STARS medical crews are now able to see all the way down a patient’s throat. They can even take a picture if required: so it lasts longer.

In an effort to enhance patient care and supplement training for our crews, STARS has added more cutting-edge technology to its medical kit. The portable, lightweight devices - called C-MAC video laryngoscopes - complement STARS’ already robust airway management program and are available at all of STARS six bases in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, said Dave Evans, director of clinical operations.

“For nearly three decades STARS has ensured our medical crews have access to the latest tools and technology to provide better outcomes for our most critically ill and injured patients,” said Evans, noting this non-profit bought seven devices worth a total of about $154,000. “These video laryngoscopes will enhance both our treatment and training.”

The laryngoscope is a device that goes into a patient’s throat and has a camera installed at the tip. Once inserted, video appears on a portable screen. The image provides medical crews with a better view into a patient’s airway to quickly and safely insert a breathing tube before reaching the hospital.

This technology is especially useful in cases involving difficulty airways. Examples of a challenging airway include when a patient is badly burned, is obese or suffers from a severe case of the flu or pneumonia.

With more than 10 per cent of STARS’ patients requiring emergency intubation (when a breathing tube is inserted) the equipment is a welcome addition for what can be a life or death situation, said paramedic Scott McTaggart, who works out of the Calgary base.

McTaggart demonstrates his skills as he inserts the laryngoscope into the simulated patient’s throat while watching the procedure unfold on a portable screen. Images of the airway are clear and help to guide McTaggart through the procedure. The video component helps him safely and reliably protect the patient’s airway.

“Airway management is one of the most critical aspects of any of the medical treatments we provide for our patients,” said McTaggart. “Any additional tool we have at our disposal to give us a better chance at treating and taking care of our patients is our goal.”

The video laryngoscopes will also be used in the classroom as part of STARS’ airway management course and training module.

SASKATCHEWAN | SPRING 2014

WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S NEXT, WHAT’S UP AT STARS

Video technology helps guide the way New equipmeNt will be used to eNhaNce patieNt care aNd as a traiNiNg tool

IN THIS ISSUE:

Meet soMe of the stARs tRAnspoRt physiciAns

cARing foR one of ouR own

find out how MAny tiMes we picked up A pAtient in youR coMMunity

stars.ca

A STARS pARAmedic pRAcTiSeS uSing A new, poRTAble video lARyngoScope on A pATienT SimulAToR.

For more inFormation on our training programs Visit stars.ca.

2

SASKATcHewAn | SpRing 2014

pleASe diRecT commenTS, inquiRieS And leTTeRS To:

stars communications2640 airport roadregina, saskatchewan s4w 1a3newsletter@stars.castars.ca

FoR cHAnge oF AddReSS: 1.888.797.8277or email donations@stars.ca

To unSubScRibe: email info@stars.ca

please visit stars.ca for more

information about stars and our

activities. For your convenience,

online donations to stars

can also be made through our

website. Thank you for your interest and support!

stars, stars and design (logo), stars emergency link centre, starbear, star- 1, star-2, star-3, star-4, star-5, stars & spurs, stars & spurs gala, stars & spurs gala and design, the stars centre, red ring for life, red ring for life and design, ceo rescue, and ceo rescue in the rockies for stars are registered canadian trademarks owned by shock trauma air rescue society. stars Foundation and stars canada are registered marks owned by shock trauma air rescue society.

the shock trauma air rescue service Foundation is a licensed user of stars, starbear, stars and design (logo), stars & spurs, stars & spurs gala, stars & spurs gala and design.

stars aviation canada inc. is a licensed user of stars, star-1, star-2, star-3, star-4 and star-5.

shock trauma air rescue society is accredited as a full “critical care provider” by the commission on accreditation of medical transport systems (camts). when the accreditation was initially awarded in 1998, stars was the first international air medical program to achieve such distinction.

pilot Flown, physician driVen

pReSidenT And ceo AndReA RobeRTSon

ceo message

STARS is unique in a number of ways.

From our intensive pilot and medical crew training, to our community driven funding model, to our safety-first philosophy, we are proud of the efforts we make every day to help save lives.

STARS’ true differentiation, however, is our doctors. The same doctors treating you and your family inside critical-care centres and emergency rooms across Western Canada are the same doctors overseeing care in our helicopters.

Indeed, it’s doctors that set STARS apart from the very beginning. Nearly three decades ago two physicians, Dr. Rob Abernethy and Dr. Greg Powell, shared the belief that they and others working in emergency medicine could save more lives if only they saw patients sooner.

Their vision of having patients carried to doctors more quickly developed into finding a way to treat patients in the back of a helicopter, saving even more time. Today, STARS transport physicians are involved in all aspects of our missions.

Doctors fly on board the helicopter or oversee missions by phone. The crew doesn’t have to wait for a diagnosis because physicians are already on the call, making complex decisions in real time. They decide what hospital patients should be flown to and advise receiving physicians on ongoing care. They see what’s happening through the eyes of our crew. Other times, we pick them up along the way so they can help deliver care in person. inside this issue of horizons we talk to one doctor who leaves his flight suit and helmet in his truck; always ready for an emergency.

Our doctors are the fabric of who we are and always have been.

When our transport physicians aren’t working in hospitals or in our helicopter, they teach our paramedics and nurses. We hire highly trained and experienced critical care nurses and paramedics. Then, we add another nearly 100 hours of medical training, taught by a critical-care physician before they treat patients. Then, their training is updated annually. in this issue, we introduce you to one of those trainers – an emergency room physician who was badly injured and carried by his stars colleagues.

Roughly half the population of Western Canada lives hundreds of kilometres away from care centres staffed with physicians who have specialized training to treat the most critically ill or injured. STARS acts as a bridge for these patients to state-of-the-art critical care. That’s why we are thrilled to introduce Doctors OnBoard, a physician-led transport medicine program initiated by our chief medical officer and delivered by helicopter emergency medical crews. to learn more about the program and how a longtime donor helped us get it off the ground see page 6.

I sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know some of our doctors featured inside this special issue. They are incredibly valuable to our service.

AndReA RobeRTSonpresident & ceostars and stars Foundation

3

When patient lives are on the line, learning from past experience is a critical component of doing things right.

