Praise for an MFRE and ASM Response

Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance ASM FMANCHESTER — In August of 2016 ASM received an email from a patient in Manchester for a response in July. In it she praised the care she received from ASM’s Luke Zalewski and Sean McNeff working with Manchester Fire Rescue EMS (MFRE) firefighter-paramedics. The email read as follows:

The ambulance crew was so kind to me I have been wanting to send them a thank you note. I was in so much pain when they arrived at my house, and as a young woman I was worried they might not take my complaints seriously, but they did. When they arrived I was in so much pain I could barely stand up. They helped me out of the house, but they also went the extra mile of reassuring me that my two cats did not get out of the house when they left the door open. They described both cats to me and said they had seen them both go into the basement. This really helped me to relax  in a difficult situation. They could have just told me not to worry about it, but they took all of my concerns seriously.

On the way to the hospital they administered medication in an IV that helped my pain decrease. I was scared when I arrived at the hospital because I was alone but they reassured me they would not leave me by myself. I typically use alternative medicine because I have previously had many negative experiences with the conventional medical system, but this was not one of them. I am so grateful I called that day and so grateful that the crew treated me with so much care and respect. I felt they really went above and beyond to make sure that I felt as comfortable and safe as possible. What wonderful people! The doctors believe I had a ruptured cyst and I am feeling better now. Thank you so much!

[This redacted and de-identified story and commentary appears with the patient’s express permission]

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: ASM Hires Six – 2015

MANCHESTER — On October 14, 2015 five EMTs and one Paramedic 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.

Ashley DeBisschop:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Ashley DeBisschop and I am 27 years old from Willimantic, Connecticut. I studied Bio-Chemistry and Anthropology at Eastern Connecticut State University and completed my EMT program through CodeOne at QVCC in Danielson. I am a volunteer EMT for the South Windham Fire Department and celebrated my second year in July. It has been a very rewarding and educational experience. I have gained valuable knowledge and look forward to conintuing that at ASM. I am eager to advance my skills and learn from my fellow colleagues. In the future, I hope to further my education by attending a paramedic or nursing program.

Ashley Linardo:    FULL TIME, Paramedic. My name is Ashley and I am 29 years old currently living in Vernon, CT. I am a recent graduate of Capital Community College Paramedic program. I started off in the medical field five years ago as a Patient Care Technician and a volunteer firefighter. Immediately after volunteering for the fire department, I knew that I wanted to pursue my career in emergency medicine. I got my EMT a few years ago and started working on a town ambulance and also worked in an emergency department. Shortly after that, I started pursing my paramedic degree. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, hiking, watching football, and doing anything that involves being outdoors. I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the ASM family!

Cameron Raymes:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Cameron. I am 23 years old and have lived in Connecticut my whole life. I am a graduate of the University of Connecticut Storrs with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in biological sciences. I am an aspiring physician assistant primarily with interests of helping people in emergency medicine.  I have held jobs ranging from a preschool to a research lab to a doctors office.  In my free time, some of my outside interests include traveling, skiing, wake boarding, mountain biking, golfing, and Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Eliot Snoek:     FULL TIME, EMT. Hailing from South Windsor, I am a graduate of the University of New Haven with a B.S. in Biology, and minors in Chemistry and Psychology.  My interests range all over the place, including motorsports, rugby, programming, audio tech, horticulture, scuba diving, and every now and then a musical instrument or two.  As you may have guessed, I’m also into helping people out on some of the worst days of their lives – one of my favorite parts of EMS.  Planning to venture into the nursing field, for now I am enjoying exploring the pre-hospital side of patient care.  I currently volunteer with Bloomfield Volunteer Ambulance, and am excited to get started in my position at ASM!

Tyler Wallace:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Tyler Wallace. I am 20 years old and I was born in East Hartford, Connecticut. I obtained my EMT certification at the age of 18, after high school, and started to volunteer to build up my skills. When the opportunity arose to apply for a position at ASM I applied as soon as I could. I did so because I remember at a young age seeing ASM’s EMT’s and Paramedics treating their patients as if they were their own family members and seeing the impact of such care. From that point on I knew I wanted to do something that could impact our community in this way. What better way to do so than to become a team member at the Ambulance Service of Manchester? I look forward in growing and learning with such a positive and rewarding organization.

Luke Zalewski:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Luke Zalewski, I am 22 years old, and from Burlington, CT. In my spare time I enjoy participating in physical activities, watching sports, and riding motorcycles. I recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with an Allied Health major and a Psychology minor. During my time at UCONN I competed as a Division I athlete on the Varsity Swim Team. I started my EMT career with the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department two years ago, and soon after became an employee for Bristol Hospital EMS. With the experience gained at these institutions, I was able to solidify my passion for healthcare. My goal is to attend a PA program and enhance my medical abilities. I look forward to becoming an employee at ASM, and improve as an emergency professional.