Thank You Note for ‘Grace and Professionalism’

Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.April 6, 2015

Dear Ambulance Service of Manchester:

This is a Thank you note; the two young people you sent to take me from Johnson Memorial Hospital on January XX, 2015 were an absolute godsend. I’m just sorry I don;t know their names. They picked me up during a horrible snowstorm with the wind blowing and snow pelting down. Both of your employees were professional, considerate and had a combined sense of humor. I could have have asked for more in helping me get into my house after having had surgery 48 hours earlier. I am not the lightest patient in the world but they handled me with grace and professionalism….Please tell them [Patient Name] said Thank you and well done. They are a credit to your business which requires so many skills that cannot be taught; They have my appreciation.

Sincerely,

[Patient Name], Run Number 15-6828.

ASM Crew: Bill DelGaizo and Laura McHugh

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 8: Praise for Dave White

Dave White A

ASM’s Dave White

SOMERS — In February 2015 ASM received a letter from Somers Fire Department President Timothy Percoski praising and thanking Dave White, one of ASM’s Johnson Medics, for his service to the Department and the area. ASM’s Johnson Medic, also known as Alpha 5, works in partnership with Somers Fire Department, Stafford Ambulance and is stationed at Johnson Memorial Medical Center.

Among the two page letter, President Percoski praises Dave’s commitment and his presentation at a January drill. “Dave accepted this opportunity enthusiastically, and was eager to help not only the members in Somers, but his colleagues out of ASM….Every single member of our group had a takeaway from the training, as was shared with me after the fact by our members.”

Somers Fire DepartmentFurther, “His presentation was that of partnership and camaraderie, and that was arguably the greatest takeaway of the night. Dave White is a great asset, not only to ASM, but also to the Somers Fire Department and the people of Somers that he aids when needed.”

On behalf of ASM, we are enormously proud of Dave and all of our Johnson Medics and of our longstanding partnership with Somers Fire Department and its dedicated and talented staff. 

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 7: David White

Dave White AJohnson Medic Dave White describes his career path.
I grew up in the small town of Sterling and graduated Plainfield High School in 1998.   I joined the Connecticut Army National Guard in 1997, went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and went to Fort Eustis VA for ten months of aircraft avionics school.  I spent the next five years going to drills and traveling throughout the country for training.  I left the Guard six months before my unit was sent to Iraq. 

When I returned home in 1998 I joined Sterling Fire Department and went to Fire Fighter-I school and Medical Response Technician training.  I felt a greater connection to EMS.  I joined two of the local EMS departments; K-B Ambulance and Moosup-Plainfield Ambulance in 1999.  I took an MRT to EMT-B bridge class and became Moosup-Plainfield Ambulance’s training officer shortly after I became an EMT-B.    I remained active in both departments for the next three years until I moved out of the area. I was hired at ASM in March of 2002 and worked as an EMT-B and Dispatcher for the next two years. I started Paramedic school and returned to working only the road while I attended Hartford Hospital’s paramedic program.  For the next 16 months I worked hard and finished first in my class.

In 2005 I became a paramedic and started precepting with Bob O’Neil as my primary preceptor and with Don Hart.  After I was cleared and on my own as a paramedic I was lucky to be one of the first full time Paramedics to work out of ASM’s Johnson Memorial Medical Center office.  Continue reading

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.

ASM Responds: Winter Storm Charlotte

The Hartford Courant

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com

MANCHESTER — Read the whole article here…Private ambulance providers had similar difficulties. Prevented from close access to many homes, medics had to carry patients, in some cases for 100 yards or more, through thigh-deep snow, Dave Skoczulek, spokesman for Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance Service, said Monday.

Ambulances mired on roadsides and stuck in deep snow banks had to be pulled out with a four-wheel drive paramedic intercept vehicle. Total calls were less than normal, Skoczulek said, “but each call was typically more severe and took much, much more effort and much longer to complete.”

Ambulance Service of Manchester Mercedes Sprinter AmbulanceAt the height of the storm, a patient with chest pains had to be taken from Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. A physician arranged for a plow to escort the ambulance, and there were many other stories of plows paving the way for emergency medical personnel, Skoczulek said.

Another crew in a heavy ambulance equipped with tire chains could not make it over impassable roads with a critical care patient aboard, Skoczulek said. The crew got help from Manchester police and residents, who came over with shovels and snowblowers, he said. Eventually, a backhoe from Ansaldi Construction winched the ambulance back onto a cleared road surface, Skoczulek said.

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

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 3: Don Hart

STAFFORD SPRINGS — Beth Van Alstyne, Director of Critical Care Services for Johnson Memorial Medical Center in Stafford Springs, wrote a complimentary endorsement for ASM’s Don Hart. Don is a seasoned paramedic and a known fixture at JMMC. He has been stationed on ASM’s Alpha 5 (also known as The Johnson Medic) for several years. Read more about The Johnson Medic here…

ASM's Don Hart at Johnson Memorial Medical Center

ASM's Don Hart at Johnson Memorial Medical Center

Here is an excerpt from Beth’s note: “Don has become an integral part of the JMH ED family!  Everyone throughout the hospital knows Don and even where “Don’s desk” is located in the ED.  He is even a stop on every ED tour!  Don is the epitome of selfless hard work and team spirit.  He is always willing to help out.  He is friendly, courteous and compassionate with all patients and will assist patients and visitors as appropriate. 

As a medic, Don is top notch.  Continue reading

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 1: “The Johnson Medic”

Johnson Memorial Medical Center and Ambulance Service of Manchester

Johnson Memorial Medical Center and Ambulance Service of Manchester

STAFFORD SPRINGS —  The Ambulance Service of Manchester’s (ASM) Alpha Five has been stationed at Johnson Memorial Medical Center for over eight years.

This transport-capable paramedic unit was initially stationed there at the request of JMMC in order to secure immediate transport of a certain population of critical patients.

In a short period of time the surrounding towns began calling on Alpha Five to provide “paramedic intercepts” as part of their 911 response and the moniker “The Johnson Medic” soon became commonly used.

Originally the service to the hospital and the towns was provided on a 12 hour (peak hour) basis. Soon the hospital and the surrounding towns realized Continue reading

Capitol Region Posts Report on Johnson Memorial Medical Center Evacuation

Aetna ASM Johnson Memorial Medical Center Hospital Evacuation

Aetna and ASM in staging for the evacuation of Johnson Memorial.

The After Action Report (AAR) associated with the evacuation of Johnson Memorial Medical Center following Tropical Storm Irene has been posted by the Capitol Region Council of Governments and their regional disaster management committee.

As part of the JMMC family, ASM and Aetna provided significant ambulance transport during the evacuation. Read the after action report (AAR) here…  Continue reading