for almost two weeks. While
there, therapists assisted him and his wife
with the activities they needed to learn how
to live with his injuries and amputation so
he could return home and to some of his
hobbies like building model trains.
It’s that time of year where you’ll see us at health
fairs, mock crashes, touch-a-trucks and events across
the region. Find out where we are heading next by
going online to nwmedstar.org and clicking on
Membership and then Community Calendar.
Under a year after his injury, Carl’s care
continuum continues through outpatient
physical therapy close to his home, helping
him strengthen his walking ability and use
of his new prosthetic arm.
take a shower and take care of myself
pretty well. I just have to go slowly and
chip away at recovery.”
“I’m making progress,” Carl says. “I’m
back building model trains and learning to
use my prosthetic arm. I can do just about
everything I was able to do with my other
hand, when it comes to model-train work.
I’m also able to walk around the house,
The links in the care continuum aid in
decision-making on the part of health care
professionals and creates an environment
for patients to receive the best care
available. Each link is vital in the overall
health of our patients and the community.
Volunteers Sandy and Greg Gilbert represent NW MedStar at the
Agriculture Expo at the Spokane Convention Center
When you are at an
event, be sure to snap a
selfie with our aircraft or
crew and send to us on
Facebook or Twitter using
#MedStarSelfie.
Membership Coordinator Mary Gilmore (left) at the Spokane Valley
Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Reciprocal Transport Providers
Thanks to reciprocal agreements with several regional air medical transport
providers, your NW MedStar membership will be honored by the following
providers should you be flown:
•Air St. Luke’s - Boise & Meridian, ID
•Airlift Northwest - Seattle, WA
•Care Flight - Reno, NV
Missoula
•CalStar - Hayward, CA
•Enloe Flight Care - Chico, CA
• Island Air Ambulance - Friday Harbor, WA
•Life Flight Network - Portland, OR
6
NW MedStar has six bases across the northwest and our reciprocal
agreements provide even greater coverage.
Photo by Gary Matoso
3
Member News  2015  Spring/Summer
nwmedstar.org  membership.nwmedstar.org/
Missoula Girls Explore
Air Ambulance Careers
Celebrating One-Year Anniversary after
Taking to the Air from the Missoula and Brewster Bases
NW MedStar’s air ambulance helicopter landed on the University
of Montana Oval as part of an event to encourage young girls to
explore careers in medicine. NW MedStar’s Casey Thompson,
RN / EMT-P, walked the middle school-aged girls through the
daily life of a critical care flight nurse. A few participants got
to climb on board to demonstrate patient loading and how the
medical crew provides care in tight quarters. “I’m honored to
positively influence our local young girls into a possible career in
flight medicine,” Casey says.
In the past year, NW MedStar has been welcomed
in its two newest locations. It is thanks to the
communities we serve in and the many health
care partners that have supported our efforts to
ensure ICU-level care is available to more residents
throughout the region.
The presentation was part of the Missoula Expanding Your
Horizons Conference, where girls in grades six through eight
participate in hands-on workshops in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM). All sessions are led by female
scientists, engineers and technology specialists.
“The STEM program is giving these girls an amazing
opportunity, and the fact that NW MedStar was asked to
collaborate with our local university shows what a remarkable
community we have,” adds Casey.
Share Your Story
Have you been transported by NW MedStar
and would like to share your story?
We’d love to hear from you and possibly
In collaboration with hospitals and EMS partners
throughout western and central Montana and north
central Washington, we have been able to provide
critical care transports
to hundreds of patients,
made investments to the
base locations and aircraft,
added new employees
and conducted numerous
outreach missions with
partnering hospitals and EMS
agencies.
feature your story! For more information, visit
www.nwmedstar.org/Share-Your-Story.
Group Membership Comes Through for Diabetic Toddler
The story of Alison and Gavin Bonuccelli
“We’re a young, healthy, active and completely normal family
without medical issues and one day everything changed,” says
Alison Bonuccelli, a human resource generalist at Gritman Medical
Center, located 80 miles from Spokane in Moscow, Idaho.
Recently, Gritman decided to provide NW MedStar memberships
for its employees to cover costs associated with critical care
transport. “We live in a rural area, and everyone talks about
needing it here,” Alison says. “Our medical plan doesn’t cover the
cost, so our CEO felt it was important to purchase our employees'
MedStar coverage instead of even one person having to pay
thousands in out-of-pocket expenses.”
Alison and her family know the value of the membership firsthand
after their 13-month-old son, Gavin, was flown from Moscow to
Spokane’s Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s
4
Hospital. “He had been sick
for about two weeks with
[respiratory syncytial virus] RSV
and bronchiolitis,” Alison explains
about what led to Gavin’s critical
care transport. “He was really
tired and constantly thirsty. I knew
something wasn’t right.”
Alison recognized it was time
to take Gavin to the Gritman
emergency department, where the results from his blood sugar
test gave the medical staff a clue on how to proceed with his care.
“His blood sugar was 733; he had type 1 diabetes,” Alison says.
The doctor recommended that Gavin be flown to Spokane where
specialized care for children could be provided.
NW MedStar was called in, safely buckling
the barely one year old to a stretcher and
easing the concerns of a worried mother.
“Life can change in an instant,” Alison
says about the importance of having
a NW MedStar membership. “One day
you’re trucking
“It was only a
along and the
30-minute flight but
“Our
family
wants
people
to
know
that
this
next minute
my mind was going
membership
is
for
anyone,
not
just
people
you’re flown
absolutely crazy,”
with
previous
medical
concerns,”
Alison
says.
to a hospital.
Alison says. “We’re
“We’re
thankful
that
Gritman
covers
the
cost
We have no
thankful for the nurses
of
membership
and
that
NW
MedStar
was
family history
because they were
there
when
our
family
needed
it.”
of diabetes and
actual people with
now my baby
hearts—not just a
has it. I don’t
form of transportation
want to imagine what would’ve happened if
for him. They cared about Gavin, wished him
we hadn’t had the flight to Spokane.”
well and gave him a hug.”
5