REACH commends employees
REACH Air Medical Services recently offered an acknowledgement of ‘the dedication and accomplishments of its long-term employees’.
California, US-based critical care air and ground transport service REACH Air Medical Services, part of the AirMedCare Network, offered an acknowledgement of ‘the dedication and accomplishments of its long-term employees’ at the end of 2014, ‘extending special recognition to those crew members who have achieved a substantial number of patient transports during their tenure’. These included pilot Ken Suzuki, who had made 3,000 flights, flight paramedic Terry Gowen, who had made 2,500 flights, and flight nurses Cindy Scruggs and Brian Warner, who both flew 2,500 flights.
In a press release, REACH said: “All have flown with REACH for at least 15 years, with Ken Suzuki nearing his 27th anniversary with the company.” Vicky Spediacci, vice-president of Aviation Operations, has been with REACH since 1994, originally coming in as a line pilot. She has served on more than 1,500 patient transports and has accrued a noteworthy 8,000 flight hours during her overall flying career. “The average number of transports for our pilots is between 100 and 150 a year, so you can see it takes a lot of years to get to 3,000 fights,” said Spediacci, adding, “and that’s very rare in this industry.”
A product of Dr John L. McDonald’s vision for immediate and effective emergency medical care in Sonoma County, REACH began service in 1987 with a single helicopter. Today, the company has 21 bases across California, Oregon and Texas supported by a fleet of 17 helicopters, nine planes and 10 ground ambulances.
Sean Russell, president of REACH and a former flight paramedic who has partnered with each of the above team members in the past, said: “I cannot express how proud I am to be associated with these four amazing people, as well as the crewmembers they represent. It has truly been an honor to carry on Dr McDonald’s vision and values.”
At REACH, all flight crew members receive ongoing training, and the company is currently increasing the number of required annual training and flight evaluation sessions for its pilots from two to three. With nearly three decades as a REACH pilot, Ken Suzuki knows more about staying safe and saving lives than most, said the company. Spediacci said of Suzuki: “Ken has a very high degree of professionalism. I never have to worry about the flight decisions he makes when it comes to compliance and safety measures. I’ve known Ken since I started in this industry. As an aviation professional, he’s truly a steward.”
Vice-president of programme operations Eric Freed has 20 years with REACH. He attributes the company’s high retention rate to a few key things, particularly noting that REACH’s mission is one its employees readily take to heart: “Always do what is right for the patient.” Freed also said REACH is very employee-driven: “At all levels, we do what’s right for the employee. We strive to be a company that practices servant leadership.”
As to the high flight numbers, Freed offered: “The numbers themselves are very relevant, but even more important is what they speak to, which is the character of each of these individuals. They are extraordinary clinicians and pilots, and they make sure that everyone is safe at all times – they don’t get complacent. The numbers wouldn’t exist [without] that outstanding character.”