Another Survey Response for Aetna’s Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau

Campbell and Mathiau 2HARTFORD — On March 26, 2014 Aetna Ambulance’s Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau once again responded to a motor vehicle accident in Wethersfield, a scenario which landed them high praise in a survey in February. Some have begun to believe the two carry blank surveys on their person.

In this case, within two weeks the patient was randomly selected to receive a Patient Satisfaction Survey. The patient sent back a response with all clinical care boxes marked Agree or Strongly Agree and the following narrative:

Please use a word to describe us: “Competent, caring, professional, compassionate.”

“The person who cared for me, Matt, was exemplary. He was very caring and paid attention to my concerns and addressed them. He put my mind at ease in a situation that was tenuous. Being a nurse and knowing what could be happening to me made me very frightened and he made me feel like I could trust him and know it was ok. I hope he sees this and I hope he gets lauded for what he does. I know if did this for me he does this for others. And I know its hard to care for people in the medical profession. I hope I can thank him personally some day.”

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Meet the Newest Members of the Aetna Team: Aetna Adds Four

HARTFORD — On May 29, 2014, four EMTs were added to the Aetna team. As part of our continued growth Aetna and ASM seek out only the best candidates. We look for employees who are focused on high-quality patient care, are team oriented and conduct themselves in a professional manner. During the orientation, employees learn about company philosophy and goals, quality assurance, and policies and procedures.

David Jackson:  My name is David Jackson and I am 22 years old. I graduated from the Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology in 2014. My goal is to go to medical school and to go into the field of emergency medicine. I took my EMT-Basic class in Bridgeport, CT in 2008 at the Bridgeport Hospital Emergency Medicine Institute. I started working in EMS at Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, however, when I moved to Boston, MA for college I began working for Boston University Emergency Medical Services. In my spare time I enjoy scuba diving and boating on the Long Island Sound and I am very excited to start to work towards my Dive Master certification this summer. I truly love emergency medicine in all its forms and I am very excited to be one of the newest additions to this amazing team and to have the opportunity to work in your community. 

Eric Marandino:  My name is Eric Marandino. After being self-employed for the past 15 years (in the dental industry) I was looking for a career change. I know many people who are, or were EMTS and they all said how much they enjoyed the job. I graduated EMT last summer through Hartford Hospital. I feel very fortunate to have been hired by Aetna Ambulance and look forward to starting my new career.

I have trained in martial arts for 30 years. After extensive training in Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, Boxing, American Kickboxing and Jeet Kune Do, I began training Brazilian Jiujitsu 10 years ago. I have been fortunate to be able to teach, train and compete a lot in the past five years. I will continue to train jiujitsu for the rest of my life. Some of my other interests include mountain biking, hiking, cooking, movies and working on my house. I am an avid reader and I try to always be reading a good book.

Andrew O’Laughlin:  My name is Andrew O’Loughlin. I am 21 years old, and I am from Hebron Connecticut. I am a senior at UMASS Amherst, where I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology this December. I work UMASS EMS while at school, and I am a volunteer EMT with the Fire Department in my hometown. I have a passion for patient care, and I look forward to working with the team at Aetna.

In my spare time I’m fairly active. I spend a lot of time weightlifting, running, hiking etc. You will see me at a lot of events like the Spartan Races and Tough Mudders. I have also done a few events with GORUCK. They focus on team building, for long hours (24+ for my most recent), under heavy weights. I also recently became a certified scuba diver, and plan on diving the local area this summer.

In the future I plan on continuing my education. My plan is to return to UMASS after graduation to complete a second bachelor’s in Nursing. I’m excited to expand my role in the healthcare field, but EMS will always by my passion. I intend on staying active within the field after I begin my career as a nurse.

Tony Mazzola:  My name is Anthony Mazzola, but you can call me Tony.  I am 21 years old.  I received my EMT last summer and have been working for Newington Volunteer Ambulance for the past six months.  Even though I am relatively new to this field, I have developed a passion for it and I feel as though I have a lot to gain from it.   I have just recently graduated from Manchester Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I am going to be continuing my college career and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU).  I love working on cars, particularly, Volkswagens. Yes, I am a Volkswagen guy!  I am very excited to be a part of the Aetna team and I look forward to meeting everyone!

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Shannon Whalen Completes Precepting Phase

Shannon Whalen

(L to R): Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera, Shannon Whalen and Jennifer Pasquale.

HARTFORD – As of May 17, 2014 Aetna’s Shannon Whalen has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

Shannon’s preceptor was Jennifer Pasquale. The full precepting phase can take ten to 12 weeks or more as the paramedic is prepped for the realities of the field. As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Shannon’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Shannon and her preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Shannon graduated from the Goodwin College Paramedic Studies Program

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Shannon the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

CPR & AED Awareness Week: Heartsaver CPR Training 2014

CPR AEDMANCHESTER — American Heart Association Heart Saver CPR Training. CPR for Adults, Children and proper use of AED. Seats are limited-Register NOW!