This is why case reviews – a process where every STARS’ mission is methodically examined and pertinent findings reported – are so engrained into the organization’s medical culture.

For Dr. Louis Francescutti, a physician, president of the Canadian Medical Association and professor at the University of Alberta, case reviews aren’t about finding blame; it’s a process that ensures issues or areas for improvement don’t go unnoticed.

“The more you review your practices and learn from them, the better the outcomes will be for patients,” said Francescutti, adding that STARS’ review process is unique in the medical world and should be replicated in other health-care organizations.

“STARS would probably be held out as the gold example for how everything should be done,” he said. “The challenge for the rest of the system is to perform at the level that STARS is performing right now.”

Dave Evans, director of clinical operations at STARS, agrees that catching minor issues early on can reap significant benefits down the road. “Lots of times, there are unique circumstances we run into that don’t result in any harm to a patient but are certainly areas for improvement,” he said. “If we catch them and fix them before a problem develops, we can make things better for the next patients we carry. It’s about always getting better at what we do.”

For instance, Evans says, it was discovered through case reviews that crews were encountering challenges providing advanced airway management in certain types of patients. A mandatory robust airway management course and training module was developed and as of 2012, all STARS crews receive extensive preparation to deal with these unique cases.

Are STARS crews comfortable having their work scrutinized so closely? “Absolutely,” said Paula Sharman, a flight nurse from Edmonton.

“The culture at STARS is one where we are open and honest with each other and our medical partners to ensure we are always doing what’s best for our patients. I know that when my missions are reviewed, it’s done in the spirit of continual improvement, so I go into it confidently.”

INDEPENDENT PHYSICIAN REVIEW

INDEPENDENT AMC REVIEW

DEBRIEF AT BASE

FEEDBACKFROM CREW

FEEDBACKFROM PARTNERS

MEDICAL TEAMDISCUSSION

reViewing missions is more than just dotting i’s and crossing t’sideNtiFyiNg challeNges early leads to better patieNt care

A STARS physician not on the mission provides a fresh perspective on the appropriateness of care provided and whether the helicopter was the most suitable mode of transportation.

An air medical crew member not involved in treating the patient ensures all data has been collected and verifies care was in-keeping with STARS protocols.

After each mission the air medical crew, transport physician and pilots have the opportunity to comment on what went well and what could be improved upon.

The crew on the mission has a chance to comment on feedback given or provide missing details. These discussions are one of the most valuable tools to improve every aspect of the care provided.

Comments from our partners, such as EMS providers, physicians and staff at rural hospitals and dispatch centres are encouraged. Their feedback is included in the review.

When areas for improvement are found, the air medical crew, transport physicians and base medical directors determine what action should be taken.

boARd oF diRecToRSas of fEBRUaRY, 2014

(S) Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society(F) Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation

dr. lloyd axworthy (s)UNIvERSITy OF WINNIPEG, WINNIPEG

linda Banister (s)BANISTER RESEARCh & CONSULTING INC., EDMONTON

Bob Brennan (s)CORPORATE DIRECTOR, WINNIPEG

lyle d. carlstrom (s, F) KAy MCvEy SMITh & CARLSTROM LLP,GRANDE PRAIRIE

dino deluca (s)BURNET, DUCKWORTh AND PALMER LLP, CALGARy

dr. anne doig (s)FAMILy PhySICIAN, SASKATOON

randy garvey (F)CANADIAN WESTERN BANK, EDMONTON

michael hoffort (s, F)FARM CREDIT CANADA, REGINA

Kent Kaufield (s)ERNST & yOUNG LLP, CALGARy

rod Kennedy (s, F) RBC DOMINION SECURITIES INC., RED DEER

dr. john Kortbeek (s)FOOThILLS MEDICAL CENTRE, CALGARy

dan maclean (F)TUNDRA OIL AND GAS PARTNERShIP, WINNIPEG

sean mcBurney (F)KORN/FERRy INTERNATIONAL, CALGARy

greg melchin (s) CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CALGARy

david mowat (F)BOARD ChAIR, STARS FOUNDATIONATB FINANCIAL, EDMONTON

irene pfeiffer cm (F) MOORGATE hOLDINGS LTD.,OKOTOKS

dale riddell (F)CORPORATE DIRECTOR, EAST ST. PAUL

lionel robins (F)INDEPENDENT ENTREPRENEUR, GRANDE PRAIRIE

evan saugstad (s) SPECTRA ENERGy, FORT ST. JOhN

scott saxberg (s) CRESCENT POINT ENERGy CORP., CALGARy

Brian Vaasjo (s)BOARD ChAIR, STARS SOCIETyCAPITAL POWER CORPORATION, EDMONTON

pat youzwa (F, s) CORPORATE DIRECTOR, REGINA

“ The more you review your practices and learn from them, the better the outcomes.”

4

Before Jeremy hofer began a new work day atop his colony’s new dairy barn, he clipped on his safety harness and scrambled up the tin-covered roof to clear off the snow.

It was early March, 2013 and a layer of morning frost blanketed the metal, making it slippery. Workers at the hodgeville hutterite colony in southwest Saskatchewan had been building the 121-metre-long barn for months.

Jeremy, then 17 years old, remembers spotting a hole in the roof as he cleared the snow. he remembers his foot sliding down the slick tin. he remembers his fear of falling to the ground. Thankfully, he doesn’t remember landing.

“I was trying to step over the opening to get the broom and I missed, slipped and fell straight through,” said Jeremy, who fell more than 14 metres and landed on his side onto the frozen ground. “Then, I was knocked out.”

Unfortunately, his harness hadn’t been measured properly.

A coworker called 911 and paramedics were dispatched. hofer was transported to the nearby town of herbert, where the ground ambulance met STARS. “I was grateful for the helicopter because it would have been a two-hour drive by ground.”

he recalls the crew members were concerned and comforting en route to Regina General hospital.

“I was knocked out on morphine so everything is a bit slushy but they asked me to clarify how far I fell,” said hofer, who turned 18 in February.

