Staff reports
UKIAH >> For more than 30 years Dr. Mark Luoto has provided service to patients as an emergency medicine physician. “His skills, compassion and exceptional care of our patients is an inspiration to the staff at Ukiah Valley Medical Center (UVMC). When it comes to patient care, Dr. Luoto sets the highest standard for remaining true to our mission and serving our community,” Nick Bejarano, UVMC regional communications manager, stated.
“Our emergency department at UVMC is blessed to have Dr. Luoto”s leadership,” Bejarano continued. “He is a highly-trained clinician who stays current in his field and passes on his experience and expertise to all nurses, students, patients, families and colleagues. It”s one thing to practice your expertise, it”s quite another to teach and mentor the team, so the emergency department functions at the highest level possible. Dr. Luoto is known for his ability to make his team ”feel more confident and capable” when he is working alongside them. He is a leader whose strength is in helping others be strong.”
Dr. Luoto not only focuses on the patient”s physical health, he also focuses on the patient”s mental and spiritual well-being. He regularly brings in the ancillary support team to treat patients.
Even though the emergency department is an environment where expediency is key, Dr. Luoto still manages to treat patients with respect, kindness and with his undivided attention, Bejarano stated.
As one staff member said, “Dr. Luoto takes however much time is needed for each patient, yet rarely falls behind. Emergency medicine is a demanding profession, yet Dr. Luoto leads the group with the most requests for his service. He truly is the emergency department”s hero.”
Dr. Luoto exemplifies what it means to care for the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of patients and, because of this, Dr. Luoto was selected by UVMC staff to be the recipient of the Physician of the Year award, Bejarano stated.
