Aetna Appears On Local News

HARTFORD, Conn. – When Aetna Ambulance EMT Ray Berwick realized his partner Chris Cabral was suffering a stroke last month, he quickly rushed his partner to Hartford Hospital, where the trauma team immediately operated on Cabral.

Cabral had a blood clot near his carotid artery, according to WTIC.

Cabral said suffering the stroke while in the ambulance was a bit like winning the lottery.

“He recognized something wasn’t right,” Cabral said of his partner Berwick. “I was inches away from dying and my partner saved my life.”

Berwick has been working alongside Cabral for the past two and a half years.

“Just seeing him walking around and knowing how lucky it is, it’s awesome,” he said.

In a ceremony Berwick was recognized for his quick thinking, along with the team at Hartford Hospital.

“The role that first responders play is truly, truly lifesaving,” said Jeffrey Flaks, the president of Hartford Healthcare, at the ceremony.

Cabral is undergoing physical therapy but Hartford Hospital neurologists said they expect him to make a full recovery. Cabral noted he hopes to be riding with Berwick in their ambulance again sometime in the spring.

For Full FOX 61 Video Click Here

STATE POLICE “STUFF A CRUISER” TOY DRIVE

Schedule your holiday shopping and throw a few extra toys in the cart for the kids at Connecticut Children’s!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


For 22 years, troopers from Troop H of the Connecticut State Police have been as busy as Santa’s elves carrying out their December Toy Drive.

With assistance from Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) and Aetna Ambulance, the troopers have collected more than half a million toys and more than $200,000 in donations to benefit children who find themselves in the Emergency Department at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center during the holidays and throughout the year.

Children who have to visit Connecticut Children’s can be overwhelmed with the unknown. Toys collected by the State Police provide a welcome distraction to children and help encourage communication between a care provider and patient. Making a donation today helps provide smiles all year long. Sometimes a toy can be the one thing a child remembers about their visit – a memory you can create.

Unable to make it to one of the toy drive locations?
DONATE TODAY

 


Schedule:

Thursday, December 13, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Friday, December 14, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Saturday, December 15, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Sunday, December 16, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Locations:

Walmart Manchester – 420 Buckland Hills Dr, Manchester, CT
Click for Google Maps driving directions

Walmart East Windsor – 44 Prospect Hill Rd, East Windsor, CT
Click for Google Maps driving directions

Walmart Cromwell – 161 Berlin Rd, Cromwell, CT
Click for Google Maps driving directions

A Sincere Thank You for Aetna Ambulance Service

In mid-November, Aetna Ambulance Service received the following letter from the son of a recently treated patient.

To Aetna Ambulance Management:

Please accept this letter of appreciation regarding the below:

Aetna Ambulance was dispatched to my house in [xx] by 911 and they arrived very promptly. Miracle after miracle happened from that moment. My father’s heart went flat while the ambulance crew was trying different techniques to bring the heart beat up and THEY DID. This wonderful crew rushed him to [xx hospital] where a pacemaker was placed, the only option for my father to live. While speaking to all kinds of doctors in the ER in regards to my father’s condition, doctor [xx] stated that he was very impressed with the ambulance crew that brought him in the ER. It was very pleasing to hear that.

Late evening, when we were still in the ER waiting for the available bed in the ICU, a young man entered the room and asked about my father’s condition. He also stated the he brought him in the morning to the ER and was so happy to see him alive. I almost cried. This was Matthew Carter- Paramedic for Aetna Ambulance. Dear Matthew, if you are reading this letter, I would like to thank you again for everything you and your crew did to keep my father alive. Please extend my appreciation to Trisha Webster- EMT, Tessa Harrington-Paramedic and Alex Zhakov- EMT. It is really wonderful to know that there are people in this world who care. Thank you guys again from me and my family!!!!!!

Matthew, just in case you are wondering how my father is now: he has a permanent pacemaker placed on [xx 2018] and is now in short term rehab.

10th Annual Emergency of Hunger Food Drive Results!

MANCHESTER – The 10th Annual “Emergency of Hunger” Food Drive, composed of first responders, Rotary members, and others, was a great success! Their combined efforts continue to make a deep and widening impact on hunger in greater Hartford. This year volunteers from Manchester, Vernon, and South Windsor collected   28,000+ food items, 850+ turkeys, and $15,000 in gift card and monitory donations. Please click here to read Contact Reporter Jesse Leavenworth’s article in the Hartford Courant!

