Monthly Archives: April 2014

Four Hurt In School Bus Crash In Rocky Hill

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hc-rocky-hill-school-bus-crash-0501-20140430-001By DAVID OWENS, The Hartford Courant

Read the full story here…

12:09 p.m. EDT, April 30, 2014

ROCKY HILL — Four people with minor injuries were taken by ambulance to area hospitals after an accident involving a school bus on northbound I-91 in Rocky Hill Wednesday morning.

Three children aboard the bus complained of pain.

Several ambulances were dispatched to the crash, near exit 23.

Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna Ambulance Service crews transported three children to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and one adult to Hartford Hospital.

The bus was carrying sixth graders from East Haven‘s Joseph Melillo Middle School to the Connecticut Science Center, school officials said.

State police were investigating. The crash was reported at 9:51 a.m.

Three Sprinter Ambulances Arrive to Replace Last Fords

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DSC_1741MANCHESTER — On April 28, 2014 three more blank Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Ambulances arrived at Aetna’s fleet maintenance area at ASM from American Emergency Vehicles in North Carolina.

The change will mean that both Aenta Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) will be fully switched to Dodge and Mercedes Sprinters within the Type II category. This will leave only three Type III Fords for use as specialty bariatric units and none within the day-to-day fleet, a change several years in the making.

The three additional, unmarked ambulances will soon be sent out to receive the high-visibility Battenburg markings, rear chevrons and company logos. Operating fuel-efficient, safe and modern Sprinter ambulances is part of Aetna and ASM’s continued commitment to the communities we serve. 

Aetna at Hartford Hospital’s ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work’ Day

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HARTFORD — On April 24, 2014 an Aetna Ambulance crew was on hand at Hartford Hospital to participate in their annual Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day. Aetna’s Paul Ferri and Collin Whalen gave tours of the ambulance, showed EMS gear and supplies and spoke about the daily life of an EMS Provider.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 23

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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:

  • Caring and professional.
  • Amazing.
  • Excellent, caring, compassionate, professional. (14-9832; M. Hoyt, J. Bonneau).
  • Prompt and professional.
  • No improvement needed.
  • Excellent.
  • Compassionate, kept me smiling and comfortable. All the folks in the ambulance made me feel comfortable and at ease. They were highly professional and just all around nice people. (14-15936; A. Harkins, J. Benson).
  • Good.
  • Helpful.
  • Super – Keep up the good work.
  • Caring and considerate.
  • My EMT Matt was very professional. I would like to thank him for remembering to take my wedding rings off before my hand swelled so that they did not have cut them off. His attention to details was excellent (14-16315; M. Campbell, S. McDuell).
  • Thank you. Good job.
  • Friendly and caring
  • Caring x 2.
  • Professional, empathetic, caring.
  • Kind.
  • Perfect!!!
  • Professional! All I can say is that I am very grateful for their service. They listened to me and knew what I needed after I told them my problem (14-8036; A. Hedburg, C. Rockoff).

Aetna and ASM Upgrade Transport Ventilators

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Oxylog 3000 004HARTFORD and MANCHESTER — By the end of April 2014 Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) will upgrade to a industry leading medical device known as the Draeger Oxylog 3000 Ventilator; “the ventilator of choice for emergency and transport ventilation.” Better to have one, according  to a Draeger tag line.

Aetna and ASM are entrusted with the safe transport of long-term ventilator dependent patients from premier rehabilitation long-term acute and chronic care hospitals such as the Hospital for Special Care. ASM also provides medically appropriate Specialty Care Transport services to the areas regional hospitals, transporting ill and injured patients to tertiary care centers in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Oxylog is capable of replicating complex, in-hospital ventilator settings such as IE ratios, CPAP, assist control, SIMV and more.

The use of Draeger Ventilators is part of Aetna and ASM’s long-term commitment to providing cutting edge emergency medical care and our vision of putting gold standard clinical resources and equipment at the fingertips of our skilled EMS providers.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 22

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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:

  • The very best. If it were not for them my son would be in serious condition. (14-3972; R. Leslie, R. McConville).
  • Experienced and accommodating.
  • Very good!!!
  • I felt safe! The gentleman was very nice and reassuring. Thank you! (14-8438; S. Crittenden).
  • Terrific.
  • Very good care.
  • Excellent x 3.
  • Superb! The EMTs/Paramedics were so very good with me and my children. They listened to me and eased the very tense and frightening situation. (13-111854; J. Traber, B. Langan).
  • Caring, kind and professional. Recently losing my husband after 30 years I was alone and scared. Your people made me feel very safe and relaxed (14-11807; N. Toro).
  • Professional and efficient.
  • Excellent service.
  • I felt like I was very well taken care of.
  • Caring, concerned, very professional.
  • Professional, EMT was very nice.
  • Compassionate x 2.
  • Wonderful. Very professional.
  • Excellent service.
  • Extremely efficient and cordial.
  • There when you need help.
  • Very kind, compassionate and understanding. (14-2647; S. Allen, B. Langan).
  • Super.
  • Very competent.

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 15

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MANCHESTER — Additions and renovations to the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s main headquarters, known to employees as “10-1,” continue. As of this writing:

  • The main hallway is complete.
  • The foyer is complete and the reception window is functional creating a new main entrance on the south side of the building.
  • The new training room is complete including the placement of a integrated training podium.
  • The new storage area is complete.
  • The Dispatch Center walls and ceiling have been demolished. The wall between dispatch and a defunct office space has been cut through to accommodate the placement of a new wheelchair van dispatch office.

The next steps are constructing the new Dispatch Center, installing signage and an awning over the new main entrance, re-configuring the main call-taking office, installing water fountains and demolishing the old storage cages for more ambulance and wheelchair van parking.

The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.

ASM Adds Second Type III Bariatric Ambulance

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Ambulance Service of Manchester Bariatric Ambulance Stryker Power LoadMANCHESTER — On March 21, 2014 the Ambulance Service of Manchester put in service a second Type III ambulance for the transport of morbidly obese patients as well as for use with certain flight, specialty and critical care transport teams. The ambulance is identically equipped to ASM and Aetna’s existing bariatric ambulances, complete with a Stryker Power-LOAD stretcher lift system.

Capable of lifting a maximum patient weight of 700 pounds, it is the company’s belief that the Stryker Power-LOAD is the safest overall bariatric ambulance equipment. Read more about what makes the Power-LOAD system the safest...

STRYKER Power Load Stretcher - Aetna ASM AmbulanceAdding an additional bariatric ambulance is part of ASM and Aetna’s continued commitment to the communities and clients the companies serve. 

Thank You Letter Invokes Aetna Founder Jean Grady

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Aetna Wallpaper 2Please forgive the lateness of this note, but understandably, I have been dealing with a lot on my plate. My sister passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly on January 31st. Luckily, I was with her and was able to call for an ambulance. Aetna Ambulance responded as well as the Hartford Fire Department. I can not praise your company enough. Everyone was so professional, yet caring. I was completely overwhelmed by the whole experience. They recognized this and acted accordingly.

I had a personal connection to the Jean Grady, the previous owner of Aetna, so everything came full circle. I was also born and raised in Hartford and was never prouder of my hometown on that day. My son-in-law just started his own ambulance company in South Carolina. When I recounted my experience, he was so proud to be a paramedic and company owner.

Thank you to all that you do and a special thanks to the men that responded to Franklin Avenue on that day.

Sincerely,

Sister of Patient — #14-9217

Letter appears with permission.

Campbell and Mathiau 2Crew: Matthew Campbell and Kevin Mathiau (again)