Author Archives: ASM-Aetna

Movember Team: Ambulance Service of Moustache

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MANCHESTER — ASM EMT Sean Norton writes, “You may have seen several ASM employees with oddly shaped facial hair at work lately. This is not only because it looks great but we are doing it to change the face of men’s health. Movember was started to raise money for the research of testicular and prostate cancer as well as mental health.

Movember - Ambulance Service of Moustache

Some members of ASM’s Movember Team: (L to R) Sean Norton, Jonathan Lentini, Matt Tuttle and Steeve Parent. Missing: Kevin King and Vinnie Maston.

We have a team called Ambulance Service of Moustache that can be found by following the link. That will bring you to my page just click donate and choose our team. Any little bit you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your consideration.”

‘Emergency of Hunger’ Food Drive Begins This Weekend

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MANCHESTER — The Fifth Annual ‘Emergency of Hunger’ Food Drive officially starts this weekend. Emergency and public service agencies in five communities band together with Rotary Clubs to collect for local food banks.

Further details on the Food Drive: This is year five and thus far we have collected: 108,000 food and personal care items, 4100 turkeys and over $75,000 in cash, checks and gift cards.

Here are the currently scheduled Food Drive dates and times by town. The following are Stop and Shop locations unless otherwise noted:

  • Enfield:  54 Hazard Avenue. November 17: 900a-400p.
  • Manchester:  286 Broad Street. November 16, 17, 23 and 24. 900a-500p.
  • Rockville:  50 Windsorville Road. November 23 and 24. 900a-400p.
  • Vernon:  10 Pitkin Road. November 23 and 24. 900a-400p
  • South Windsor:  1739 Ellington Road. November 16, 17. 900a-300p.
  • South Windsor:  965 Sullivan Ave. November 16, 17. 900a-300p (Geisslers)
  • Windsor:  Was held November 2, 3, 9 and 10.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 15

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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:

  • Professional. They did a great job.
  • Caring x 3.
  • Excellent x 6.
  • Great x 2.
  • EMTs were friendly, pleasant, professional, and handled me with skill and confidence.
  • Great!
  • Great. They were great considering I was forced to go by the police.
  • Very professional.
  • Kudos to C. Haag and A. Fine on their care, their respect and overall performance. (13-87969).
  • Professional and efficient.
  • Wonderful service.
  • Quick, professional. Nice job!
  • Dependable.
  • Reassuring, comforting, professional.
  • Good job.
  • Very prompt.
  • Perfect.
  • Very professional. Was made to feel at ease.
  • Compassionate.
  • Competent and Caring. Once I was in the ambulance under a great deal of stress, the medic who rode with me made me feel comfortable and relaxed.
  • Very professional.
  • Competent.
  • Prompt/Professional. I thought I might not make it that night and I appreciated your medical knowledge and helping me through a scary and difficult time.

Early EKG Transmission Device Resurfaces

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MANCHESTER — An early communication device, used during the days when ASM was known as Manchester Ambulance, was brought out as a prop for a recent retirement party.

Shown here, the phone and EKG transmission device shows just how far technology has come but reminds us that transmitting EKGs to hospital is not a new idea. Aetna and ASM operate technology to wirelessly transmit 12 lead EKGs to a terminal in area emergency departments as well as they smartphones of the interventionalist and cardiologist.

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 9

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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:

  • Drop ceiling has been added in the entire new space except for the ancillary training room where the walls will extend to the deck/roof.
  • The main restrooms are nearly complete with fixtures, stalls, flooring and cabinetry in place.
  • Painting of walls and trim and staining of doors has been completed.
  • Utility room floors have been sealed.

The next steps are to complete and open for service the main restrooms so that demolition can move to the oldest restrooms and the old side entrance hallway, complete flooring, activate HVAC systems and begin phase two of demolition and construction.

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

Aetna’s Preston Ryzak Visits Cherry Brook Primary School

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Note: Aetna Ambulance does NOT provide emergency services to the Town of Canton. Always dial 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.

CANTON — On October 27, 2013 Aetna’s Preston Ryzak visited Canton’s Cherry Brook Primary School, specifically Mrs. Lippincott’s class, to show the students an ambulance, up close and personal.

School visits serve to increase children’s awareness of Emergency Medical Services, when to call 911, what Paramedics and EMTs do to help people and why serving the community is important.

Aetna Ambulance Visits Glastonbury’s Goddard School

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Goddard School 3Aetna Ambulance does NOT serve the Town of Glastonbury for primary emergency medical services. In an emergency, always dial 9-1-1. 

GLASTONBURY — On October 23, 2013 Aetna’s Trisha Webster and Matthew Carter visited Goddard School on Eastern Boulevard in Glastonbury, CT to perform a show-and-tell for the three and four year-old children who attend Pre-K at the school.

Trisha and Matt talked about calling 9-1-1 and not being afraid of EMS, Police or Fire Personnel when they arrive to help. They had them go through the ambulance with the help of a Caillou doll to demonstrate the experience.  Lots of questions and some stories from the children followed.

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 6

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Aetna Paramedic receives Kudos from the Cath LabFARMINGTON — On October 21, 2013 a Paramedic Unit from Aetna Ambulance (David Noyes and Kelly Shapiro) responded to a sixty-two year old patient with a significant cardiac history, who had been having chest pain for an hour. They did a 12-lead ECG, which revealed a massive inferior infarction. They called in a STEMI Alert to the John Dempsey Hospital ED. Based on their radio patch, Dr. Sasha Gorenbeyn immediately activated the cath lab (16 minutes before patient arrival).

