Category Archives: Details of our Business Decisions

Words That Describe Us: Volume 5

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Aetna Ambulance - Ambulance Service of ManchesterMANCHESTER 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:

  • Thorough. The [EMTs] were great. They convinced me to go to the hospital and they were right. Nice people!
  • Excellent service, couldn’t have had any better. My mom was transported. The two medics were excellent. Michael had my mom laughing and [they both] made her trip so comfortable. I couldn’t have asked for any better. (ASM’s E998 and E741).
  • Caring (appeared in six surveys).
  • Very professional (appeared in three surveys).
  • Considerate (appeared in three surveys).
  • Thank you for being with us.
  • Responsive.
  • Excellent.
  • Reassuring.
  • Good care.
  • Helpful, kind and accommodating. Thank you.
  • GREAT JOB!!
  • Experienced.

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

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MANCHESTER — As of February 2013 Marcus Communications has moved from their long time home at 275 New State Road to 33 Mitchell Drive in Manchester’s Industrial Park. This move allows the Ambulance Service of Manchester to continue to grow the main company office and headquarters (known as 10-1) into the space Marcus once occupied.

Final purposes and uses for the all of the renovated space are still being decided but current plans call for additional training space, expanded offices, a medical supply and deployment area, new restrooms and a reconfigured main entrance. Below are some ‘Before’ pictures and future posts will show the progress of the construction.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Andrew Holzhauer Completes Precepting Phase

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Andrew Holzhauer (R) is congratulated by Hartford Hospital's Mike Zacchera

Andrew Holzhauer (R) is congratulated by Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera

HARTFORD – As of February 7, 2013, Aetna’s Andrew Holzhauer has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

His preceptor was Matthew Campbell. The full precepting phase can take ten to 12 weeks or more as the paramedic is prepped for the realities of the field. As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Andrew’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

After volunteering with Newington Volunteer Ambulance, Andrew obtained  his paramedic certificate from Capital Community College. Andrew says, “I thoroughly enjoy being a paramedic and look forward to working with the other medics and EMTs at Aetna Ambulance. I have only heard great things about Aetna and am excited to be working here.”

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Andrew the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

ASM Responds: Winter Storm Charlotte

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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.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 4

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Aetna Ambulance - Ambulance Service of ManchesterMANCHESTER 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:

  • Excellent.
  • Lifesavers.
  • Extremely professional team and very caring for me as a patient and my family.
  • All areas were excellent – the two ambulance men we’re wonderful!! The very best! Please tell them so.
  • Staff was very efficient, concerned and competent. Thank you.
  • Thanks for the awesome care you gave my son.

EMS is often a thankless field. We feel that expressions of appreciation deserve to be shared and constructive comments deserve to be acted upon. An effort is made to share positive and/or constructive comments with the field staff and with the public we serve. Some of the other responses we have received are highlighted throughout our blog and on our website.

If we have treated you and you would like to request a blank survey please call our office at (860) 647-9798 or send your comments to us at PO Box 300, Manchester, CT 06045-0300. Or, simply click the Leave a Reply link below.

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 5: The New Alpha Five

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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 →

A Tiered System: Volume Two

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Paramedic Intercept ASM Aetna AmbulanceWhy did the EMTs (ambulance) and Paramedics arrive separately?

EMTs are able to perform a specific set of skills that do not include such advanced treatments as IVs, EKG heart monitoring, IV medications, advanced airway techniques, nebulizers and more. Paramedics are required in the treatment of patients with chest pain, difficulty breathing, altered mental status, severe accidents and injuries and many other types of medical emergencies.

Simply put, when a 911 call is received that meets certain criteria, an EMT level ambulance (BLS) and a paramedic service (ALS) are dispatched simultaneously. Upon arrival, if the patient needs any of the treatment listed above, the paramedic will then ride Continue reading →

‘Emergency of Hunger’ Food Drive Continues This Weekend

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Click for the latest Hartford Courant article on the Food Drive…

First Weekend Totals:

  • Food Items     14,646
  • Cash               $6656
  • Turkeys               215

To Reach the Goals, the Second Weekend Must Total:

  • Food Items     25,000
  • Cash             $28,000
  • Turkeys            1,585

The food drive will take place on the following days and in the following Stop & Shop locations:

  • Vernon  (11-17 and 18): 10a-6p, 10 Pitkin Road, Vernon
  • Rockville (11-17 and 18): 10a-6p, 50 Windsorville Road, Rockville
  • Manchester (11-17 and 11-18): 10a-6p, 286 Broad St, Manchester
  • South Windsor (11-17 and 18): 10a-6p,1739 Ellington Road, South Windsor
  • Windsor (11-17 and 18): 10a-6p, 1095 Kennedy Road, Windsor
* The second weekend adds an additional town with its two locations. Continue reading →

Who Sets the Rates and Charges for the Ambulance Service?

