Category Archives: Company Philosophy and Thought Leadership

Hartford Business Journal: CT’s ambulance services fragmented, consolidated

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Ambulance Service of Manchester Hartford Business JournalGREG BORDONARO

In Connecticut’s world of emergency medical services, fragmentation is the name of the game.

It may not surprise many people in the Land of Steady Habits, where cities and towns often operate as their own fiefdoms, but nearly every municipality in the state has its own way of providing emergency medical transport services.

When the half-million or so 911 calls are placed each year by Connecticut residents, just who shows up to provide life-saving support depends on location….

Wayne Wright, who is the president and CEO of Hartford’s Aetna Ambulance Service Inc. and Ambulance Service of Manchester, said all ambulance providers are facing financial challenges as a result of declining Medicare reimbursement rates, which are down about 8.6 percent from a few years ago.

Combined, the two companies have a fleet of 48 ambulances and 228 employees, who respond to about 70,000 calls a year. They provide transport services to many Greater Hartford cities and towns including Hartford.

Read the whole article at Hartford Business Journal…

State Police to hold Tactical Medicine Overview at ASM

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CSPMANCHESTER — A free Continuing Medical Education course will be held Tuesday, July 23rd at the Ambulance Service of Manchester, 275 New State Road from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Trooper First Class Bob Maynard of the Connecticut State Police will present a Tactical Medicine Overview as well as the Emergency Services Unit of the CSP’s medical capabilities. TFC Maynard will also review critical factors in scene awareness.

All levels of EMS provider are welcome as are fire fighters and law enforcement. For more information or to register, contact Melissa Osborne at mosborne@asm-aetna.com. CME hours will be available depending on sponsor hospital.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 9

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Aetna Ambulance Service - 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 x III.
  • Respectful, professional.
  • Very good.
  • Excellent service.
  • Thankful.
  • Comforting.
  • Friendly.
  • Dependable.
  • Wonderful.
  • Competent.
  • Excellent!!
  • Wonderful!! Thank you for helping me get to the hospital when I needed your specialized help.
  • Reassuring.
  • Professional x IIII.
  • Good.
  • Outstanding.
  • Excellent! I very much appreciated the calm, gentle, quick manner of the medics. Wonderful folks. Thank you for your kind service.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 2

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Hartford Circus Fire 1944

by Sam Porcello

Read Volume 1 here…

In Hartford, there was just one private ambulance company at the time, Maple Hill, provided through the Talarski Funeral Home.  (Many funeral homes including Ahern on Farmington Avenue provided ambulance services in the early 1900s, since hearses were large enough for people to lay down in). Penicillin was newly available, and approximately 85% of the world’s supply was being used in the war to treat infections, including pilots’ burns.

There were several factors that contributed to the Hartford Circus Fire.  Small circus fires were actually pretty common in 1944, because more than 41% of Americans smoked.  Safety codes at the time applied mostly to buildings.  Since tents were “just” temporary structures, they did not generate a lot of attention.  Requirements for detailed safety inspections, exit widths and having fire equipment onsite did not exist for outdoor events.  With resources depleted from the war, manpower was scarce, so there were fewer Ringling employees watching inside the tent for fires.

The tent itself was waterproofed with a highly flammable mixture of paraffin and 6,000 gallons of gasoline, which accelerated the spread of the fire.  From the time the fire started until the tent was completely burned away, a total of 10 minutes elapsed.   A total of 168 people died, and another 484 were injured….(more to come, check back for future volumes).

Praise for ASM’s Kenya Russell and Stephanie Boutot

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ASM's Stephanie Boutot

ASM’s Stephanie Boutot

MANCHESTER – In June 2013, ASM received a Patient Satisfaction Survey related to an emergency response performed by ASM crewmembers Kenya Russell and Stephanie Boutot. The patient completed the survey and checked all of the Strongly Agree boxes and wrote in the word “Awesome”  to describe the service.