ASM Attends Veteran’s Dedication in Hebron

On November 15th 2018, Colebrook Village at Hebron hosted a Veteran’s Day Commemoration to honor their resident veterans. ASM EMTs Cody Desilets and Lieutenant Kayla Fortin attended the ceremony which included a Veterans Wall of Honor Dedication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC and Aetna Ambulance, Inc. would like to thank all past and present veterans for their service to the United States of America. A special thank you to our employees that have served and continue to do so today. We are fortunate to have such patriotic individuals representing our team.

Aetna Receives Trust Annual Award of Excellence

HARTFORD- On November 15th, 2018 Carol Fronczek, Worker’s Compensation Trust’s Vice President of Loss Control Services presented Aetna Ambulance Service with “Trust’s Award of Excellence.” Over recent years, Aetna has proactively implemented a number of programs in an effort to improve both patient and provider safety. These initiatives have been developed and implemented by Aetna’s Safety and Health Committee.

Congratulations for Aetna being awarded the Trust’s Award of Excellence.  Your organization was nominated by Sandy Brophy who put together quite a compelling overview of the various safety activities your organization and you do to keep employees safe.

The Trust Award of Excellence is given to members who:

Award of Excellence

Presented to members who have demonstrated a commitment to safety within their organizations. Criteria includes a favorable workers’ compensation loss history, effective and innovative risk management programs, the accommodation of injured workers back to the workforce, and the presence of a strong safety culture.

Carol Fronczek

Worker’s Compensation Trust

Vice President, Loss Control Services

Aetna Participates in Wethersfield First Responder Food Drive

Wethersfield- On Sunday, November 11th 2018, Aetna employees attended a Food Drive at Stop and Shop (1380 Berlin Tpke) hosted by Wethersfield PD, FD and EMS. Greg Kendall and Madison Nixon teamed up with members of the Wethersfield agencies to collect goods for donation to the local food bank at event end.

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires Five – 2018

HARTFORD — On November 5th, 2018, five 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.


Alex England: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Alex England. I graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in Physiology and Neurobiology as well as a Bachelor’s in Molecular and Cell Biology. I have been an EMT for two years and have been working in the Saint Francis Emergency Department as a Technician. My professional goal is to become a Doctor. My fields of interest include Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics and Family Medicine. I am excited to be joining the Aetna team this fall as an EMT-B.


John Magnuson: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is John Magnuson. I am 22 years old from North Haven CT. This past spring, I completed EMT training at Code One. I also hold certifications in Firefighter I and II as well as HazMat Awareness and Operations. In my free time, I am a volunteer firefighter in North Haven and I also enjoy snowboarding, kayaking and quading. I am looking forward to starting my career at Aetna and continuing my education to one day become a paramedic. My future plan is to become a Fire Medic. I’m excited to start working with all of you!


Kelsey Lopata: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi, I am Kelsey. This past spring I was certified as an EMT through Code One in East Hartford. I searched for a career in the medical field and found EMT a great entry point. I am excited that I received a position at Aetna and look forward to furthering my experience as a medical professional.


Aidan Mace: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi, my name is Aidan Mace. I’m currently finishing up my paramedic program at capital community college. I’ve been an EMT for just over two and a half years. I started at AMR and have worked at Glastonbury EMS for the last almost two years now. I’m excited and looking forward to being a part of the Aetna team.

10th Annual Emergency of Hunger Food Drive!

HARTFORD COURANT

by Jesse Leavenworth

First responders and food pantry managers gathered at the MACC Community Kitchen Monday to kick off the Emergency of Hunger Food Drive.

Collections of turkeys, non-perishable food items, cash and gift cards are scheduled for the next two weekends at supermarkets in Manchester, Vernon and South Windsor.

The effort relies on the public’s generosity and volunteers from police, fire and emergency medical agencies, along with Rotary Club members and Stop & Shop and Geissler’s supermarkets. Collections benefit clients of soup kitchens and food pantries, including those run by Manchester Area Conference of Churches Charities and the Hockanum Valley Community Council.

Items needed, in particular, include canned vegetables, condiments, sugar, flour, coffee, tea and cocoa. Cash donations and gift cards also are welcome, food drive spokesman Patrick Gleason of Ambulance Service of Manchester said.