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Paramedic Intercept ASM Aetna AmbulanceHARTFORD — A recent patient satisfaction survey received by Aetna Ambulance Service was full of praise for the crew and care received, but the patient had a question about the cost of services: Who sets the rates the ambulance service charges for transport or paramedic services? 

Aetna and ASM are licensed Connecticut ambulance services. As such, our companies are regulated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). The rates for each individual service category are issued to us by DPH and we do not have the discretion to set our own rates or billing categories or make any changes. The bills that are issued to patients for services rendered are produced with these set rates and cannot be higher. Continue reading →

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Taylor Salva Completes Precepting Phase

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Aetna's Taylor Salva

Taylor Salva is congratulated by Hartford Hospital’s Greg Berryman

HARTFORD – As of November 1, 2012, Aetna’s Taylor Salva has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

His preceptor was Robert Velletri. The full precepting phase can take ten to 12 weeks or more as the paramedic is prepped for the realities of the field. As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Taylor’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Taylor and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Taylor is a new, full time Paramedic who graduated from Capital Community College one year ago. He has lived in the New London/Groton area all his life, until he, his wife, daughter and step daughter recently moved to Griswold. He enjoys boating, fishing and shooting. He has worked as an EMT basic, a firefighter, and ER technician for some time now and is excited to start his paramedic career.

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Taylor the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

ASM and Manchester 8th Utilities District Team Up to Present “People Who Help”

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Fire Prevention Week: People Who HelpMANCHESTER — For the week of October 14-20, ASM and the Manchester Fire Department teamed up to give Fire Prevention and People Who Help presentations at the elementary schools throughout the Eighth District.

In a letter from the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Manchester Fire Department: 

Fire Prevention Week: People Who HelpThank you for assisting us with our Fire Prevention Week! The kids LOVED seeing the equipment and having the opportunity to walk inside an ambulance. We cannot say thank you enough! I have included in this letter some pictures that you might enjoy.

 

Your friends,

The Manchester 8th Utilities District Fire Department

Heavy Lifting For Ambulance Crews

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Obesity Epidemic Is Changing Emergency Medical Transport

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com The Hartford Courant

October 20, 2012

Brian Langan Ambulance Service of Manchester

Emergency medical technicians have long shared a Murphy’s Law kind of reckoning about obese patients: for every additional floor in a building, the patient will weigh 100 more pounds.

It’s dark humor among men and women with an often grim, strenuous job, but obesity rates are rising throughout the state and nation, and a recently released report says the ranks of the morbidly obese will continue to balloon.

The task of transporting patients who weigh at least 100 pounds more than they should is now a daily reality in Connecticut and throughout the nation. The job strains ambulance crews, causing widespread back injuries, and piles financial burdens on both volunteer companies and professional providers.

“We’ve always had to deal with big people,” said Glenn Luedtke,safety committee chairman of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, “but nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see someone who’s 300 pounds into the 400-pound range.” Continue reading →

Words That Describe Us: Volume 3

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Aetna Ambulance - Ambulance Service of ManchesterMANCHESTER 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:

  • “Very capable and understanding considering my complete confusion and surprise as to my incident. Everything was as good and efficient and capable as anyone could hope for or expect.”
  • “Fantastic. Could not ask for any better service. It was perfect.”
  • “Excellent service. I was very pleased with the ambulance service my husband received. I have no complaints.”
  • “Very helpful and reassuring to my personal needs.”
  • Great x 2
  • Excellent x 2
  • Very professional
  • Good
  • Super
  • Competent
  • Outstanding
  • Supportive
  • The best!
  • Fabulous
  • Conscientious.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Jeff D’Albero Completes Precepting Phase

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Aetna's Jeff D'Albero

Jeff D’Albero (left) is congratulated by Supervisor Chuck Roode

HARTFORD – As of October 10, 2012, Aetna’s Jeff D’Albero has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

The full precepting phase can take ten to 12 weeks or more as the paramedic is prepped for the realities of the field. As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Jeff’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Jeff and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Jeff is 25 years old and lives in New London with his fiance Mariaha, and two year old Caleb. He has been involved in fire and EMS since obtaining  his EMT certification when at age 16. He is a graduate of the paramedic program at Capitol Community College in Hartford and began working as a paramedic in Bridgeport. He also works as a part time Firefighter for the Town of Waterford.

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Jeff the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Out with the Old, In with the New

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MANCHESTER — A side by side comparison of the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s Unit 514 as the Ford model is decommissioned in favor of the Mercedes Sprinter. Click on each picture to expand.