“When I told them that I fell through the rafters they seemed surprised.”

hofer’s injuries were extensive, including a broken neck, pelvis, elbow, hip, tailbone and shoulder. Doctors rebuilt much of the broken bones with rods, plates and screws. hofer stayed in hospital for three weeks and by the sixth week he was walking on his own again. In July, just four months after his fall, hofer was back working on the barn.

“We make sure that our harnesses are measured properly at all times,” he said.

Not long after he was released from hospital, hofer visited the Regina base to meet his crew. he still feels shivers when he recalls his visit.

“Not many people live through something like that and then get to meet the people who saved their life,” said hofer. “I couldn’t wait to get in there to meet them. It was exciting and overwhelming, but mostly, I don’t ever want to lose touch with them.”

hofer’s connection with STARS doesn’t end with his flight, however. One week after leaving hospital, his grandfather passed away. On the day of his funeral a family member was travelling from high River, AB to hodgeville when his vehicle collided with a snow plow. STARS landed on the highway and carried the patient to Regina General hospital. The cousin sustained critical injuries, but survived.

“We are so lucky that STARS has been there for us twice,” said hofer.

teenage patient surViVes 14-metre Fall From Barn rooFReliSHeS meeTing HiS STARS cRew And HopeS To neveR loSe ToucH

Feature Vip

JeRemy HoFeR SuSTAined numeRouS inJuRieS in A FAll And wAS Flown To HoSpiTAl. weeKS lATeR, STARS cARRied HiS couSin.

SHARE yoUR SToRywe appreciate hearing from our

Very important patients (Vips) and

their families. often, we hear from

patients shortly after their

mission.

other times, people wait years

before they are ready to reach

out to us.

either way, we feel privileged to

hear from you.

if you’re interested in sharing your

experience as a stARs patient,

please call 403.516.4819

or 1-888-797-8277

or email vip@stars.ca

BE A VIP

5

The scene: a rural Alberta hospital in the early 1990s. A patient desperately needs an airway tube inserted to protect his breathing. Complicating factors have stymied the local doctor, and he’s requested STARS to come and assist. The STARS nurse and paramedic arrive and attempt to intubate the patient, but encounter similar challenges.

The flight paramedic turns to the doctor and says: “This is a really challenging airway. I’d like the pilot to give it a try.”

It sounds like the setup to a sitcom episode, but Dr. JN Armstrong, newly appointed chief medical officer for STARS, laughs as he recounts the story. he is quick to reassure that this was not standard operating procedure. Rather, his unique background as an anesthesiologist in addition to being a pilot meant he was just as comfortable intubating the patient as he was flying him to the hospital. It’s this dual skill set that has made him a fixture at STARS and an ideal leader for our clinical program.

Armstrong came by his aviation background honestly, embarking upon his first flights at his father’s helicopter company in 1975. It proved to be a steady summer job while he went through medical school.

It was through the aviation world that Armstrong came to know another physician and pilot – Dr. Greg Powell – who would eventually go on to establish STARS in 1985.

With his background, it didn’t take much persuading on the part of Powell to get Armstrong involved in the fledgling air ambulance service in 1991. Armstrong initially

signed on as a relief pilot. he became more involved in the organization during the 1990s and ultimately served as aviation operations manager and vice president of medicine and aviation. Though he stepped back from STARS in 2004 to be the clinical and academic head of anesthesia at University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine and the Calgary health Region, he continued flying missions as a relief pilot, which he does to this day.

In October 2013, Armstrong jumped at the opportunity to serve as the chief medical officer for STARS. “I couldn’t be luckier about the organization I’m inheriting,” he said. “STARS has been almost 30 years in development and it’s outstanding.”

Armstrong has no plans to rest on his laurels. he notes that as CMO, he will be responsible for continual development of clinical standards, medical educational programs and research activities at STARS.

he is also ultimately accountable for ensuring patients receive the best treatment possible. This includes overseeing almost 100 transport physicians who work at STARS throughout Western Canada and continually refining the medical protocols the air medical crews use on missions.

Though Armstrong has seen many changes in his years at STARS, there is one thing he says has remained timeless. “Our main focus has never changed. It’s all about the patient. I don’t want to sound hackneyed, but it’s true. STARS does a very difficult and important job very well.”

chieF medical oFFicer oFFers Best oF Both worldspHySiciAn/piloT oveRSeeS clinicAl pRogRAm

facebook.com/starsairambulance our facebook page is the place to find unique and interesting stories about our missions, patients, and everything else stARs-related. it’s also a great place to see interesting photographs and video clips.

twitter.com/starsambulanceif it’s quick facts you desire, look no further than our twitter account, where you will find tidbits of information about stARs and be alerted when we are dispatched on missions.

instagram.com/starsairambulanceto feed your hunger for cool stARs photography, we have an instagram site, which is the home for all our unique mission, event and donor photos. you can even submit your own stARs photos to be displayed on our site.

ConneCting with StARS hAS neveR been eASieR

Dr. JN Armstrong has a dual background in aviation and medicine which gives him a unique perspective on the work of the organization.

dR. Jn ARmSTRong, STARS cHieF medicAl oFFiceR And execuTive vice pReSidenT.

6

Though STARS transport physicians are typically found coordinating and overseeing patient care through a teleconference link with the air medical crew, they also fly along on missions where their unique skills can make a difference.

Two STARS doctors — terry ross and mike Betzner — answer some common questions about their roles as members of the air medical crew.

How often do you accompany the STARS air medical crew on missions?mB: Physicians attend about 10 per cent of missions that STARS flies.

What decides whether you fly along or not?tr: Generally speaking, doctors fly because the patient is sick enough that we need to be there to deal with anything that may come up or there are certain procedures we can do that the nurse or paramedic can’t.

What medical procedures can you perform that the nurse or paramedic can’t?tr: Chest tubes [a flexible plastic tube inserted through the chest wall to remove air or fluid], certain types of joint reductions [returning dislocated bones to their sockets], starting central lines [a catheter placed into a large vein in the neck, chest or groin], putting in cardiac pacemakers, things like that – physician-specific skills.

mB: As well, it isn’t common, but we participate in mass casualty incidents such as [the tornado at] Pine Lake or major accident scenes. The docs would be transported with the crew and would stay and work with EMS personnel on scene to treat patients and determine who goes where.

