Aetna Responds: Robbery Suspect Injured After Chase

Aetna Ambulance Service Responds

Photo Courtesy of WFSB

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A man wanted for a robbery in Vernon has been arrested after leading police on a chase that ended in Hartford.

Police said the suspect robbed the CVS on Talcotville Rd in Vernon early Wednesday morning. After that, police said the suspect led police on a chase through several towns and eventually ended in Hartford.

According to police, the suspect rammed a Hartford police cruiser and a state trooper vehicle before the driver fled on foot. Read the full article here…

Words That Describe Us: Volume 4

Aetna Ambulance - Ambulance Service of ManchesterMANCHESTER and HARTFORD — Aetna Ambulance and ASM send Patient and Customer Satisfaction Surveys to a random sampling of patients who have received emergency or STAT inter-facility services from our companies.

The final question in the survey asks “Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve our service?” And, “Please use one word to describe us.”

Some of the answers/responses included:

  • Excellent.
  • Lifesavers.
  • Extremely professional team and very caring for me as a patient and my family.
  • All areas were excellent – the two ambulance men we’re wonderful!! The very best! Please tell them so.
  • Staff was very efficient, concerned and competent. Thank you.
  • Thanks for the awesome care you gave my son.

EMS is often a thankless field. We feel that expressions of appreciation deserve to be shared and constructive comments deserve to be acted upon. An effort is made to share positive and/or constructive comments with the field staff and with the public we serve. Some of the other responses we have received are highlighted throughout our blog and on our website.

If we have treated you and you would like to request a blank survey please call our office at (860) 647-9798 or send your comments to us at PO Box 300, Manchester, CT 06045-0300. Or, simply click the Leave a Reply link below.

Influenza Advisory

Office of Emergency Medical ServicesTO: All EMS Care Providers

FROM: Raphael M. Barishansky, Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services

This year’s influenza or “flu” season has been producing a high number of cases. This communication highlights the scope of the problem and reminds providers to take all appropriate precautions to limit the spread of this illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have classified this year’s seasonal flu as an epidemic, with 47 states reporting widespread flu activity. The following are some Connecticut-specific statistics that DPH has collected and analyzed as of 1/09/2013:

  • The percentage of outpatient visits with influenza-like illness (ILI – defined as a cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause, and the presence of a fever > 100° F) is almost twice that of the previous two flu seasons
  • There have been more persons hospitalized with influenza-associated illness during the past five weeks than the entire 2011-2012 flu season.
  • There have been 55% more reports of positive laboratory tests for influenza for the first three weeks of this flu season compared to the entire 2011-2012 season.
  • Respiratory influenza activity has most commonly peaked in February, so we may continue to experience a serious influenza season for some time to come. OEMS recommends that you review information on influenza as well as your respiratory protection plans.
  • Information is available on the CDC and CT DPH flu websites. The following are some tips to protect from influenza transmission:

GET VACCINATED! While it is ideal to receive the influenza vaccine earlier in the season, it is still of benefit to obtain a vaccination now.
BE PREPARED. Check your service’s inventories: N95 masks; simple surgical masks; alcohol-based hand sanitizer; ambulance decontamination spray
WASH YOUR HANDS! Wash them upon arrival for shift; before and after eating; after ANY contact with ANY patient; if you have worked on computers at the hospital; after ambulance decontamination.
WEAR PPE CONSISTENTLY. Follow droplet precautions in accordance with your respiratory protection plan. Consider having patients presenting with ILI symptoms wear a simple surgical mask or oxygen mask.
THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION. Don’t forget: Stretcher straps, ceiling hand rails, door handles, driver’s compartment surfaces, portable & fixed O2 tanks, stairchair, jumpkits, toughbooks and clipboards.

ASM Responds: East Hartford Apartment Fire


EAST HARTFORD— Residents of an apartment on Ellington Road leapt from their windows into the waiting arms of firefighters to escape from a three-alarm blaze early Tuesday.

A dozen people, including three firefighters, were injured, officials said. Five people were hurt, one severely, when they jumped from their windows. Residents of 38 units have been sent to the North End Senior Center on Remington Road.  Read the Courant/Fox CT article here…

East Hartford Apartment Fire- Ambulance Service of Manchester

Photo Courtesy of Hartford Courant – Fox CT

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 5: The New Alpha Five

Ambulance Service of Manchester: Johnson Memorial Medical Center - Stafford Springs, CT“Johnson Medic” transitioned into a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance.

STAFFORD SPRINGS — As of January 11, 2013, the Johnson Medic, also known as Ambulance Service of Manchester’s (ASM) Alpha Five will be operating a brand new Mercedes Sprinter. The vehicle replaces the 2007 Ford that has been stationed at Johnson Memorial Medical Center for since it came into use.

The Mercedes Sprinter has many upgrades from the Ford, including LED interior and emergency lights, improved fuel economy, increased leg room, high visibility Battenburg and rear chevron markings, increased patient compartment headroom, ergonomic equipment mounting, sliding side entry and more.

Ambulance Service of Manchester: Johnson Memorial Medical Center - Stafford Springs, CTAlpha Five is the first Paramedic Unit at ASM to transition to a Mercedes and the last to have operated a Ford. All other Paramedic Units are operating Dodge Sprinters. To learn more about the Johnson Medic program, click here… Continue reading

Checking Back Often? Subscribe to the Blog

Blog readers often tell themselves that they will “check back often.” There is an easier way. Keep up with Aetna and ASM events, partnerships and news by subscribing to the blog subscribe through the Entree RSS Feed, located near the bottom of the right side bar on the main blog page. Or, click on the following link: http://asm-aetna.com/blog/feed/

Subscribing simply entails receiving an email with each new blog post. Items are posted about 1-2 times per week and the emails do not include any advertising or other spam.

ASM Responds: Motor Vehicle in East Hartford

Photo Courtesy of the Journal Inquirer

Photo Courtesy of the Journal Inquirer

According to the Journal Inquirer: East Hartford emergency personnel work on a patient from a minor motor vehicle accident on Main Street early Saturday afternoon. The accident was quickly cleared up and didn’t affect traffic for long. (Jared Ramsdell / Journal Inquirer)