Words That Describe Us: Volume 40

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:

  • Excellent x 2.
  • Nice – fast.
  • Good.
  • Evan who rode in back with was extremely personable and attentive and definitely put me at ease. (14-81370; E. Burgess, K. Baker).
  • Efficient.
  • Very Good.
  • Knowledgeable and caring.
  • Prompt and professional.
  • Caring + professional. The ambulance staff treated me well.
  • Professional and caring.
  • Very understanding and put me at ease. (14-83557; M. Osborne, J. Rasmussen).
  • Very polite.
  • Calm and professional.
  • Outstanding.
  • Mr. Grady would be proud! (14-84300; G. Kendall, T. Dixon).
  • Very effective, efficient service.
  • Amazingly professional and outstanding. I have used ASM SEVERAL times and each time I have had an amazing experience of my family has had a fantastic experience. They always ease by anxiety and make me feel safe as I have seizure disorder and have used them often. ASM is the ONLY ambulance service myself and my family use. Outstanding job to everyone! Thank you so much. I can’t say it enough. (14-81534; G. Geres, M. Sparks).
  • Very good.
  • Great.
  • Acted like they should.
  • Very highly skilled – Showed concern.
  • Everything was fine no complaints. After I pressed the button you were here in no time – very good service.
  • Professional x 2.
  • Friendly.
  • Caring for others, act[ed] with urgency to situation.

Aetna and ASM Collect 1,000th Patient Satisfaction Survey Response

Professional and compassionateMANCHESTER and HARTFORD — Since August 2013 Aetna Ambulance Service and the Ambulance Service of Manchester have been sending out Patient Satisfaction Surveys to a random sampling of patients who have received emergency or STAT inter-facility services from our companies all over the respective service areas.

Over 1000 Patient Satisfaction Survey responses have now been collected from ASM and Aetna patients. After answering 18 Likert scale questions an unprompted, qualitative field asks the respondent, “Please use a word or phrase to describe us and/or the ambulance crew” followed simply by a blank line.

A staggering 35 percent of responses (352 of the 1000) used some version of the word “Professional” to describe ASM and Aetna. For example, true professionals, highly professional, professional and caring, skilled professionals, and more. 

Other leading responses include Excellent, Caring, and Efficient respectively.

ASM at Downtown Manchester’s ‘Halloween Happenings’ 2014

Halloween Happenings 1Halloween Happenings 3 Halloween Happenings 2MANCHESTER — On October 25, 2014 Ambulance Service of Manchester Paramedic Genevieve Geres and AEMT Stephanie Boutot set up an “Amb-boo-lance” near Pinewood Furniture as part of Downtown Manchester’s Halloween Happenings.

Genny and Stephanie gave out treats to the trick-or-treaters making their way to each store and business taking part in the event on Main Street.

Update to CDC’s Response to Ebola

CDCCDC Tightened Guidance for U.S. Health Care Workers on Personal Protective Equipment for Ebola

CDC is tightening previous infection control guidance for health care workers caring for patients with Ebola, to ensure there is no ambiguity. The guidance focuses on specific personal protective equipment (PPE) health care workers should use and offers detailed step by step instructions for how to put the equipment on and take it off safely.

Recent experience from safely treating patients with Ebola at Emory University Hospital, Nebraska Medical Center and National Institutes of Health Clinical Center are reflected in the guidance.

The enhanced guidance is centered on three principles:

  • All healthcare workers undergo rigorous training and are practiced and competent with PPE, including putting it on and taking it off in a systemic manner
  • No skin exposure when PPE is worn
  • All workers are supervised by a trained monitor who watches each worker putting PPE on and taking it off.

All patients treated at Emory University Hospital, Nebraska Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center have followed the three principles. None of the workers at these facilities have contracted the illness.