Do you bring any special equipment or medications with you?tr: We do have a physician’s bag and there is equipment that only we would use for some of our procedures. It’s stocked at the base and the crew loads it up when they know we’re coming along.

How do you get on board the helicopter before it leaves?mB: We are able to respond to one of the hospital helipads or a STARS base when we’re needed. I have my helmet, boots and flight suit in my truck at all times.

Where do you usually sit when you’re flying?mB: We would typically sit in the seat beside the paramedic, who is sitting at the head of the patient, facing the rear of the aircraft.

tr: I sit on a really, really small seat! I have a heck of a time getting in! I am 6’5“and when I put my helmet on, I’m closer to 6’7”.

why does stars haVe doctors on Board? (and other pressing questions)

q & a

TRAnSpoRT pHySiciAn dR. Ron SingH, leFT, And pARAmedic JoHn bly ATTend To A pATienT’S bedSide AT A RuRAl HoSpiTAl.

continues on next page

Who: bruce mcFadyen

Hometown: waseca

How he helps STARS: mcFadyen makes bird houses and sells or gives them away. the plastic, wood or coffee-can creations are often auctioned off as charity items, sometimes fetching more than $1,000 apiece. he has made more than 12,000 houses over the years, raising tens of thousands of dollars for different charities, including $20,700 stars.

Why he gives to STARS: For years he dreamed that stars would operate in saskatchewan. Now that the service is in the province, he works hard to show his support. mcFadyen inscribes all boxes “in memory of gerry,” his son who died in an industrial accident in 1991.

How you can help: mcFadyen has 1,000 bird houses available for purchase. if you would like to buy one to help support stars please contact him at 306-893-4407 or mcfadyen@sasktel.net.

Feature Volunteer

bRuce mcFAdyen

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Why is it so important that doctors are a part of the air medical crew?tr: People in different careers have different skill sets. Everyone has something to offer in caring for the patient; something unique that complements each other well when we combine it all.

mB: For a rural physician, having access to a doc coming to help them is unique. More importantly, to be able to phone STARS and in a few minutes be hooked up with triage and transport advice from a trained physician is so important. It’s a tremendous safety net for them to be able to call and get help quickly, day or night. STARS is much, much more than a red helicopter from a physician point of view.

Feature donor

longTime SuppoRTeR STAn gRAd TAKeS A FligHT oveR HiS lATe dAugHTeR’S colliSion Scene.

Father Finds a way to honour late daughterNot long after his daughter Kristine died in a motor vehicle collision, Stan Grad started searching for ways to ease his grief.

“I recognized right away I needed to preserve her memory and hopefully in some small way put a positive spin on a tragic event,” said Grad. “I directed the hurt and angst and the day-to-day horrible feelings into accomplishing something and my focus was STARS. The organization was barely there in those days.”

The fledgling helicopter service was there for Kristine, though. She was 16 years old on Feb. 22, 1990 when she was driving along a rural road near Airdrie, AB and her vehicle collided with a fertilizer truck. STARS whisked her to hospital, but it was too late. She passed away shortly after arriving.

her devastated father poured his emotions into helping to keep STARS in the sky. At the time, the non-profit was taking a big hit to the wallet by leasing two helicopters. Fundraising was a challenge because many Albertans mistakenly believed the service was government funded.

“I put together 40 to 50 volunteers and we toured small towns and fairs, telling the STARS story and selling tickets to win an antique truck I donated,” said Grad, who eventually served as a director and chairman of the board for 12 years. “We hit 52 Alberta communities and raised more than $125,000.”

In 1997, Grad co-chaired a capital campaign to raise funds to buy two helicopters. Albertans threw their support behind STARS and raised $8.3 million.

More than 24 years after Kristine’s tragic death, Stan, along with his wife Jane Grad, remains committed to supporting STARS. Recently, the couple pledged $5 million endowment to a new initiative called Doctors OnBoard, a program that will continue to enhance the physician-led transport medicine model that is unique to STARS.

The gift provides seed money for The Stan and Jane Grad “Doctors OnBoard” Fund, which the Grads and STARS would like to see grow to $10 million through the support of other likeminded donors.

“having transport physicians along for the mission is what really sets STARS apart,” said Stan Grad. “I hope people realize how lucky they are to have such highly trained doctors who want to work with STARS and continue to help save lives.”

In the fall, the Grads took a flight in STARS’ new AW139 helicopter, retracing the route Kristine would have taken following the crash. It was an emotional, but important milestone for the family, said her father.

Jeff Quick, executive vice president, of the STARS foundation, says the Grad family’s gift is transformational for the non-profit organization.

“The Grads have invested in STARS’ ability to preserve, grow and share our air medical team’s extensive knowledge and expertise to save more lives,” said Quick. “Given that the gift is endowed, it’s going to contribute to the sustainability of our doctor-led life-saving mission for years to come.”

dR. miKe beTZneR dR. TeRRy RoSS

VolUNTEER WITH STARSthe success of stARs depends on the generous involvement of our volunteers. stARs has more than 450 people who act as ambassadors in the community.

dedicated volunteers give the gift of time and help in a variety of ways, including:

• InformatIon booths• specIal events• casInos• offIce/admInIstratIon• tour guIdes• star bear mascot/handler

for more information contact the volunteer coordinator, toll-free 1-855-616-4847 or email volunteer@stars.ca.

Mike Betzner is the STARS Calgary base medical director and also works in the emergency department at Foothills Medical Centre.

Terry Ross is the STARS Regina base medical director and also works as an emergency physician with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

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dr. paul tourigny cAlgARy

most memorable mIssIon:STARS went to a southern Alberta community to pick up a patient with a rapidly progressing neck infection. When we arrived our air medical crew acted swiftly to manage one of the most difficult airways I have ever seen. After we left the hospital, we were alerted to a bad motor vehicle collision directly below us. We circled the scene and came up with a plan to look after both patients. The helicopter landed at the intersection of two highways and I hopped out to triage the patient. Aside from feeling like a total rock star (I got dropped off by a helicopter while surrounded by fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and bystanders!) I remember how amazing it felt to be part of a team of such incredibly talented people.

dr. darren hudson edmonTon

most memorable mIssIon:It was a recent transport of a critically ill young woman suffering from H1N1. She required the high-level ventilation that only STARS can provide in transport and cooperation from the entire crew to get her safely to Edmonton. The helicopter transport saved precious minutes for the patient and was critical for her survival. The crew demonstrated the amazing teamwork and communication that makes STARS world class.

