Category Archives: Details of our Business Decisions

11th Annual Emergency of Hunger Food Drive!

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HARTFORD COURANT

by Jesse Leavenworth

Kyle Caldwell, left, and Dave Tedeschi, emergency medical technicians with Ambulance Service of Manchester, at the 2013 Emergency of Hunger Food Drive.

Kyle Caldwell, left, and Dave Tedeschi, emergency medical technicians with Ambulance Service of Manchester, at the 2013 Emergency of Hunger Food Drive. (Courtesy of Ambulance Service of Manchester)

First responders and other volunteers in Manchester, South Windsor and Vernon will be collecting food and cash donations to stock area food pantries, starting in Manchester on Saturday and Sunday.

Coordinated by the Ambulance Service of Manchester, the Emergency of Hunger Food Drive is in its 11th year. This year, Highland Park Market is joining the effort, hosting collections at the Manchester store, food drive spokesman Patrick Gleason said.

Along with police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews, participants include the Manchester Area Conference of Churches, Hockanum Valley Community Council, South Windsor Food and Fuel Bank, Police Explorers and Rotary Club members.

On Saturday and Sunday, volunteers will be collecting turkeys, chickens, non-perishable food items, cash and gift cards at Highland Park Market, 317 Highland St., and Stop & Shop supermarket, 318 West Middle Turnpike. Collections on both days are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Collections are to continue on Nov. 23 and 24 at both Manchester locations and at the South Windsor Stop & Shop, 1739 Ellington Road; Geissler’s supermarket in South Windsor, 965 Sullivan Ave.; Stop & Shop in Vernon, 10 Pitkin Road; and the Stop & Shop in the Rockville section of Vernon, 50 Windsorville Road.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires Six – 2019

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HARTFORD — On October 16th, 2019, one paramedic and five EMTs were added to the Aetna 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.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Orlando Diaz Completes Precepting Phase

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MANCHESTER – As of October 10th 2019, ASM’s Orlando Diaz has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves. Orlando was hired at the Ambulance Service of Manchester in February 2017. He offered the following sentiment:

“Precepting with ASM was truly an unbelievable experience. ASM covers a large area, which opened up great opportunities for newer Paramedics, like myself. Learning how to work with volunteers and managing a scene appropriately was one of my favorite parts of precepting. I also appreciated the time my preceptors took to share their experiences. I look forward to being cleared for independent medical control, as well as continuing to learn while providing the best possible care for my patients.”

As with all precepting phases at ASM, Orlando’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing him and his preceptors in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the ASM Family, we would like to wish Orlando the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

ASM Profiled in Hartford Courant for 60th Anniversary

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Please see below or click here for the full article by Hartford Courant Report Jesse Leavenworth.

Sean Norton, an Ambulance Service of Manchester operations supervisor, talks to visitors during ASM’s 60th anniversary celebration Tuesday. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

From a single “hearse-style” wagon and a crew of three in 1959, Ambulance Service of Manchester has grown to 190 employees and 30 ambulances serving the area from East Hartford to Stafford Springs.

On Tuesday, police officers and firefighters who work with the mobile medical crews joined other visitors at ASM’s cavernous headquarters on New State Road to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary.

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians stood by to describe ambulance and equipment displays. ASM has updated its fleet with new Mercedes vans, replacing box-style ambulances. Four of the new vehicles are longer and sturdier, equipped to lift and transport patients who weigh up to 750 pounds. ASM also recently acquired two “stair chairs,” which allow crews to more easily carry patients up and down stairs. Along with heavier patients, ASM crews also have been dealing with an increase in drug overdoses and mentally ill patients, officials said.

Paramedic Chris Myska demonstrates a medication injection in ASM’s training room. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

ASM and Aetna Ambulance Service are sister companies headed by president and CEO Kim Aroh. Asked about the companies’ biggest challenges today, Aroh cited operating costs, such as the recent $300,000 expense to equip all ambulances with digital radios. The companies strive for modest growth each year, she said, but reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid have been flat for a decade.

Besides maintaining equipment and keeping up with changes in life-saving technology, another priority, Aroh said, is to encourage workers’ participation in fun events such as a polar plunge fundraiser _ which benefits the community and the employees. Ambulance crews, she noted, regularly have to handle traumatic scenes.

“They see so many tough things,” Aroh said.

Visitors and ASM employees at the celebration inside the company’s headquarters on New State Road. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

ASM started as Manchester Ambulance with three men _ J. Stewart Johnston, Thomas Carpenter and Roger Talbot Sr. _ who were based at a local auto dealership, according to its website _ www.ambulanceservicemanchester.com. The outfit moved to a three-bay garage at 134 Center St. in 1969 and its territory expanded to include East Hartford and Bolton.

Today, company spokesman Patrick Gleason said, ASM and Aetna serve about 1.2 million people.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: ASM Hires Eight – 2019

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MANCHESTER — On September 9th, 2019 seven 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.

