Team Member Takes a Lifesaving Flight
January 08, 2026
For Manny, the distinctive sound of the AirMed One helicopter was a familiar and exciting soundtrack to his workday. As the manager of plant operations and facilities at Palisades Medical Center, he took immense pride in making sure the hospital helipad was in perfect condition, ready at any moment for a lifesaving flight.
A dedicated team member since 2005, Manny’s work family also includes his immediate family. His wife and son work at Palisades, while his daughter-in-law is a pharmacist at Hackensack University Medical Center. He loves his job and his colleagues, and has always been fascinated by the helicopter he helps to support, though he had never taken a ride in one.
In November 2023, that changed.
Ready for Takeoff
Manny knows everyone in the Palisades Medical Center Emergency Department by name. On stressful days, he’d often joke, “One of these days, you’ll be taking care of me having a heart attack!”
That day, it was no longer a joke. What started as chest pains quickly became severe, and his wife rushed him to the department he knew so well. The expert team stabilized him, but they knew he’d need advanced cardiac intervention immediately.
The decision is made: Manny will be airlifted to Hackensack University Medical Center, an accredited chest pain center.
As the AirMed One team prepares Manny for flight, a strange mix of fear and exhilaration washes over him.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “After all these years of admiring that helicopter and adoring the team, I am finally getting a ride.”
As the helicopter lifts off, the flight crew — a highly skilled group of nurses and paramedics — provides much-needed oxygen and medications. Despite the gravity of the moment, Manny can’t help but feel wonder. He makes the most of the trip, looking out at the sky, buildings and streets far below, some he even recognizes.
Cleared for Landing
When AirMed One touches down at Hackensack University Medical Center, a cardiac team is waiting for him. Within minutes, he is in the catheterization lab receiving a life-saving stent.
“Although it was scary, the flight team could not have taken better care of me,” Manny says. “They treated me like family. They calmed me down, told me not to worry and reassured me at every turn. I knew I was in the best hands.”
His experience is a testament to the world-class standards upheld by the Hackensack Meridian Health Air Medical Program. To Manny, it was no surprise that the team was recently awarded recertification from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems— the gold standard for air medical transport, signifying a commitment to the highest quality patient care and safety. It is the only hospital based program in New Jersey to hold this accreditation.
Today, the sound of AirMed One means more to Manny than ever. It’s a reminder of hope, of expert care and of a team that treats one of their own with the same compassion and excellence they show every patient they fly.
“I'm just so grateful,” Manny says. “To see that CAMTS recognition, it just confirms what I already knew from my own experience: this team is truly the best of the best.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Make an appointment online, or call 800-822-8925.
- Schedule a heart screening.
- Visit the Heart & Vascular Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.
- Learn more about our Air Medical Program.
The material provided through Healthier You is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
