WOODRUFF — Ascension Wisconsin Spirit Medical Transport resumed its air medical transport services, Spirit 2, from its Woodruff base at Howard Young Medical Center.
The move comes a month after services were suspended following the crash of Spirit 2 in the town of Hazelhurst on April 26. Ascension Wisconsin Spirit Medical Transport had been serving the region with Spirit 1, based at the Stevens Point Airport and its ground units at Ascension facilities.
“This is an important step in our recovery process and demonstrates the skill and professionalism of our air medical transport teams,” said Ted Ryan, System Director of Medical Transport Services for Ascension Wisconsin in a news release.
The April crash killed the pilot, 34-year-old Rico Caruso of Hazelhurst, 30-year-old flight nurse Klint Mitchell of Watersmeet, Michigan, and 43-year-old paramedic Greg Rosenthal of Mosinee. No patients were on board.
A temporary replacement Airbus Helicopter arrived at the Woodruff base last week and crews have completed the necessary confidence flights and preparation to restore air medical transport services. Work on a permanent replacement aircraft is ongoing.
“As we have worked through the many issues of returning to service, we again would like to extend our sincere thanks to our EMS and medical transportation colleagues, who helped to ensure safe transport services were available to our patients,” Ryan said in the release.
Helping Hands’ fund
As of last week, the Howard Young Foundation Helping Hands’ fund to benefit the families of the Spirit team affected by this tragedy has totaled more than $105,000, according to Ascension. One hundred percent of the money will go to the affected families. To donate, visit the foundation’s website at howardyoungfoundation.org or contact the foundation office.
Ascension Wisconsin Spirit Medical Transport annually provides about 3,500 ground transfers, 550 air transports and 650 paramedic intercepts across the system.
