ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 6: Johnson Memorial Hospital Renovates EMS Work Area

Note the ASM ambulance outside. From left to right: Patrick Mahon, chairman, JMMC Board of Directors; Neil Moynihan, M.D., president, JMH Medical Staff; Paul Wentworth, EMS coordinator; Beth Van Alstyne, senior director, Nursing; Patricia Jagoe, assistant vice president, Patient Care Services; Jennifer Moskal, Emergency Department manager; David Herr, M.D., chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine; and Stuart E. Rosenberg, president & CEO, JMMC. (Gregory Palmer / February 27, 2014)

Note the ASM ambulance outside. From left to right: Patrick Mahon, chairman, JMMC Board of Directors; Neil Moynihan, M.D., president, JMH Medical Staff; Paul Wentworth, EMS coordinator; Beth Van Alstyne, senior director, Nursing; Patricia Jagoe, assistant vice president, Patient Care Services; Jennifer Moskal, Emergency Department manager; David Herr, M.D., chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine; and Stuart E. Rosenberg, president & CEO, JMMC. (Gregory Palmer / February 27, 2014)

by Gregory Palmer Read the full Hartford Courant article here…

STAFFORD — In 2007 Alan and Terry Silver made a generous donation to Johnson Memorial Hospital (JMH) for the renovation of the EMS work area and lounge. Seven years later the room has been updated to better meet the needs of the EMS community. Hospital staff and EMS professionals recently gathered at JMH to celebrate the event and ribbon cutting. Johnson Memorial Medical Center, parent organization of JMH, is grateful for the dedication and support the EMS members provide throughout our service area and our surrounding communities.
About Johnson Memorial Medical CenterJohnson Memorial Medical Center (JMMC) is the parent organization of Johnson Memorial Hospital (JMH), Evergreen Health Care Center (EHCC) and Home & Community Health Services (H&CHS). JMMC provides a full spectrum of health care to those living and working in North Central Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts. For more information please visit: www.jmmc.com.

Historical Photos: Aetna Ambulance Service #7

HARTFORD — Date unknown, likely mid to late 1950′s (comment if you can discern the make, model and year of the car). Note the extent of the damage to the car in picture one and the delivery of what could be last rites in picture two. It is unknown if the pictures are unrelated.

Aetna Historical 062

Aetna Historical 024

Words That Describe Us: Volume 20

Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc. - Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.MANCHESTER 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:

  • Highly professional x 2.
  • Good job done. Thanks for helping me.
  • There are no words for TLC to this extent from this group except HOORAY! (13-113431; S. Allen, R. Fraley).
  • Caring and professional.
  • Superb.
  • Very impressed. Not only were they all helpful with my husband, they helped ease my anxiety and nerves. Thank you all very much and God bless. (14-1025; T. Oliver, T. Luetjen).
  • Caring and efficient.
  • Great! Unfortunately I have forgotten their names but the paramedics were fantastic! (14-594; R. Buechele, J. Traber).
  • They were wonderful.
  • Compassionate.
  • Kind and professional. Very important in my distress for friendly service. They comforted me the best possible. Helped ease my stress level with the pain I was in. They got me to Hartford ER and Hartford saved my life. Good job. I am forever grateful. (14-273; J. Platero, M. Carter).
  • Caring and excellent. My wife and I have used your services several times and have never had a complaint. You all do an excellent job and you care. (14-103; A. Hedberg, C. Rockoff).
  • Professional and caring.
  • Wonderful.
  • Professional, kind, reassuring. (13-104909; T. Lachappelle, R. Fross).

Snow made for a tough day for emergency crews

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)– This snow made for a tough day for emergency crews around our state to get to medical situations that could be life or death.

WTNHSome ambulance crews went out with help in the form of a snow plow leading the way. Read the original WTNH article and see the video here…

Kevin pushed the ambulance through 6 to 8 inches of slop on the roads as he heads to a call in Wethersfield. It has been a busy evening for this crew.

“We had a gentleman who had his fingers cut off in a log splitter today, thankfully we haven’t had any snow blower accidents yet today. We had a cardiac arrest this morning,” said Matt Campbell, Aetna Ambulance.

And now they are heading lights and sirens to a slip and fall patient in Wethersfield. The problem isn’t the snow, Kevin is used to driving in it and the plows are clearing the way… it’s the other drivers.

“A lot of people, they don’t want to get stuck in the snow, so they don’t want to move over for you, and a lot of people don’t need to be out,” said Kevin Mathiau, Aetna.

But they are out and they are clogging the roads so for big storms like this Aetna Ambulance brings on more crews and more equipment so they can spread it around and shorten response time.

“We will stage ambulances all over the city, we have 2 or 3 in every part of the city. The crews know already to slow down, take your time,” said Mark Hannegan, Director Aetna Ambulance

Telling an EMT or paramedic to slow down isn’t in their nature, but safety is and as long as they can get the patient into the ambulance quickly they can stabilize them for a long ride ahead. But with un-shoveled walks and un-plowed side streets crews sometimes have to carry the patient out to the main road rather than risk getting the ambulance stuck.

“We had to carry out a patient on a back board and there were 4 people on it, and it was a 200/300 yard carry, and it makes it difficult without any snow clearing,” said Mathiau.

“We pride ourselves on speed, and to get to the hospital efficiently and safely, and in this weather it is very difficult to get there safely so it takes a lot longer,” said

Appreciation from Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation

Mansfield Center for Nursing and RehabilitationJust sending a quick note of sincere gratitude for the exceptional service of your ambulance personnel.

We had a multiple stretcher day here today and the nurses expressed their genuine appreciation for the professionalism and courtesy of your staff both in picking up the patients and returning them.  They were all very genuine in their care for the patients as well as communications to the nursing staff.

Thank you again and as always for continuing to provide exceptional service to MCNR,

WE APPRECIATE ASM !

Regards,

— Sandra Burgess,  Health Unit Manager/Clinical Care Coordinator

East Hartford Daisy Troop Visited by ASM Crew

EH Daisy TroopEAST HARTFORD — On February 6th, ASM’s Polina Yakushchenko and Jacob Truebig visited Girls Scout Daisy Troop 10862 during a troop meeting.

“Thanks for sending the ambulance yesterday to our Girls Scout Daisy Troop 10862. The girls enjoyed going inside the ambulance and getting the coloring books.  I asked Jacob to explain about the stethoscope and I think that was one of the favorite part for many girls. Thanks so much again for sending them I know winter is kind of crazy with emergency calls.” – Troop Leader Barbara Valdes

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 13

MANCHESTER — Additions and renovations to the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s main headquarters, known to employees as “10-1,” continue. As of this writing:

  • The drop ceiling and painting in the main hallway is nearing completion.
  • An additional small conference area has been added.
  • The small conference and training room has been emptied to accommodate a temporary dispatch center during renovations.
  • A reception window has been added in the new entrance foyer.

The next steps are renovating and expanding the new Dispatch Center, carpeting the main hallway, opening the new main entrance, adding finishes and flooring in several areas and re-configuring the main call-taking office.

The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.

Aetna Grows Fleet by Three Ambulances

Three New Aetna AmbulancesHARTFORD — On February 3, 2014 Aetna Ambulance will place in service three new Mercedes Sprinter ambulances for regular use and day-to-day operations.

The ambulances are not replacements. Instead they are new additions to the fleet resulting from an application to the Department of Public Health for expanded services last November. To demonstrate need in the application, Aetna cited continued, controlled growth, the need for expanded capacity and the length of time since the last application.