The patient received a heparin bolus in the ED, and then went right up to the cath lab on the EMS stretcher. The patient was found to have a 100% occluded SVG (saphenous vein graft) to the PDA (posterior descending branch). He underwent a successful thrombectomy and stenting restoring perfusion.

He is doing very well thanks to the great job by the combined EMS/Hospital STEMI Team. Kudos also to the staffs of the ICU and cardiac step down for their outstanding re-covery care. 41 Minute Door-to-Balloon time! The patient was discharged home yesterday doing very well. “Thanks again, and extend our compliments to your crew for a job well done.”

*Individually identifiable protected health information has been removed in accordance with Aetna’s HIPAA-related Privacy Policies. 

ASM at Downtown Manchester’s ‘Halloween Happenings’

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Halloween Happenings - Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.MANCHESTER — On October 26, 2013 Ambulance Service of Manchester Paramedic Rory Leslie and EMT Matt Tuttle set up an “Amb-boo-lance” near Pinewood Furniture as part of Downtown Manchester’s Halloween Happenings.

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

It was estimated that around 1000 children took part.

Praise for EMS Service during and around the ING Marathon

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ph_ING_HM_Course_Info_Half_MarathonThe following combines two letters sent to Aetna and ASM under separate cover.

I wanted to thank you and Aetna Ambulance/Ambulance Service of Manchester for the assistance and hard work put in for the ING Hartford Marathon, which was held on October 12, 2013.

As you know, Mike Bova, Matt Martinelli and Chris Bates were instrumental in the planning for, and the operations on, marathon day. The success of the medical plan was, in a large part, because of Aetna/ASM’s involvement from the beginning.

Beth Shluger, the Executive Director of the Hartford Marathon Foundation stated that this was the best prepared race she has ever had. Aetna/ASM deserves a share of that compliment. Since the bombing of the Boston Marathon this Spring, we were intent that we would not be caught unprepared should a similar event happen here. Aetna/ASM’s commitment of resources and staff was greatly appreciated.

Please pass along my thanks to all of the crew members who stood by and responded in East Hartford, South Windsor, and elsewhere along the course and in the command post. They worked hard and were a credit to Aetna/ASM.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with Aetna/ASM on future projects.

Thanks again,

Michael Zacchera, NREMT-P

EMS Educator

Department of EMS Education

Hartford Hospital

ASM Responds: Crash involving school bus reported in East Hartford

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Photo courtesy of WSFSB

Photo courtesy of WFSB

By Steven Yablonski, Managing Editor – WFSB

 EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) –

(Read the original WFSB article here) A crash involving a school bus was reported in East Hartford on Wednesday morning.

Few details about the crash have been reported, but officials said the crash was reported along Forbes Street before 8:30 a.m.

Officials with the Ambulance Service of Manchester said it sent four ambulances to the scene, and brought eight people to local hospitals.

ASM officials said six were brought to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, one was brought to St. Francis Hospital and another to Manchester Memorial Hospital.

All injuries were described as “minor”. No other information was released by officials.

Comfort, Safety, Space Features Added to Bariatric Ambulance Stretchers

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1363718992_IMG_8412MANCHESTER and HARTFORD — The specialty bariatric stretchers operated by Aetna and ASM have now been equipped with Stryker’s Expandable Patient Surface (or XPS) system.

The XPS System consists of a new wider mattress and new side rails that fold out instead of down. The side rails are not intended to support the patient primary body weight. Instead they are intended to enhance patient comfort.

XPS_LargeAccording to the Stryker website, “XPS is adjustable with seven locking positions and includes a wider mattress that reduces transfer gap and designed with patient comfort in mind. This solution helps address growing obesity trends and supports a variety of patients and environments.”

Words That Describe Us: Volume 14

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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:

  • Professional x 8.
  • Good x 4.
  • Excellent x 3.
  • Considerate x 2.
  • Compassionate x 3.
  • Efficient x 2.
  • They were helpful to me as the wife. Asked if there was someone coming to help me. (13-72584: M. Tuttle, R. Leslie, J. Bush)
  • My team was wonderful in listening to my needs in helping them do their job as effectively as possible. I would like to thank each one for their service. (13-76135: C. Chasse, A. Wysocki).
  • Kind, efficient and knowledgeable.
  • Outstanding.
  • Wonderful.
  • Caring and professional.
  • Medic was very professional.
  • Excellent, kind, came to check on me with another call.
  • Wonderful! Thank you so much.
  • I had passed out and was not fully cognizant of some of the questions that I did not answer definitively – Overall experience was satisfactory.
  • Professional. Humane.
  • Great service.
  • Very efficient. Caring with everything.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 5

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by Sam Porcello

Hartford Circus Fire - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

Mrs. Grady was really helpful and supportive, and provided me with photos and additional information about her family. She also referred me to Robert John Titus.  I was fascinated to learn how the Grady brothers, who received some basic medical training in the Navy, were inspired to begin a full time ambulance company following the Hartford Circus Fire.  They saw a need for the service, and became only the second private ambulance company to serve Hartford.

More importantly, Aetna Ambulance was the first private ambulance company in Hartford to provide formal medical training to its employees.  The Gradys didn’t stop there, reaching out beyond Hartford to help train other ambulance services.  Mrs. Evans wrote to me that:

“My Aunt Jean was a member of the Red Cross and was a medical instructor. She helped state wide ambulance employees including Ambulance Service of Manchester, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill Volunteer Ambulance Service members retain their licenses…as Emergency Medical Technicians.”