If you won the lottery, what’s the fIrst thIng you would do/buy?I promised my wife that we would get a horse ranch.

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dr. may mrochuK edmonTon

WHEN DID yoU REAlIzE THAT yoU WANTED To BE A PHySICIAN?At a pretty young age, I was always caring for things (insects, stray cats, lost puppies, wounded birds, etc.). My definite focus to pursue a career in medicine really began in my last year of high school. It’s been a wonderful career choice and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to care for patients and their families and have my “dream job” within the STARS organization.

dr. ryan deedo cAlgARy

your most memorable stars mIssIon:It was a collision in the middle of the night in which a vehicle rolled over into a creek. There were two critically injured patients and two others that unfortunately died when ejected from the vehicle. An RCMP officer said it was likely alcohol-related and no one had been wearing seat belts. One of the most important things we can do at STARS is continue to encourage people to make smart choices. Don’t drink and drive, don’t ride with intoxicated people and wear your seat belt.

Faces oF stars

dr. marc Francis cAlgARy

your most memorable stars mIssIon:It was a flight to Kananaskis Country for a man who had sustained a life threatening gastrointestinal bleed while on a horseback riding trip. We had to search for quite a while to find him and eventually had to land the helicopter on a sandbank in a river. It was the most interesting terrain I’ve ever had to pull a stretcher across, but we transported him safely to hospital in the end.

ouR doCtoRS deliveR CRitiCAl CARe in hoSpitAlS And ouR heliCopteRS

At stARs we are lucky to have nearly 100 doctors trained and experienced in critical care as part of our team. when they aren’t helping to take care of stARs patients, they are saving lives at critical-care centres in your communities. we would like to introduce you to some of our transport physicians who work in Alberta, saskatchewan and Manitoba.

dr. julian regehr mAniTobA

If you weren’t a physIcIan, what would your NEXT CAREER CHoICE BE?I’ve committed so much of my adult life to the path of medicine that it’s difficult to say what another option would look like. I bet it would include being outdoors - either working in it, teaching about it or showing it to others.

dr. sunil sooKramedmonTon

at what poInt In your lIfe dId you decIde to become a physIcIan?After being a medic in the army, I decided to pursue a pathway in medicine. It was a very long and difficult journey, but it was well worth it.

grey’s anatomy – mostly fact or mostly fIctIon?I wish Grey’s Anatomy was real, but all that relationship stuff is fiction. Mind you, I did marry an emergency room nurse.

dr. Kish lysterReginA

at what poInt In your lIfe dId you decIde to pursue a career In medIcIne?I knew that I wanted to be a doctor from early high school onward. I have always been fascinated by medicine and how we can work through symptoms to treat critical illness. I also love flying. I used to daydream about flying around and being able to help really sick people, so I really am living the dream. I look forward to my shifts on call, and the opportunity to do my part to help sick or injured people in Saskatchewan.

dr. Brad jamison ReginA

most memorable mIssIon:My most memorable STARS call would have to be my first one. It was only the second day of operations for STARS in Regina. It was exciting, fast-paced with high stakes: all the reasons I like emergency medicine. The crew was great to work with and it was a big challenge to manage a sick patient in a gravel parking lot in the back of the helicopter. Once I got home and stopped pacing and could reflect on the experience, I knew I made the right choice to be part of STARS. It has been a great experience to date and I look forward to the future with STARS in Saskatchewan.

dr. eddie chang edmonTon

grey’s anatomy – mostly fact or mostly fIctIon?I am not trying to carbon date myself but I have never watched Grey’s Anatomy. Some people grew up with M*A*S*H, St. Elsewhere and Doogie Howser, M.D. I grew up without McDreamy and McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy. In the emergency room, the personal conflict and struggle, the passion, the laughter and sadness, it’s all real. In fact, the emergency room is where I met my lovely wife, Marliese!

dr. james huFFman cAlgARy

most memorable mIssIon:It was the first week after I had finished my residency training and started working as a transport physician. In retrospect, the patient was far from one of the sickest I’ve helped to manage but at the time I couldn’t have been more stressed. The patient had a third-degree heart block and needed a pacemaker very quickly. I remember how relieved the rural physician looked when the air medical crew arrived, and thinking how I was at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. Things went very well, the patient did fine and our team performed like a well-oiled machine. That’s when I really felt that I had become a part of the STARS family and knew this job was a perfect fit for me.

10

BAck@BASe

SummARy: stAR-9 from Regina accepts a mission to rendezvous with ground eMs in a remote saskatchewan location for a male who’s been burned following an explosion. stARs’ transport physician and the receiving doctor at the Regina general hospital worked closely with the air medical crew throughout the flight. here’s how some of those involved remember the call:

e m e R g e n c y R e S p o n d e R S d e B R i e f A S T A R S m i S S i o n

9:18 a.m.: STARS is dispatched to a worksite to pick up a patient severely burned in a chemical explosion. he is receiving advanced life support by medics at the scene. STARS’ transport physician Dr. Kish Lyster is on the call, listening to paramedics describe the patient’s injuries: Seventy to 80 per cent of his body has sustained second- and third-degree burns, including his face, hands, feet and legs. he is in incredible pain.

10:15: The helicopter lands at the worksite and the crew receives the patient. Dr. Lyster has already called ahead to Regina General hospital to update receiving physician Dr. Brad Jamison on the patient’s condition. he wants everyone in the emergency room to be prepared for what’s referred to as a “thermal patient.” dr. jamison is ready. he has trained for this exact scenario.

As the patient is packaged for the flight to Regina, STARS paramedic Jon Antal lets Dr. Lyster know he needs to intubate him (insert a breathing tube) while on the scene. Antal is prepared for a challenging procedure given the man’s large size and severe damage to his airway. the call is nearly identical to a simulated worst-possible scenario he learned during his stars training.