For more information visit:

CDC Newsroom — Tightened Guidance for U.S. Healthcare Workers on Personal Protective Equipment for Ebola Fact Sheet – Oct 20

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/fs1020-ebola-personal-protective-equipment.html

CDC Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment To Be Used by Healthcare Workers During Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Hospitals, Including Procedures for Putting On (Donning) and Removing (Doffing) – Oct 20 Continue reading

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Sean Norton Completes Precepting Phase

Sean NortonMANCHESTER – As of October 21, 2014, ASM’s Sean Norton has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves.

Sean’s preceptors were Paramedic Dave White and Paramedic Supervisor Vinnie Maston. 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 ASM, Sean’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing Sean and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Sean started at ASM as an EMT-Basic in 2010 and graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic Program.

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

Words That Describe Us: Volume 39

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:

  • Comforting!
  • First time in ambulance…very good.
  • Very capable.
  • Caring and professional.
  • Caring.
  • Compassionate!
  • Excellent. I felt very reassured.
  • Highly professional and caring. (14-78770; S. Whalen, N. Foran).
  • Very skilled and holistic approach. Great people you sent. (14-77937; M. Karr, A. Kramer).
  • Knowledgeable, calming.
  • Very good!
  • Professional and patient. Thank you! (14-78993; D. Slomcinsky, M. Kleza).
  • Very compassionate.
  • Very professional
  • Sensitive, caring and kind. (14-80025; G. Geres, C. LaChance).
  • Excellent care.
  • They were all very nice and helpful. (14-80745; R. O’Neil, J. Rassmussen).
  • Very responsible and informative. Also assisted my husband who is legally blind so he could come along in the ambulance and help with information. (14-75510; J. Duval, S. Gregg).
  • Very caring.
  • Outstanding + very professional! (14-74387; K. Baker, A. Cichy with Manchester Fire Rescue EMS).
  • Skilled, professional, friendly, considerate, reassuring. (14-81291; K. Stock, T. Halligan).
  • Very happy they were here.
  • Wonderful and very caring.
  • Quick and efficient.

Governor Malloy Outlines State’s Efforts to Safeguard Against Ebola

1000px-seal_of_the_governor_of_connecticut.svgAnnounces that Commissioner Mullen has Invoked DPH’s Quarantine and Isolation Authority in New Haven

 (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced today that the State of Connecticut is taking additional steps to strengthen the level of preparedness for the Ebola virus by enacting the quarantine and isolation protocols that were authorized under the order he signed last week.  In addition, the Governor is directing that every hospital in the state perform a drill within the next week to assure that procedures and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are up to standard.

While conversations between different levels of government and state hospitals have been ongoing for months, the Governor today also announced that he is convening a Unified Command Team (UCT), chaired by Jewel Mullen, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH), to serve as point in the state’s ongoing emergency management efforts.  The team will be responsible for the coordination of resources and personnel and provide a single point of contact for communication with the public.  They will also be responsible for certifying that front line personnel at both acute care and community health care facilities and first responders have received the necessary training to deal with a potential case effectively and safely.

“We have been taking this situation very seriously for weeks,” said Governor Malloy.  “Over that period of time, we have been working with health officials to prepare for a potential case here in Connecticut, and I am today formalizing that effort with the establishment of a Unified Command Team.  While we don’t yet know if there is a confirmed case of Ebola in our state, the report that a Yale student has exhibited symptoms demonstrates why preemptive action is the right approach.  I believe we must go above and beyond what the CDC is recommending, just as we did last week when I issued a preemptive declaration.  I want everyone to know – from the nurses in our emergency rooms to our first responders and our law enforcement personnel – we will provide whatever resources we have at our disposal so that you can do your critically important jobs safely and effectively.”

The UCT will be composed of officials from the Governor’s Office, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the State Department of Education, the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the State Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Corrections.

Governor Malloy said that for several weeks, the state has been communicating with Connecticut hospitals and other health care providers providing them with the most up to date information and guidance from federal health authorities.

Last week, Governor Malloy issued an order declaring a public health emergency as a precautionary matter. The order gives the Commissioner of the Public Health Department the authority to quarantine and isolate an individual or a group of individuals whom they reasonably believe has been exposed to the Ebola virus or infected with the Ebola virus. The order was executed as a precautionary and preparatory measure in the event that the state has either a confirmed infection or has confirmed that someone at risk of developing the infection is residing in the state.

