May 20, 2002 -- West Michigan Air Care (WMAC) of Kalamazoo has become one of only five facilities in the state to receive the prestigious Michigan Voluntary Protection Programs (MVPP) Star award for workplace safety and health excellence.  Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus presented the Star flag to employees at a ceremony today on behalf of the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS).

“It is an honor to present the MVPP Star flag to the employees and management of West Michigan Air Care,” said Lt. Gov. Posthumus.  “Your dedication to employee safety as you provide a vital medical service to the citizens of West Michigan has made this outstanding achievement possible.”

The CIS Bureau of Safety and Regulation is responsible for the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) program.  MIOSHA established the MVPP program to recognize employers actively working toward achieving excellence in workplace safety and health.  It was developed in 1996 to reward private and public sector worksites that develop and implement outstanding safety and health programs that go beyond MIOSHA standards.

“West Michigan Air Care faces the dual challenge of operating an air transport company with complex healthcare issues,” said Lt. Gov. Posthumus.  “Your outstanding record of no lost work days in the last three years is a testament that workplace safety is a core company value.”

The MVPP Program enhances MIOSHA’s tradition of working cooperatively and voluntarily with industry to reduce and eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses.  Nationally, there are more than 830 Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) worksites.  West Michigan Air Care is the first medical transport company in the nation to receive this award.

“We at West Michigan Air Care are delighted to receive the MVPP Star award.  It is a tremendous honor to be the first healthcare company in Michigan to receive this award,” said David T. Overton, MD, FACEP, Program Director.  “The real credit goes to each and every one of our WMAC staff, who have adopted a culture of making patient safety and workplace safety their top priority every day.

Accepting the Star flag were members of the Air Care Safety Committee and Mike Bussing, Flight Paramedic and MVPP Liaison.  State and local elected officials, hospital leaders, as well as CIS and MIOSHA representatives, were on hand to congratulate the company on their outstanding achievement.

CIS Deputy Director Kalmin Smith presented the MVPP Plaque to the company.  “We applaud your outstanding safety and health achievement,” said Smith.  “You have created a work environment where every employee accepts responsibility for safety, every day.”

West Michigan Air Care’s Incidence Rates and Lost Work Day Rates are significantly below the national average for their industry and Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 4522, “Non-scheduled Air Transport.”  The Total Case Incidence Rate for WMAC was 0.00 in 1998, 3.45 in 1999, and 0.00 in 2000--compared to a U.S. industry average of 4.0 in 1998, 4.1 in 1999, and 6.5 in 2000.  The Total Lost Work Day Cases for WMAC was 0.00 in 1998, 0.00 in 1999, and 0.00 in 2000--compared to the U.S. industry rate of 1.3 in 1998, 2.1 in 1999, and 2.5 in 2000.  To date, their injury rate remains at zero.

All employees are empowered to act on safety and health issues and are accountable for their performance.  The company’s decentralized management style puts substantial authority in employee’s hands.  The company has taken the extraordinary step of permitting any member of a flight crew to terminate a mission; a prerogative that is normally the pilot’s alone.

Extensive self-inspection procedures are in place, including the routine performance of hazard surveys and audits.  Prevention and control of aviation hazards is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  Aviation safety is the number one safety issue and receives the most attention and resources.  Safety issues not related to aviation were well addressed by the company.  Special personal protective equipment to protect employees from bloodborne infectious diseases and TB were properly utilized.

WMAC achieved accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) in 1995. WMAC continues to obtain recertification every three years through strict adherence to CAMTS standards; as well as on-site survey credentialing. CAMTS accreditation represents the “Gold Standard” in air medical transport, and demonstrates WMAC’s commitment to providing patients with the highest quality air medical care.

WMAC is a leader in employee bloodborne pathogen protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends administration of an antiviral medication within one hour to medical personnel following a needlestick injury with a high probability of infection. Out of nearly 250 medical air transport services in the nation, WMAC is the only known service to carry antivirals for their crew.

Based on interviews with employees and observation, MIOSHA found that employee training, both in-flight and non-flight, has a very high priority.  Training has been conducted annually for hazard communication, infection control, bloodborne infectious diseases control, tuberculosis control, injury prevention/back safety, fire prevention, stress management and hearing protection.

WMAC provides a training course on landing zone safety for law enforcement and other emergency response personnel to help ensure helicopter crew safety when making landings at locations without a permanent established landing zone.  Only WMAC trained personnel can provide the ground communication to air crews at these temporary landing zones.

West Michigan Air Care is a premier full service critical care transport system. In March 1993, West Michigan Air Care (Air Care) became the first hospital based consortium air medical program in the United States.  As a cooperative program of Borgess Medical Center and Bronson Methodist Hospital, WMAC affords the region an excellent combination of tertiary care expertise by offering a national model for transport of critically ill/injured patients.

From its base in Kalamazoo, Michigan, WMAC’s fully equipped helicopter is airborne and on its way within minutes of a request for service, delivering its critical care medical crew at an average speed of 175 miles per hour. With 29 employees, its safe, quick, efficient service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Their web address is: www.aircare.org.