Additionally he hand wrote the following:

ASM's Kenya Russell

ASM’s Kenya Russell

“Kenya and Stephanie were caring and professional and friendly and awesome. Stephanie was a great driver who got us through rush hour traffic quickly and safely. Kenya was a wonderfully caring person who put me at ease while taking care of me. I cannot say enough good things about these ladies! I would like to thank them personally!”

– [Patient, 13-37006]

Praise for Aetna’s Sean Piscopiello and Nicholas Foran

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Aetna Ambulance - Sean Piscopiello and Nicholas Foran

(L to R): Sean Piscopiello and Nicholas Foran.

WETHERSFIELD — In June 2013, Aetna received a Patient Satisfaction Survey related to an emergency response performed by Aetna Paramedics Sean Piscopiello and Nick Foran. The patient’s daughter completed the survey and checked all of the Strongly Agree boxes and wrote in the words “Respectful” and “Professional” to describe the service. Additionally she hand wrote the following:

“My mother lives with me. She woke up extremely short of breath. I am a nurse and check her lungs and vital signs frequently and did so right before calling 911. Ambulance personnel listened to what I had to say and made me feel like I was a part of the team! Thank you.”

– [Patient’s Daughter, 13-36724]

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 5

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MANCHESTER — The renovation of space once occupied by Marcus Communications continues. The basic framing of the new space is mostly complete. Electrical and plumbing is being run and the existing structural walls are being prepped for adaptation to the plan and space.

The next steps are to complete electrical and plumbing and start to hang walls. Visible in the pictures is new office space for the billing office, an additional server room, changes to what will be the main corridor including a bump out leading to restrooms with space where a water fountain may be mounted.

When completed, the renovated space will include additional training and simulation areas, a relocated locker area, new offices, a medical supply staging area, and two new restrooms although the plans remain fluid.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Mitch Karr Completes Precepting Phase

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Mitch Karr - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

(L to R): Hartford Hospital’s MIke Zacchera and Mitchell Karr

HARTFORD – As of June 26, 2013, Aetna’s Mitchell Karr 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, Mitch’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera after shadowing he and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Mitch is originally from California but migrated east with family. He began his career in EMS by volunteering for a fire department in his home town. Realizing he was more interested in the patient care aspect of firefighting, he enrolled in Goodwin College’s Paramedic Program where he graduated in December of 2012. Mitch has said he hopes to make it back to the west coast someday and further his career in healthcare by becoming a mid-level or an MD.

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

Emergency ID Card Available on ASM-Aetna Website

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File of LifeMANCHESTER and HARTFORD — On every 911 call, EMS providers have a specific set of information they must obtain in order to appropriately treat the patient and transfer care to the receiving facility. Having this information handy not only saves time, it could have a significant impact on emergency care.

In order to best serve our patients we have added an Emergency ID Card system, sometimes called a File of Life, to our website. It can be found by going to www.asm-aetna.com and clicking on Emergency ID.

This webpage allows any user to fill in a series of text boxes and provide for the fire department, police and/or EMS professionals all of the critical information that is needed for  their care.

Use this form in advance of an emergency, keep it up-to-date and post it in a conspicuous place such as on the refrigerator.

Early Praise for ASM’s Jason Bak on a Paramedic Intercept

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ASM's Jason BakMANCHESTER — In May 2013, ASM received a Patient Satisfaction Survey related to a paramedic intercept performed by ASM Paramedic Jason Bak, while completing his precepting phase. The patient checked all of the Strongly Agree boxes and wrote in the word “Wonderful” to describe the service. Additionally he hand wrote the following:

“Jason, the [Paramedic] who came onto the ambulance was amazing. He made me feel very comfortable, that is, I felt safe and in the good hands of someone qualified. He was very reassuring and should be recognized as a very valuable person on your staff.”