Earlier this month, Commissioner Mullen asked each hospital to complete a detailed hospital checklist for Ebola preparedness. During the Unified Command briefing, Commissioner Mullen said that all acute care hospitals had completed and returned the checklist. She said DPH also held a conference call with hospital representatives this week to review their preparedness efforts.

“Connecticut hospitals clearly have a heightened level of awareness for detecting a patient with Ebola, given the level of cooperation we have received in preparing for a possible case,” said Dr. Mullen. “The survey shows that every hospital is engaged in planning and preparedness around Ebola.  Critical to preventing an Ebola outbreak in the United States is that all hospitals are able to recognize when a patient may be at risk for Ebola and take the appropriate steps. We continue to work with hospitals to ensure they can detect a patient with Ebola, protect health care workers so they can safely care for the patient, and respond in a coordinated fashion with their healthcare system.”

United Way 211 is providing information and links on its website at www.211ct.org, or you can call 2-1-1.

Today, the Governor and the Commissioner are issuing the following guidance, which is more stringent than the guidelines thus far issued by the Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): If you become sick with a fever a fever with and/or any of the symptoms of Ebola virus disease such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and you:

  • Have traveled to Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea in the last 21 days, or
  • Have had contact with a person who has Ebola virus disease.

You will be sent to a hospital for evaluation and placed in room separate from other patients – this is called isolation.

If you are not sick, but have traveled to affected areas or been in contact with an infected individual, you will be required to stay at home for 21 days and take your temperature twice a day.  Public heath health workers will contact you twice a day by phone to see how you are doing.  This is called quarantine. If you develop a fever or other symptoms suggestive of Ebola virus during the time that you are required to be home, you will be sent to a hospital for evaluation and placed in room separate from other patients.

“The first responder community continues to monitor the current situation and prepare for any potential threat to public safety or health using their established protocols,” said Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Dora B. Schriro. “We are at the ready to assist and support our local partners in this critical state-wide effort.”

According to the CDC:

  • You can’t get Ebola though air
  • You can’t get Ebola through water
  • You can’t get Ebola through food.

You can only get Ebola from:

  • Touching the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick or has died from Ebola
  • Touching contaminated objects, like needles
  • Touching infected animals, their blood or other body fluids or their meat.

###

For Immediate Release: October 16, 2014

 

How to Send Love and Well Wishes to Jason Martinez, Hartford Fire Department

Jason MartinezMANCHESTER — On October 7, 2014 Manchester resident Jason Martinez, a firefighter with Hartford Fire Department was injured in the line of duty in a fire that took the life of fellow firefighter Kevin Bell.

Martinez has been recovering in the burn center at Bridgeport Hospital. You can send him your support, love and well wishes online by clicking here…

Ebola Preparedness and Treatment by Emergency Medical Services

CDCMANCHESTER and HARTFORD — The following are a list of documents, checklists and other background information related to the Ebola virus for use by Emergency Medical Services providers.

Ebola Case Definition

Ebola PPE Poster from CDC

Detailed EMS Checklist for Ebola Preparedness

Known cases remain isolated to the Dallas, Texas area and healthcare providers should continue to get their information from credible and reliable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 38

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:

