Spirit mechanic earns national award
Mike Luna, lead mechanic Ministry Spirit Medical Transportation, (MSMT) Marshfield base, has received the 2010 Transport Mechanic’s Award of Excellence from the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).
Established in 1980, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is an international association which serves providers of air and surface medical transport systems. The association, a voluntary non-profit organization, encourages and supports its members in maintaining a standard of performance reflecting safe operations and efficient, high quality patient care.
Luna received the honor for the significant contributions he has made to his program’s safe operations. He was cited as an indispensable team member not only for his expertise as an Air Methods Aviation Site Manager, but also for his skills as a top-notch mechanic, as well as for the strong passion for his job.
According to the AAMS, the annual award is an opportunity to recognize “these unsung heroes who truly keep the rotors turning, turbines spinning and wheels rolling, and they plat a pivotal role in the work medical staff do in taking care of patients.”
His background in aviation came naturally. Growing up, he helped his father, who operated an aviation workshop in Illinois, overhauling airplane engines. While in high school, he worked part-time at Schneck Aviation, and then joined the company full time after receiving his associate degree in aviation maintenance technology from Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill. He also worked at Technical Air Motive and at Badger Helicopter, before joining Air Methods in 1996 to work at Ministry Spirit Medical Transportation.
“With his personal mantra of safety first, Mike has been unwavering in his commitment to doing things ‘the right way,’ as he puts it,” said Deb Martin, flight/transport RN who nominated him for the award on behalf of the transport staff. “His daily checks reflect his thoroughness and degree of personal immersion in responsibility. In addition, he consistently requests flight crew input in an effort to facilitate complete aircraft and cabin readiness.”
And, she added, during the recent transition from the program’s previous Bell 222 helicopter to a new EC145, he quietly provided the consistent link to safety while various back-up aircraft were utilized.
“The first priority for our transport service is safety for crew and patients,” said Monty Gallegos, MSMT director. “We know with Mike’s expertise, and consistent commitment and dedication, that when the aircraft is declared ready to fly, it is as safe as humanly possible.”
Luna, meanwhile, said he was overwhelmed upon notification of the award. “I never would have expected it, and I would have never been able to receive this award or do my job without Bryon Reissmann, the other mechanic,” he said. “But we’re all a team here--the pilots, medical staff and mechanics. Together, we make this program the best it can be.”
Ministry Health Care’s Spirit Medical Transportation has been providing ground and air transport to the people of central and northern Wisconsin for more than 15 years. MHC Spirit provides services throughout northern and central Wisconsin with bases located at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, at Ministry Saint Clare’s Hospital in Weston, at Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point, Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff and Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander. The program offers services to communities throughout the region to help meet interfacility and ambulance intercept needs. Spirit aviation services, provided by Air Methods Corp., flies more than 600 missions per year, with the ground ambulance totaling more than 2,800 transports annually.
This is the second national award the program has attained in recent years. Nils Strickland, a pilot with the MSMT, was named 2008 Pilot of the Year by the National EMS Pilots Association.
Click here for more information about Ministry’s Spirit Transportation Service.