11:55: When the helicopter lands at the Regina Airport, Dr. Lyster is there to meet the patient and travel with him by ground ambulance to the hospital. Dr. Jamison’s medical team is poised for his arrival. they are prepared for any complications that might arise from his delicate condition, including sudden death. “Patients with such extensive burns have a high mortality and those with airway burns can face a fast decline,” he said.

Jamieson credits a wealth of collective experience and ongoing, fluid dialogue between the doctors, crew, STARS Emergency Link Centre communications specialists and emergency responders for this patient’s survival.

I knew exactly what to expect long before he came in, which expedited the patient’s care.

Dr. Brad JamisonReceiving physicianRegina General Hospital

Dr. Kish Lyster STARS transport physician

The medical personal did an amazing job on the ground, updating me on his condition. I gave them authority to administer pain medication. They put a catheter in his leg bone to control his pain intravenously as they couldn’t access his arm veins.

It was the toughest airway I have ever done in my career, but my training had me totally prepared and confident.

If STARS hadn’t been involved in this call it would have been an exceedingly difficult case to manage. If this patient had have come in without a breathing tube he would have been in a life-threatening scenario.

Dr. Brad JamisonReceiving physicianRegina General Hospital

It’s of such vital importance that we have a like-minded group of people with critical care and emergency background when we experience these difficult cases.

Dr. Brad JamisonReceiving physicianRegina General Hospital

Jon AntalSTARS paramedic

11

stars@stars

Dr. Ian Rigby had flown over the Rocky Mountains in a STARS helicopter too many times to count. A mission in January 2012 however, was different.

This time Dr. Rigby was the patient, not the practitioner. The crew members he normally worked alongside were now working on him.

“It’s hard to treat your colleagues,” said Dr. Rigby. “I knew it was harder on them than it was on me. I could see it in their faces.”

The doctor knew moments after he hit the tree while skiing in the backcountry near Golden, B.C. that his injuries were life changing. he thought he was unable to move his body because he was waist deep in snow. Then, his hands felt funny.

“It was a regular slope,” said Dr. Rigby. “I caught an edge and struck a tree.”

And then he laughs. “I like to say that I gave to the tree as good as it gave to me.”

Dr. Rigby sustained a spinal injury in the ski crash rendering him quadriplegic. he’s paralyzed from the chest down, although he has some hand function. he uses a wheelchair to get around.

Calgary paramedic Chad hegge, who has known Dr. Rigby since the two were in high school, said it was one of the toughest calls of his career.

“I immediately choked up and I wasn’t sure if I could do the mission,” said hegge. “It was a visceral reaction to the fact that Ian was my friend and mentor and now he was our patient and in bad shape.”

Of course, that changed when STARS arrived to pick up the doctor. “Ian has always had this way of putting people at ease,” said hegge. “That’s one of the reasons he’s a great doctor.”

Initially, Dr. Rigby was devastated by his prognosis, as one would expect. he spent the next six months in hospital, moving from acute care to rehabilitation, often hopeful he would beat the odds. he wondered what his life would look like once he was discharged.

he was anxious to return to practicing medicine and to STARS. he braced himself for a barrage of questions and comments about “the quadriplegic doctor,” he said.

But that didn’t happen. Today, he has resumed teaching with STARS, where he trains medical crews and educates rural doctors – as he has for the past decade. he also works two days a week in two Calgary emergency rooms and continues to teach in Foothills Medical Centre’s residency program.

“I thought at first I was going to be telling my story a lot, so I braced for that,” he said. “But everyone has been so supportive and accommodating it’s kind of a pleasure. I really enjoyed working with patients all by myself, but at least I am still involved in their care.”

Because he has limited hand function, Dr. Rigby occasionally receives backup in the ER.

“I see patients just like I normally did,” he said. “If they need something procedural done one of my partners will handle it.”

Patients, STARS and the health-care system are lucky to have Dr. Rigby, said hegge.

“The STARS team and our medical partners are so thankful Ian has been able to move past this injury and return to where he’s needed,” said hegge. “he is a brilliant man, a great physician, a great teacher and always someone I will look to for advice. he just happens to have limited mobility and a wheelchair.”

From doctor to patient to doctor again

dR. iAn Rigby

UNIVERSITy certIfIcatIon ACKNoWlEDGES hIgh level of EDUCATIoNAl TRAINING

the stARs critical care and transport Medicine Academy, a 16-week course that covers the fundamentals of critical care and transport medicine, has become a certified credit course in partnership with the university of calgary.

“the stARs Academy is an outstanding, rigorously designed program that provides solid educational learning,” said dr. Lara cooke, associate dean of continuing medical education and professional development at u of c. “stARs is highly regarded, so a partnership with the university is mutually advantageous.”

students in the stARs Academy learn and perform advanced critical-care skills essential for saving lives. the course, the only one of its kind in western canada, is designed for rural and urban registered nurses, paramedics and physicians who wish to expand their knowledge and skills.

“the certification is an affirmation for the quality of education that stARs provides for our crews, as well as our emergency care partners,” said Jane duncan, stARs director of learning and development.

For further information please contact Sharon wereschuk at 780-890-3158 or swereschuk@stars.ca.

12

right: regina qu’appelle health region’s medical section head of transfusion medicine, dr. donna ledingham, speaks to the media about stars’ groundbreaking initiative called blood on board. crews will now have access to blood supply on the helicopter, saving time for patients.

Below: green is the colour! some of the saskatchewan stars team celebrate rider pride in the hangar after defeating hamilton in the grey cup.

march

18-20 SK emergency planners

Association 18th annual conference - Saskatoon

10-13 Annual SARm convention and

trade show - Regina

april

4 night with STARS gala - Regina

12 edam children’s Festival - edam

june

18-20 canada’s Farm progress Show

- evraz

21 Rural Saskatchewan Shooting for STARS - balcarres

july

19 coyote Springs cowboy Festival - elbow

upcoming eVents

aBoVe leFt: a proud stars crew pauses for an historic photo as the bk117 made its first landing on the new regina general hospital helipad. aBoVe right: saskatoon flight paramedic matthew hogan gets hit up for an autograph by adoring supporter taylor don at a public event.

aBoVe leFt: saskatchewan association of rural municipalities president david marit (right) points to the group’s logo, recognizing $580,000 in cumulative giving. he is joined by stars board of director member, dr. anne doig and rod gantefoer, executive director of the stars foundation. aBoVe right: saskatchewan health minister dustin duncan, centre, helps the stars crew celebrate the certification of the regina general hospital helipad.