ASM Behind The Scenes

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Here at Ambulance Service of Manchester, we are dedicated to providing Consistent, Timely and Clinically excellent service to our patients, clients and communities. We do this by providing our employees with state-of-the-art technology, training, and equipment. One example of our continuous efforts to better serve our communities is by keeping our fleet well maintained and up to date. Not only does this ensure seamless and reliable service, but it also makes our patient’s and employee’s safety a number one priority. The video provided shows one of six 2019 Mercedes Sprinter ambulances that are scheduled to go on the road within next couple of months. ASM, ensures that our fleet is performing at top-notch level, with no detail overlooked, including performing all of our vehicle decaling in house. (CLICK HERE for video demonstration). This is a prime example of our continued efforts and dedication to grow, expand, and adapt. Please enjoy the video and don’t forget to subscribe for our latest updates and events.

ASM Assists with SW School Safety Event

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South Windsor- On Friday, August 30th, 2019, Ambulance Service of Manchester EMT’s Danielle Chowaniec and Chris Tevnan spent the morning at Timothy Edwards Middle School assisting with a week 1 School Safety event organized by SWPD. Teamed up with local first responders including the CT State Police Dive Team, South Windsor Fire Department and South Windsor Police Department, ASM interacted with the children and provided them with a hands-on experience as they rotated through over 10 stations.

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires eight – 2019

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HARTFORD — On August 26th, 2019, eight EMTs were added to the Aetna 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.


ASM Partners with Colorado Ski Patrol!

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“I am J. Marshall Thomson and I live in Crested Butte Colorado. My medic journey Started more than 50 years ago when my mother was in a horrific ski accident. If it wasn’t for the on-hill and pre-hospital care of the Ski Patrol and local EMS service, my mother would not have survived.  Growing up an avid skier in VT and hearing of my mother’s story I always wanted to be a ski patroller helping others.  I became an EMT in 2008 and joined the Crested Butte Mountain Resort Ski Patrol and Avalanche Dog Rescue Team.  Over the years, I spent a lot of time traveling while competing in mountain running, ski mountaineering and was a member of the US National Ski Mountaineering team competing at the world championships.  Although racing and competing gave me unforgettable experiences and travels all over the world, I never felt the same sense of pride and accomplishment that I do from being a member of a ski patrol team and helping those in need.  My wife always says, I am happiest when I have the cross on my back.”

“I wanted to become a paramedic to better my knowledge and skills while providing an increased level of care to help my ski patrol, local Fire/EMS and community.  My background and experience are in Ski Patrol and Avalanche SAR, I had never worked on an ambulance for an EMS service.  The lack of traditional EMS experience was going to be one of my biggest challenges.  With Crested Butte having a population of around 3000 people, I wanted to find a service for my ride time that would have the greatest benefit for me to learn and move forward in my paramedic career.  Learning from a service with progressive protocols, high call volume, high level of critical care, longer transport times and highly experienced preceptors willing to teach was very important to me.  ASM seemed to be the perfect fit, after speaking with ASM I knew that it would be worth leaving my family and traveling 2000 miles for the best Paramedic field experience possible.”

“My experience at ASM was invaluable.  The entire team went above and beyond to make me feel welcome, I was a member of the team and not just a student. Every EMT I worked with was willing to take the time to teach me the basics of being on a truck and how the system works.  I was fortunate for the patience everyone had with me and willingness to assist in the entire process of learning.  My preceptors at ASM were amazing with an indispensable wealth of knowledge.  Everyone had their own passion for EMS and a desire to teach and willingness to spend extra time to discuss calls, treatments and differential diagnosis.  My lead preceptor took charge and control of my education making sure that I was learning and improving.  He would follow up with other preceptors making sure I was on the correct path, continuing to discuss my progress and performance.  I am forever grateful for the experience I had with ASM and I am looking forward to taking what I have learned back to the Mountains and communities of Colorado.”

Words That Describe Us:

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Ambulance Service of Manchester sends Patient and Customer Satisfaction Surveys to a random sampling of patients every month. The final part of the survey asks that the patient or family member use a word or phrase that describes the ambulance crew. Listed below are the words used to describe our amazing employees.

Customer Sati

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Wayne Buckley Completes Precepting Phase

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HARTFORD – As of July 15th, 2019, Wayne Buckley has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. Wayne started at Aetna in August of 2018. His preceptor was Paramedic Amanda Kneipfer. Wayne offered the following sentiment:

“My name is Wayne Buckley, I was originally hired part time as an EMT-B at Aetna Ambulance Service.  My roots began as an EMT with Rocky Hill Volunteer Ambulance Service where I spent a little over five years, as well as volunteering with Glastonbury’s Service. I Graduated from Hartford Hospitals Paramedic Program and recently finished my precepting phase of my education under the tutelage of Paramedic Amanda Kneipfer. I have known Amanda since before my time at Aetna and felt as a preceptor she was knowledgeable and enthusiastic when it came to pulling the best medicine out of her students. I am truly fortunate to have had Amanda as my preceptor and am looking forward to working with the wide variety of people at Aetna Ambulance as well as serving the Community.”