– [13-32929]

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s David Noyes Completes Precepting Phase

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(L to R): Hartford Hospital's Mike Zacchera and David Noyes

(L to R): Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera and David Noyes

HARTFORD – As of June 19, 2013, Aetna’s David (DJ) Noyes has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

David’s preceptor was Preston Ryzak. 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, DJ’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera after shadowing he and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

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

Words That Describe Us: Volume 8

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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:

  • Excellent personnel.
  • Excellent.
  • Professional x 4.
  • Very professional.
  • The best.
  • Good.
  • Great.
  • Efficient x 2.
  • Caring.
  • Excellent. I called approximately 10 times in the past year. I believe the ambulance staff has saved my life each time. Now they know where my extra key is and they use it when I cannot get to the door. Thank you all!
  • Terrific.
  • Keep doing everything you are doing as your company seems to have the key to running a successful business down pat. Great job. (13-29357).
  • Thoughtful.
  • Reliable.
  • Fantastic.

Colorado Article on Mercedes Sprinter Ambulances References ASM

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Insider_072512_ChipBailey_350FORT COLLINS, CO. — The Ambulance Service of Manchester was referenced in an industry article about the University of Colorado Health System’s decision to purchase Mercedes Sprinter ambulances for their fleet. The excerpt appears below and read the original article here…

“…It didn’t take long to learn that the Mercedes model was making major inroads into the American ambulance industry. Numerous U.S. ambulance services had begun using the model, including Acadian Ambulance, the nation’s largest privately held medical transportation company, and the Ambulance Service of Manchester, which serves the Hartford and Manchester region in Connecticut. The service has 48 ambulances, 33 of which are Mercedes built by American Emergency Vehicle, the manufacturer of the UCHealth ambulance.

“We couldn’t be happier with our Mercedes ambulances,” reports Wayne Wright, president and CEO of Ambulance Service of Manchester. “We’re happy in every respect. They handle well. Patients and our employees like them.”

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 1

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Hartford Circus Fire - Aetna Ambulance Serviceby Sam Porcello

For the past three years, I have participated in National History Day, a nationwide historical research competition for middle and high school students.  The theme for 2013 is “Turning Points in History: People, Places and Ideas.”   I chose the Hartford Circus Fire as my topic because I have always been intrigued how every July 6th, amid the cheerful Fourth of July stories, my local news always includes a report about the 1944 fire.  I wanted to find out why a 10 minute event continues to be discussed 68 years later, and what changes it brought about.

The tragic fire occurred on July 6, 1944 on Barbour Street in Hartford during an afternoon performance of the Ringling Brothers circus.  It was one month after D-Day. Connecticut, a major defense manufacturer with its Pratt aircraft, Colt firearms and Waterbury brass foundries, had a thorough emergency plan in place in case of enemy attack.  This plan included using delivery vans from local businesses such as Aetna Florist, Colt, and Brown Thompson as ambulances to transport the injured…check back for future volumes.

ASM Accepting Applications for Third Shift Dispatch

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Dispatcher Position - Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.

JOB DESCRIPTION

BUSY AMBULANCE COMPANY SEEKS FULL TIME INDIVIDUAL TO FILL THIRD SHIFT POSITION IN FAST PACED DISPATCH CENTER.

Candidates must possess a strong ability to organize and accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously.  Must demonstrate efficient performance during intense and stressful situations.

Preference will be give to candidate with prior experience as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) experience a plus.

Responsibilities include extensive interaction with local police departments, public safety answering points for 911 calls, EMS crew members, hospitals and medical facilities, patients and insurance companies.

Benefits include medical, dental and life insurance, short term disability, 401(k) with employer contribution, vacation, sick and personal time.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Please send resume and salary requirements to ASM, Director of Operations, PO Box 300, Manchester, CT06045. Alternately, a downloadable application is available at http://www.ambulanceservicemanchester.com/careers.php. Application or resume acceptable.

Equal Opportunity Employer.