13

around stars

showing our heartCrew from the Calgary base took part in an episode of CBC’s heartland, “There but for Fortune,” which aired in December. The show’s main character Amy Fleming was seriously injured after a horse that had been let loose trampled her.

The events in the scene were not uncommon situations for STARS, as we responded to 29 horse-related incidents in 2013. The episode can be viewed by going to www.cbc.ca/heartland.

hooray For regina’s newest helipadWhen STARS is dispatched, time is always of the essence. This is why the first mission using the newly constructed helipad at the Regina General hospital on Dec. 18, 2013 was an historical event. Not only for STARS, but patient care in the province.

The use of helipads cut down transfer times, allowing STARS to transport patients to emergency care faster. The more quickly a patient receives treatment, the better their chances of recovery.

watch For our motorhomes along the highwaysIt’s vacation time! Well, not really. Just because STARS has acquired two large motorhomes - bringing our total to three - doesn’t mean we are taking a hiatus from patient care. A simulation mannequin, installed into each of the motorhomes, creates a mobile emergency room that will be brought to rural hospitals, providing education to medical practitioners free of charge.

One of the new motorhomes operates the Mobile Education Program out of Saskatoon and serves Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The other is based in Grande Prairie and travels throughout northern Alberta. The third unit is based in Calgary and serves southern and central Alberta.

eyes to the sKyLook up: there’s a new bird in the sky.

Alberta’s second AW139 helicopter, based out of Calgary, has completed its final training stages and the aircraft is now being used for mission operations. Outreach sessions with partners in emergency services across southern Alberta were successful, and the reconstructed helipad at the Foothills Medical Centre opened in February.

14

“We always talk about how saving time impacts survival rates for our patients,” said Farnden. “When I saw the helicopter coming I knew I didn’t want to see it flying around in circles so I quickly realized I had to help.”

Farnden is a major gifts manager at the Grande Prairie, AB base. On Nov. 28 she was returning from a presentation in Grande Cache when she was one of the first on scene to a collision on highway 40.

“I was coming over the hill on this very remote road when I came across a massive head-on collision between a pickup and logging truck,” she said. Luckily, some industry workers happened upon the scene and tended to the pickup driver.

Someone had already called 911 so Farnden called the base to find out if STARS was on the way. Indeed, the helicopter was en route. She looked around: traffic was jammed up along both sides of the highway.

“Thankfully the helicopter was coming but there was no place for it to land and it was less than 15 minutes away,” she said.

With neither the fire department nor RCMP on scene yet, she knew it was up to her to

secure a landing zone. She started pushing vehicles back.

“I ran up and down the highway to at least a dozen truckers and told them we need to clear a space because STARS is coming,” said Farnden. “By then I could hear the roar of the helicopter and I knew it was getting ready to circle overhead. At the same time I saw the lights of the fire truck coming toward me.”

Farnden turned the scene over to the fire fighters and they landed the helicopter on the highway. The patient in the pickup truck was extricated from the vehicle and transported to hospital.

The incident has had a lasting impact on Farnden.

“I’ve been with STARS more than seven years and I know what my role in fundraising is all about,” she said. “But experiencing how what I do makes a difference for our patients was surreal. We always talk about how our individual roles contribute to the bigger picture but this brought it home for me.”

stars’ Fundraiser prepares landing zone amid crash chaos

sKids down

Glenda Farnden is accustomed to helping STARS raise money for operations - not rescue patients directly. Now that she’s helped to land the helicopter on a highway, however, her fundraising efforts feel even more meaningful.

glendA FARnden FRom THe gRAnde pRAiRie bASe.

SARmFor your ongoing Financial support oF the stars program.“ We are very fortunate to have STARS serving rural Saskatchewan. Anyone living or travelling in rural Saskatchewan benefits from this service and it is very much appreciated.”

– dAvid mARiT, pReSidenT oF SASKATcHewAn ASSociATion oF RuRAl municipAliTieS

15

abbey ............................ 1aberdeen ...................... 3abernethy ..................... 1ahtahkakoop .............. 10ahtahkakoop reserve .. 3allan ............................. 3alsask ........................... 1annaheim ..................... 1arcola ........................... 7arrow reserve.............. 1asquith ......................... 8assiniboia ..................... 7avonhurst ..................... 1aylesbury...................... 1balcarres...................... 3baldwinton ................... 2balgonie ....................... 2bear lake ..................... 1beechy .......................... 3bengough ..................... 1big river ..................... 11big river reserve ......... 1biggar ......................... 13bladworth..................... 1blaine lake .................. 1borden .......................... 3brendenbury ................ 1broadview .................. 13brock ............................ 1bruno ........................... 1candle lake ................. 5canora .......................... 3carlyle .......................... 5caronport ..................... 1carrot river .................. 1central butte ............... 1chamberlain ................ 3chaplin ......................... 1chitek lake .................. 2choiceland ................... 2cochin .......................... 2colonsay ....................... 2corinne ......................... 1coronach ...................... 1cowessess ................... 1craik ............................. 3crane Valley ................. 2cudworth ...................... 5cupar ............................ 2

cut knife ...................... 1dalmas ......................... 1d’arcy ........................... 2davidson ....................... 4davin ............................ 2debden ......................... 2delisle .......................... 1delmas ......................... 1dinsmore ...................... 1domremy...................... 1dorintosh ..................... 1drinkwater ................... 1duck lake .................... 1dundurn ....................... 5dysart ........................... 1edam ............................ 2edenwold ...................... 1elbow ............................ 1elfros ............................ 2elstow ........................... 1estavan ......................... 1esterhazy ................... 10estevan ....................... 16Fishing lake ................. 1Foam lake .................... 3Fort qu’appelle .......... 26Francis ......................... 1glaslyn .......................... 2glenside ....................... 1gordon reserve............ 2govan............................ 1grand coulee ............... 1gravelbourg ................. 1green lake ................... 1grenfell ........................ 2gruenthal ..................... 1hafford ......................... 3handel .......................... 1hanley .......................... 1harris ........................... 1herbert ......................... 1hodgeville .................... 2holdfast ........................ 1humboldt ................... 27indian head .................. 2kamsack ...................... 3kawacatoose ................ 6kawacatoose reserve .. 2kelliher......................... 5