Thursday, June 5, 2014: 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Mahoney Recreation Center, 110 Cedar St., Manchester

$15 for Manchester Residents  ~  $25 Non-residents. Cost includes Heartsaver Student Workbook & Certification. Must register online at https://reconline.townofmanchester.org or in person at the Community Y or by phone 860-647-3164.  Click here for more information on HEARTsafe and AED 

Sponsored by:

  • Manchester Health Department
  • Fire-Rescue-EMS
  • Eighth Utilities District
  • CPR Program
  • Ambulance Service of Manchester
  • ProActive Safety

Injured Manchester EMT Focus Of Fundraising

Carolyn Edwards 2

Carolyn Edwards in a photo taken last fall. She is holding Britton, a family friend’s daughter. (Doug Edwards / May 22, 2014)

HARTFORD COURANT

by Jesse Leavenworth

MANCHESTER — Friends, coworkers and teammates are rallying in support of Carolyn Edwards, a beloved emergency medical technician who was badly hurt in a recent motorcycle accident.

“The reason everybody descended on this is that she’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Ambulance Service of Manchester spokesman Dave Skoczulek said Thursday. “I’ve never heard her say a negative thing. She’s one of those people who’s always laughing, positive, upbeat. When this happened, it made a mess out of everybody and they came together as fast as they could.”

Read the original Courant article here…

Edwards, 36, of Manchester, was driving her motorcycle on East Center Street on the morning of May 6 when she collided with a car at the Vernon Street intersection, police have said. She was treated for head and arm injuries in the intensive care unit at Hartford Hospital, but was recently transferred to a rehabilitation facility.

Along with ASM, other organizations raising money to support Edwards’ family and help pay her medical bills include sports teams she belongs to, including the Hartford Wild Roses Women’s Rugby Team. The team is selling t-shirts with “#Carolynstrong” printed on the back. To purchase a t-shirt or a #carolynstrong bracelet, visit http://www.carolynstrong.org.

ASM employees also have been raising money through “cold water challenges,” which involve immersion in swimming pools and other chilly bodies of water. The company’s president and CEO, Wayne Wright, recently took part in one such challenge (see the video at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carolynstrong/1447016028872363).

Edwards, who was born in New York City, moved with her family to Manchester as a young girl and graduated from Manchester High School, ASM paramedic Kenya Russell said. Edwards, who is single and has no children, has been working for ASM for about five years. Russell said the two were frequent partners.

“She is consistently kind all the time, no matter what the scenario is,” Russell said. “We have stressful scenarios, but she’s always smiling.”

“She was like that as a little kid,” Edwards’ uncle, Doug Edwards, said.

Little by little, Edwards said, his niece’s condition is improving. Her great physical shape before the accident and the many friends she has made are helping, he said..

“Between her physical stamina and her relationships with people, I think that’s really the thing that makes her recovery go well,” Edwards said.

When Carolyn Edwards regains her health, friends plan to convert the fundraising organization they started after the accident into a standing foundation to benefit all emergency medical service workers in the state who face similar crises, Russell said.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Halston Mendes Completes Precepting Phase

Halston Mendes

(L to R): Halston Mendes, Matthew Campbell.

HARTFORD – As of May 15, 2014 Aetna’s Halston Mendes has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

Halston’s preceptor was Matthew Campbell. The full precepting phase can take ten to 12 weeks or more as the paramedic is prepped for the realities of the field. As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Halston’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Halston and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Halston graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic Program

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Halston the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 24

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:

  • Professional, competent, respectful.
  • Prompt.
  • Excellent service and care.
  • Professional x 15.
  • Good.
  • Excellent. Thank you for your assistance.
  • Considerate and caring.
  • Thanks.
  • Mr. Pacheco was excellent!
  • Competent and caring.
  • Good job.
  • Caring and compassionate.
  • Very professional.
  • Fantastic and professional
  • Very good.
  • Excellent x 7.
  • Excellent care and concern.
  • Awesome.
  • Efficient. Offer alternative to ER; perhaps an urgent care center.
  • Caring.
  • Professional, knowledgeable and caring. All the [EMS Providers] I have dealt with have been very helpful and eased my anxiety. Great job! (14-20949; T. Luetjen, J. Traber).
  • Fantastic!!
  • Good care.
  • Professional and kind.
  • Very friendly.
  • Very professional x 4.