Last year, the drive netted 31,276 food items, 675 turkeys and cash and gift card donations totaling about $16,000. Each year, participating agencies challenge each other to collect the most donations. Losers this year have agreed to work at the winner’s food pantry or soup kitchen, Gleason said.

Collections are set for:

_ Friday and Saturday and Nov. 17 and 18 at Manchester Stop & Shop, 286 Broad St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day;

_ Stop & Shop in Vernon, 10 Pitkin Road, Nov. 17 and 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day;

_ Stop & Shop in the Rockville section of Vernon, 50 Windsorville Road, Nov. 17 and 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day;

_ Stop & Shop in South Windsor, 1739 Ellington Road, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.;

_ And Geissler’s Supermarket, South Windsor, 965 Sullivan Ave., Nov. 17 and 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: ASM Hires Seven – 2018

MANCHESTER — On October 26th, 2018 seven EMTs were added to the ASM 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.


Sandra Parker: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi Everyone! My name is Sandra Parker. I’m 25 years old. I grew up in Western MA and currently reside here in Manchester CT. I received my EMT-B license in the spring of this year after completing the New Britain EMS Academy program. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a focus in Social Media Marketing from Worcester State University. It wasn’t until a year left of my program when I decided healthcare was where I wanted to be. I have spent the past several years at two different hospitals working in different areas. That experience just enforced how much I wanted to actually be in healthcare. I’m a dog mom to Louie my 1.5yr old black lab mix. In my spare time I love traveling and going to the beach in the summer and exploring my new state! I’m excited to start this new adventure and the opportunities I will have! I’m looking forward to growing personally and professionally. I can’t wait to meet and work with all of you!


 

Andrew Hinchliffe: FULL TIME, EMT.  My name is Andrew Hinchliffe and I am one of the recent new hires here at ASM.  I’m excited to get started in health care and eventually transition into becoming a paramedic.  My interest in helping people comes from my love of extreme sports and being prepared for anything. I’m looking forward to caring for people with interesting stories coming from all backgrounds.

 


Rebecca Vest: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Rebecca Vest I am 29 years old. I attended Central Connecticut State University where I completed a bachelor’s degree in both Anthropology and Sociology. For five years after graduating I worked with students across ages on the autism spectrum and their families. My new passion in health care started with caring for medically fragile students within the classroom. Through my own medical journey, I have met many caring and loving people that made my diagnosis of Endometriosis easier and continue to raise awareness. I plan to see where my career as an EMT takes me, gain experience, and possibly pursue the next step as a paramedic.


Deniz Yarsuvat: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Deniz Yarsuvat and I’m 22 years old. I moved from my home of Istanbul, Turkey to the U.S. at age 17 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Connecticut. Upon graduating, I received my EMT-B certification from UCONN and have been an active volunteer in Coventry Fire Department ever since.  I plan on returning to UCONN medical school in 2019 to pursue a career in general surgery. When I am not working and studying I enjoy weightlifting, running, and video games. I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to work with ASM and further my career in EMS.


Hannah Scrivener: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Hannah Scrivener, I was born in Austin, Texas but grew up in Connecticut. I have been working as an EMT for the last year in the Emergency Dept. at CCMC, as well as volunteering with Mansfield Fire Dept. I obtained my EMT certification through Code One. I attend school full time, which I started at University of Southern Maine, and I hope to be done in the next couple of years. I am excited to be joining the ASM team and building my career. During my free time, I love to go hiking and camping. I am currently adopting a two year old dog into my life whose name is Levi.


Alyssa Chapdelaine: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello. My name is Alyssa Chapdelaine. I’m an EMT-B. I went to college at QVCC in Danielson for my EMT certification. I’ve been an EMT for 4 years. My first job was for American Ambulance in Norwich. Before I was an EMT I was a Home Health Aide and PCA with DayKimball in Putnam. My goals in the future are to become a Paramedic. I’m planning to attend Capital’s Paramedic Program. I look forward to working at ASM and gaining more experience before starting school.


Philip Zetterstrom: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello my name is Philip Zetterstrom. I am 34 years old. I’ve worked in the landscaping/construction industry for quite some time and I am excited to start a new career as an EMT.  After I completed my EMT course at CPR Training Professionals, I couldn’t wait to get started in the field of ems.  I would love to at some point become a firefighter.