kelvington .................... 3kenaston ...................... 4kenosee lake ............... 1kerrobert ..................... 3kindersley .................... 8kipling .......................... 7kisbey ........................... 2krydor .......................... 1lake alma .................... 1lampman ..................... 2lang ............................. 2langenburg .................. 1langham ...................... 3lanigan ........................ 4leader .......................... 1leask ............................ 2lebret ........................... 1leoville ......................... 2leross .......................... 1leroy ............................ 1lestock ......................... 7liberty .......................... 1little bear lake ........... 1little pine ..................... 2little pine reserve ....... 1lloydminster .............. 14lucky lake ................... 3lumsden ...................... 1macklin ......................... 3maidstone ..................... 2marchwell .................... 1margo ........................... 2marsden ....................... 1mayfield ....................... 1maymont ...................... 5mclean ......................... 1mctaggart .................... 1meadow lake ............... 1melfort ........................ 12melville ......................... 4meota ........................... 2mervin .......................... 3midale ........................... 4mikado .......................... 1milestone ...................... 2mistawasis ................... 1mistawasis reserve ..... 1moffat ........................... 1montmartre .................. 1

montreal lake .............. 3moose Jaw ................... 6moosomin................... 18mortlach ....................... 1mossbank ..................... 1muskeg lake ................ 1Nipawin ........................ 1Nokomis ....................... 1Nokomis reserve ......... 1North battleford ......... 42North portal ................. 1ochapowace reserve ... 1odessa .......................... 1outlook ....................... 10outram ......................... 1oxbow ........................... 4parkside ....................... 1pasqua lake ................. 1paynton ........................ 2peepeekisis .................. 1pelican lake reserve... 1perdue .......................... 2piapot ........................... 1piapot reserve ............. 1porcupine plain ............ 1poundmaker reserve .. 1preeceville ................... 2prince albert .............. 34prud’homme ................ 3punnichy..................... 10quill lake ..................... 3quinton ......................... 1radisson ....................... 5radville ........................ 1raymore ....................... 5red earth reserve ....... 1red pheasant ............... 1regina .......................... 3regina beach ............... 1rocanville ..................... 2roncott ......................... 1rosetown ...................... 3rosthern ..................... 10rudy ............................ 1saltcoats ...................... 1saskatoon .................... 4semans ........................ 1shaunavon .................... 1shellbrook .................. 17

shoal lake ................... 1smeaton ....................... 3southey ........................ 6spalding ....................... 1spiritwood .................... 2st. denis ....................... 4standing buffalo .......... 1star blanket ................. 2st. benedict .................. 1stoughton ..................... 3strasbourg ................... 2struan .......................... 1sturgis .......................... 1swift current .............. 30theodore ...................... 1thunderchild reserve .. 1turtleford ..................... 9tweedsmuir ................. 1tyvan ............................ 1unity ............................. 4Vanscoy ........................ 3wadena......................... 5wakaw .......................... 3waldheim ..................... 1wapella ........................ 7warman ........................ 1waskesiu ...................... 3watrous ........................ 9watson ......................... 1wawota ......................... 1webb............................. 1weldon ......................... 1weyakwin ..................... 2weyburn ..................... 13whitewood .................... 1wilkie ........................... 4willow bunch ............... 1wiseton ........................ 1witchekan lake reserve . 1wolseley ....................... 4wynyard ...................... 10yellow creek................. 2yorkton ....................... 16young ............................ 1Zealandia ...................... 1Zelma ........................... 1

2013

SAS

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total stars missions from 1985 = 26,659.stars flies from six bases in alberta, saskatchewan and manitoba.

2013 ToTAL: 821

SK

What do Steinbach, MB; Estevan, SK; and Cold Lake, AB; all have in common? Each has populations close to 14,000 which is equal to the number of Canadians who die each year as a result of accident-related injuries. STARS responds to hundreds of patients every year who have sustained critical injuries from vehicle collisions, falls, and many other unanticipated events.

“Our patients never expect terrible events to happen,” said STARS associate chief medical officer Dr. Dennis Nesdoly. “Planning ahead and considering all potential risks will help you avoid a flight in the back of a STARS helicopter.”

Over the years, STARS has partnered with RCMP, the Lifesaving Society of Canada, and others on campaigns to promote safety.

“Our flight crews see some of the worst possible situations, and we feel a responsibility to help build a culture of safety,” said Dr. Nesdoly.

STARS encourages members of the public to regularly discuss ways to be safer with family, friends and coworkers.

“Building a culture of safety involves changing attitudes and behaviours; and change begins with awareness,” he added.

proper saFety practices might help you aVoid a helicopter ride

by the numbers top ten incidents stARs responded to in 2013:

133 road vehicle collisions (not including motorcycles)

96 falls (home, work and recreation related falls)

75 sports and recreation (snowboard/skiing, bicycling, camping, hunting, etc.)

73 all-terrain vehicles (including quads and dirt bikes)

59 motorcycles

58 workplace events (includes farm and industry related trauma – not including falls and farm animal related events)

39 involving animals (farm animals and wild animals)

35 pedestrians struck by vehicles

25 snowmobile

18 around the home (lawn mowers, electrical shocks, etc.)

if you WouLd Like To mAke A gifT To HeLp SuppoRT STARS:• Call our Donations Department at 306-242-0200 or 1-855-516-4848. • make an online Donation at stars.Ca

• insert a Cheque in the envelope proviDeD.

stars horizons | sprinG 2014Shock Trauma Air Rescue SocietyShock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation

return undeliVeraBle items to: stars regina Base2640 airport roaDreGina, saskatCheWan s4W 1a3