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Fast-acting trauma responders brought Bill Watson back from the brink. "e time saved getting the patient to the cath lab, where our team is waiting to perform a coronary angioplasty procedure necessary to restore blood flow to the heart, is vitally important to saving the patient, helping with long-term recovery and improving post-heart attack quality of life," Dr. Jean says. In many cases, the cath lab's team of physicians and support staff can restore heart blood flow in a matter of minutes. "We are saving a lot of ambulance time — sometimes hours — by transporting patients from outlying areas by air ambulance directly to the UPHS Heart Center cath lab," Dr. Jean says. e air ambulance helicopter service is an affiliation between UPHS – Marquette and Valley Med Flight, Inc. e helicopter is stationed in Escanaba and provides 24/7 air ambulance coverage for residents of the Upper Peninsula. Jake Smith, regional medical division chief for Valley Med, explains, "With our new helicopter, we're able to get these heart attack patients to the UPHS cath lab inside the one-hour window we have to get the best outcome. It's made a dramatic difference and is a tremendous benefit for the people of the Upper Peninsula." e helicopter is also used to transport trauma cases from accident sites to the region's only Level II Trauma Center, located at UPHS – Marquette. It's made a dramatic di•erence and is a tremendous benefit for the people of the Upper Peninsula." — JAKE SMITH Regional Medical Division Chief for Valley Med » To learn more about the department of cardiology at UPHS – Marquette, visit mgh.org and click "Heart Center" AFTER DELIVERING A load of pressed board to Wisconsin on Feb. 24, truck driver Bill Watson was returning to Sault Ste. Marie to pick up his next load. Visibility was poor, as snow and wind were ruling the day. He has no memory of the accident that nearly claimed his life. Bill's semi collided with another truck at about 9:30 a.m. His truck was hit with such force that the cab was separated from the frame — flattened — with Bill trapped inside. "I remember a lady saying she'd called 911 and there was help coming," says the 60-year-old truck driver. As EMS responders worked to free Bill from the wreckage, the Valley Med helicopter serving the Level II Trauma Center at UP Health System – Marquette was dispatched. "Although I don't remember the helicopter ride, I believe that if that helicopter wasn't there, I wouldn't be here today," Bill says. "I wouldn't have gotten to the hospital on time." Instead of hours by ambulance, the air ambulance flew Bill to UP Health System – Marquette in about 30 minutes, where the trauma center team was awaiting his arrival. Bill's wife, Christy, was at their downstate Roger City home when she got the call telling her about the accident. She is still amazed at how quickly Bill was transported to the UPHS trauma center and by the level of treatment he received upon arrival. "By the time I called the hospital at 11:30, Bill was already in surgery," Christy says. Bill's injuries were serious. In addition to internal injuries, he suffered multiple broken bones, including a broken arm, femur, tailbone, pelvis and hip. Between surgeries, he was cared for at the UPHS – Marquette intensive care unit. "e care in Marquette was excellent," Christy says. "e nurses really looked after both of us. And the crew from the helicopter visited us twice in the intensive care unit over the next few days to make sure we were okay, which I thought was amazing." By mid-March, Bill was able to be transferred to a hospital downstate and closer to his home, begin therapy and continue down the long road to recovery. But Bill is accustomed to long roads, and he says his goal is to once again be high up, behind the wheel of a big rig. AIR AMBULANCE Makes the Dierence Emergency responders at the scene of Bill Watson's Feb. 24 truck accident. (Photo courtesy WLUC TV-6) 7 UPHE ALTHSYSTEM .COM FALL / WINTER 2015

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