Schedule of EMS Week 2014 Events and Activities

EMS Week 2013 - Aetna Ambulance Ambulance Service of ManchesterEMS Week 2014

Sunday, May 18th 

  • 0700: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
  • 1500: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
  • 2300: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Fresh fruit available.
Monday, May 19th
  • 0700-0900: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Breakfast to be served.
Tuesday, May 20th
  • 0800-1300:  Hartford Hospital, EMS Week Symposium, Room 221 of the Educational Resource Center.
  • 1735: EMS Night at The Rock Cats, Rock Cats Stadium in New Britain: tickets available for Aetna and ASM employees through Evalyn and 100 tickets available first come first served for all local EMS through Saint Francis Care.
Wednesday, May 21st
  • 1200-1400: Hartford Hospital (outside of Conklin Building) Annual Cookout.
  • 1700-1900: Saint Francis Hospital, Emergency Department: Burrito BBQ Dinner.
  • 1730: Saint Francis Hospital EMS Champion Awards Ceremony, Emergency Department, ambulance bay area.
  • 1730-1900: Hartford Hospital (outside of Conklin Building) Annual Cookout.
Thursday, May 22nd
  • 1130-1330: Saint Francis Hospital, Emergency Department: Burrito BBQ Lunch.
  • 1800: Johnson Memorial Medical Center BBQ & CME: Two CME hours for “Responding to the Cardiac Arrest – What to do when it is time to stop!” lecture that follows BBQ at CMEC Amphitheater (the building on the right as you enter the main hospital driveway).
  • 1900-2200: Hartford Hospital – Hublein Hall: EMS Goes to the Movies. An evening of fun, popcorn and movies. 
Friday, May 23rd
  • 0700-0900: Hartford Hospital EMS Room: Breakfast to be served. 
Saturday, May 24th
  • 0700: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Fresh Fruit available
  • 1500: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Fresh Fruit available
  • 2300: Hartford Hospital EMS Room, Fresh Fruit available

If your organization, facility or agency is having an EMS Week event in the greater Hartford area and you do not see it listed here, please fill out the contact form, post it as a comment or email it to us at DavidS [at] asm-aetna.com.

#CarolynStrong Bracelets Now Available

CarolynStrongMANCHESTER — Show your support for Carolyn Edwards and her recovery.

#CarolynStrong bracelets are now available for a minimum donation of $3.00.

Please see the following ASM employees to purchase one, or three or five or a few dozen:

Stacy Debarge
Lauren Mazzoni
Ryan McConville
Heather Carl
Tim Allbee
Jocelyn Heim (MMH ER)
Genny Geres

Click on the following site for more information on how to donate to support her recovery, buy t-shirts, get updates and otherwise show your support: www.carolynstrong.org.

Aetna’s David Noyes Visits Southington Boy Scout Pack 72

DJ Noyes SouthingtonNote: Aetna Ambulance does NOT provide emergency services to the Town of Southington. Always dial 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.

SOUTHINGTON — On April 21, 2014 Aetna’s David (DJ) Noyes visited Boy Scout Pack 72 out of Southington, CT. According to DJ, “we practiced dressing small wounds, looked at all the different equipment and toured the ambulance. We also learned what to expect if an ambulance shows up to their house or at a car accident.”

Supporting Carolyn Edwards in Her Recovery

360_carolyn_1MANCHESTER — On May 6, 2014 ASM EMT Carolyn Edwards was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Carolyn is a much loved and cherished member of the ASM team and support for her recovery has been overwhelming, touching and flowing from all directions.

In order to respect Carolyn and her family’s privacy during her recovery and to provide a source of information and support, members of the ASM family and Carolyn’s friends have constructed www.carolynstrong.org.

According to the site, “As a collaboration of friends and co-workers of Carolyn Edwards, we will combine and coordinate efforts for the common cause of benefiting Carolyn and her family in their time of need. We will support their emotional, physical, and financial needs to assist in restoring Carolyn in her optimal health. #Carolynstrong”

To further respect Carolyn’s privacy, the ASM-Aetna blog will not be chronicling her recovery but will continue to provide updates on ways to support her and her family including fundraisers and more.

Aetna Puts New Operations Supervisor Vehicle in Service

Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc. - Paramedic Supervisor HARTFORD — On May 2, 2014 Aetna Ambulance Service placed in service a new Paramedic Supervisor vehicle. The 2014 Ford F-150 was outfitted with a custom shelving unit, emergency lights, high-visibility Batternburg pattern livery and reflective rear chevrons.

The non-transporting EMS vehicle will be used primarily by the Operations Supervisors to maintain the continuity of day-to-day operations, respond to mass casualty incidents and support EMS staff in the field.

 

High Praise for Manchester Fire Rescue EMS and ASM Team

MFRE ASMMANCHESTER — On March 30, 2014 a crew from ASM responded with Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS (MFRE)’s Truck 2 to a complaint of difficulty breathing. The patient responded to ASM’s satisfaction survey and had glowing things to say about the entire team: MFRE Truck 2’s Mike, Tim (paramedic), Jim and Angelo and ASM’s Bobbi Basque and Lauren Mathiau.

The patient answered “Strongly Agree” to all 16 clinical-based satisfaction questions. When asked to use a word to describe the team, the patient wrote “Professional.” The patient was brought directly to the Cardiac Catherization lab at Hartford Hospital.

The patient then hand wrote the following comments: “Thanks to Manchester Fire Rescue and the ASM people…they saved my life. As soon as [EMS] came in they made the decision to get me in the ambulance and moving to the hospital and had the hospital ready. Doctor said ten more minutes and I would not be here. They kept me alive, took me to the right place, in time and the Hospital took it from there. What can I say? Thank you to the people that provided the service and especially [the EMS team]. Time was short and they made the right decision and knew what they were doing. Again, thank you for saving my life.”

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