  • Comforting.
  • My thanks to the crew!
  • Very professional.
  • Great experience. Guys were amazing!
  • Comforting.
  • Caring.
  • The crew was friendly and caring. I was really flustered by the car accident and couldn’t even tell if I was hurt. The crew took the needed precautions and had me comfortable and laughing on the way to MMH. (14-76252; E. Vaughn, D. Hammett with Manchester Fire Rescue EMS).
  • Excellent x 7.
  • Very professional, knowledgeable, caring.
  • Crew was very nice and comforting.
  • EMTs were very professional.
  • Very professional. I cannot thank you team enough for the excellent care that they provided. (14-79209; S. Thompson, J. Bissell with East Hartford Fire Department).
  • Proficient!
  • Very caring + attentive to the fact that I was in extreme pain.
  • Having been hit head-on by another vehicle, the ambulance crew were so kind + reassuring, stating that I could never be replaced whereas a car could be + I certainly agreed. Thank you for your good care. (14-78261; M. Pacheco, A. Selko).
  • Professional, well-mannered, courteous. (14-79192; K. Russell, B. Langan).
  • Timely, skilled and compassionate. (14-77929; S. Howard, T. Dombroskas).
  • Excellent paramedic. (14-78869; T. LaChappelle).
  • The crew was very patient.
  • Well trained.
  • Very knowledgeable and courteous. Your people are very professional. (14-80073; T. Dombroskas, S. Howard).

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Jeff Rasmussen Completes Precepting Phase

Jeff RasmussenMANCHESTER – As of October 2, 2014, ASM’s Jeffrey Rasmussen has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves.

Jeff’s preceptors were  Paramedic Supervisors Melissa Osborne and Bob O’Neil. 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 ASM, Jeff’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing Jeff and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Jeff started at ASM as an EMT-Basic in 2010 and graduated from the Hartford Hospital-Goodwin College Paramedic Program. 

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

Department of Public Health Provides Update on Ebola to EMS

CDOFHThe following is a message from CT-Department of Public Health:

To all EMS Organizations (including Fire and Police First Responders) and EMS Sponsor Hospitals:

Good afternoon. Attached is a “Detailed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Checklist for Ebola Preparedness” issued by CDC and ASPR as well as a general press release from the Office of Governor Malloy on the issue.

Governor Malloy Briefed on Ebola Situation

As stated in the checklist, its purpose is to “ensure the agency is able to help its personnel detect possible Ebola cases, protect those personnel, and respond appropriately.” Coordination and communication with receiving hospitals will also be an important element of managing any suspected cases of Ebola. Please review this information and consult with your EMS Sponsor Hospital for specific guidance.

EMS Ebola Checklist

Additionally, the CDC has updated their Interim Guidance for EMS and 9-1-1 PSAPs for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States. The guidance may be accessed at:

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/interim-guidance-emergency-medical-services-systems-911-public-safety-answering-points-management-patients-known-suspected-united-states.html

Words That Describe Us: Volume 37

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:

  • Extremely caring – Persistent in showing Pt the seriousness of problem. EXCELLENT TEAM!!! VERY professional. (14-48664; R. O’Neil, B. Mathiau).
  • Extremely empathetic! Thank you so much! The two responders stayed with me at Hartford Hospital until hospital staff took over. I really appreciate their attentiveness. (14-70886; M. Levasseur, R. Anderson).
  • Professional, kind and caring!
  • Friendly.
  • Professional, caring.
  • Good.
  • Friendly and professional.
  • The EMT staff was professional and caring. (14-73254; M. Carter, R. Mara).
  • Exceptional.
  • Highly capable. (14-72855; M. Karr, S. Jachym).
  • Professional + caring + prompt.
  • Kept me at ease.
  • Professional + caring.
  • Very nice.
  • Beautiful + nice.
  • Caring + professional “lifesavers” (14-72992; V. Maston, N. Raiola).
  •  Excellent service.
  • Awesome!
  • The crew was very professional. Great service. Great job guys, thank you. (14-74790; D. White, S. Norton with East Hartford Fire Department).
  • Professional x 6.
  • Very good care.
  • The paramedic went the extra mile for me…thank him for me please! (14-76531; R. Bilodeau, J. Hornish).
  • The paramedic was great and caring! The paramedic listened to me about what was going on with my baby. She didn’t just look at what my daughter was doing or just what her vitals were showing…she actually cared and made me feel at ease…about what was happening to my baby. (14-74530; S. Allen, D. Tedeschi).
  • Attentive.
  • Professional while being personable to relieve & calm nerves. (14-74091; S. Thompson, R. Fross).
  • Fantastic.