As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Wayne’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Wayne the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires eight – 2019

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HARTFORD — On July 15th, 2019, seven EMTs and one dispatcher were added to the Aetna 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.

Matt Kaczynski: PART TIME, EMT. Hello! My name is Matt Kaczynski and I completed my EMT training last summer in New Britain. I will graduate from the University of Rhode Island in December with degrees in Cell & Molecular Biology and Spanish, with the ultimate goal of a career as a physician or physician assistant. I am very excited to apply both my education as a student and training as an EMT, and I look forward to working as a part of a team while learning even more in the medical field!

Kendall Sutton: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello! I’m Kendall Sutton, I was formerly a criminology student at Central Connecticut State University. During my time at CCSU, I worked as a security guard. It was there I found my desire to transition into the healthcare field. I most recently have worked as a patient care tech in Hartford. My ultimate goal is to return to school & study to be a chiropractor. In the more immediate future, I’m looking to make the most of my experience in pre-hospital care & hopefully become an EMT-I. I’m thrilled & grateful to be continuing my healthcare journey with Aetna Ambulance.

Piper Skinner-: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello my name is Piper Skinner, I am a recent graduated of Wagner College in New York where I earned my BS in Chemistry with a concentration in Pre-Med. My future goal is to become a cardiac surgeon but before I go back to school, I want to see medicine from all sides which began with me volunteering in a hospital, working as a medical assistant at an urgent care and now being an EMT for Aetna. 


Kellie Butterfield: FULLTIME, EMT. Hello! My name is Kellie Butterfield, I am 24 years old. I graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Once I was out of school I was not sure what I wanted to do. A few of my friends were EMTs and I thought to myself, “Hey I could do that”. I signed up for class and the rest is history. I have been an EMT for about a year now down in Norwich. I know I am still new and have a lot to learn, but so far I love the job. All I wanted to do was help others and in this career that is exactly what I get to do. I look forward to working at Aetna and meeting everyone!

Sara Karr: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Sara Karr. I have just recently graduated with my Bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University. My future educational goal is to attend PA school and pursue a specialty in emergency medicine. In the past I have worked on the ambulance in Naugatuck and in the emergency department at Hartford Hospital. I am very excited to join the team here at Aetna!

Reyes Crispin: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Reyes Crispin. I look forward to starting my career with Aetna Ambulance and my goal is to work towards becoming a paramedic. I look forward to meeting my new work family and begin this new adventure to be able to continue improving my Pt contact skill while continue working as EMT and bring the best of me to the Pt.

Alden Jasper: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, I’m Alden Jasper. I attended Central Connecticut State University. I’m very excited to join the Aetna team. EMS workers do such an important job in the community. I look to getting some real life experience in the field before pursing paramedicine.  

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Cole Ashker Completes Precepting Phase

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HARTFORD – As of June 12th, 2019, Cole Ashker has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. Cole started at Aetna in June of 2016. His preceptor was Paramedic Michael Bouley. Cole offered the following sentiment:

“I’ve worked with Aetna Ambulance as an EMT since 2016, and I just recently graduated from the New Britain EMS Paramedic Program. I had the pleasure of precepting with Mike Bouley, someone I consider not only a phenomenal medic, but a friend. We’ve had a lot highs and lows for these past 8 weeks, and I’ve certainly made my fair share of mistakes in that time. That being said, I wouldn’t have wanted to learn from anyone else. I can confidently say my future successes as an ALS provider will largely be due to his guidance and wisdom. I look forward to working side by side with him and all of Aetna’s exceptional paramedics.”

As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Cole’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Cole the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Chris Johnston Completes Precepting Phase

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HARTFORD – As of June 10th, 2019, Chris Johnston has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. Chris started at Aetna in January of 2019. His preceptor was Paramedic Dan Hope. He offered the following sentiment:

“Chris began precepting in April 2019 and over a period of roughly 9 weeks, I am proud to see the incredible progress he has made leading up to earning his medical control. The precepting process for new paramedics is both challenging and tiresome but Chris kept a great attitude and willingness to learn throughout the entire process. I’m very proud of Chris and his accomplishment and I look forward to working alongside him throughout the weeks to come.”

As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Chris’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Chris the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires two – 2019

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From Left: Alexander Roof, Humza Hashmi

HARTFORD — On May 20th, 2019, two EMTs and were added to the Aetna 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.

Humza Hashmi: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello! I’m Humza Hashmi and I graduated from UConn this spring with a degree in Physiology. I’m especially excited to work at Aetna because I’ve been itching to live a real life and do real healthcare after spending the last few years in classes. My grand plan in life has me pursuing medicine or paramedicine in the vague future but I am perfectly happy staying away from school for a few years.

Alexander Roof: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Alex Roof. I have worked as an EMT-B for the last 2 years in Danbury and Southbury. I look forward to starting my career with Aetna Ambulance and my goal is to work towards becoming a paramedic. I look forward to meeting my new work family and beginning this new adventure!