HARTFORD — On August 8, 2012 Aetna sent EMTs Jordan Smith and Jason Basora to represent the company at The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford’s National Night Out. According to information provided by the Asylum Hill club:
…this night allows community members, families, neighbors, young people, and Police to come together, celebrate, and promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer neighborhood and safer nation. Continue reading
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — On August 7, 2012, members of Aetna and ASM’s Operations team and the Fleet Service Manager attended a training and demonstration session of the Adaptive Electronic Stability Program. ESP is standard on the Sprinter Ambulances that Aetna Ambulance and ASM operate. The training was held regionally at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Operating Mercedes Benz Sprinter Ambulances equipped with Adaptive ESP is part of Aetna and ASM’s long-term commitment to the safety of our patients and EMS crews. Aetna and ASM are in the process of transitioning to all Sprinters for the regular fleet and currently operate 33 Sprinter Ambulances.
MANCHESTER and HARTFORD — Aetna 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 last question of the survey asks the respondent, “Please use one word to describe us.” The respondents also use the line to express how they felt about the service as well. Here are the responses we have received, in order, in the two months this question has been asked:
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.
Marge Letitia, formerly Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s EMS Trauma Coordinator, interviewed by NBC Connecticut at the 2012 London Olympic Games:
View more videos at: http://nbcconnecticut.com.
ASM’s Vinnie Maston
At the age of 28-years-old this is my tenth year in the pre-hospital emergency medical system. I got my start at Thomaston Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) at the age of 18. Five months after joining TVAC I completed an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course and proudly acquired my EMT certification. Over the next two years as a member of TVAC I gained my EMT-Intermediate level through more education and became an advisor of TVAC’s Explorer post.
In August, 2003 I was employed by an EMS Management and Staffing Service. My role included staffing Volunteer Ambulance companies throughout the state of Connecticut. By staffing twelve different volunteer ambulance associations and receiving medical control through seven hospitals my knowledge and adaptability was expanded upon. Continue reading
Aetna’s Leslie Prado
WEST HARTFORD — On June 20, 2012, in a ceremony held at The Pond House Cafe in West Hartford, Aetna’s Leslie Prado graduated from the Connecticut Health Foundation’s 2012 Health Leadership Fellows program.
According to their website, “CT Health established the Health Leadership Fellows Program to create leaders and change agents through who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to recognize and seize opportunities to act for health equity. Every year we select up to 20 applicants who work in fields of influence such as public policy, health practice, health care administration, and other related fields.” Continue reading
ASM and Aetna were early adopters of Intraosseous (IO) infusers
A recent Wall Street Journal article described cutting edge equipment, techniques and skills in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) that are changing patient outcomes, revolutionizing care and sharpening the leading edge of the EMS industry.
Read the Wall Street Journal article here…
So how do Aetna and ASM match up against The Ultimate Lifesaver?
Volume 4: Intraosseous Infusers
Resembling a light-weight hobbyist drill, Continue reading
Below is a comprehensive list of forms needed to complete a basic life support, routine inter-facility ambulance transfer in the State of Connecticut. More medical information and demographics are necessary but in regards to forms, this it…
HARTFORD and MANCHESTER — By the end of July 2012 Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) will put into service a cutting edge, life-saving medical device known as a video laryngoscope made by a company called King Vision.
The use of the King Vision Video Laryngoscopes 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.
ASM in Willimantic’s Boom Box Parade
WINDHAM — One of ASM’s newest Mercedes Sprinter Ambulances participated in Willimantic’s 27th annual Boombox Parade on July 4, 2012. ASM has participated for several years, care of EMT Stephanie Boutot. As she was in the very first Boom Box parade, Stephanie has been insistent that ASM participate each year.
Windsor EMS and ASM Celebrate 1 Year
WINDSOR — On July 1, 2012 the Ambulance Service of Manchester and Windsor Volunteer Ambulance (WVA) will celebrate the first anniversary of a successful partnership.
In 2011 WVA selected ASM to be the supplemental emergency provider for the Town of Windsor. This arrangement has meant that ASM provides ambulance and paramedic coverage to the town when Windsor EMS’ resources have been exhausted by 911 calls. It also gives WEMS the ability to call on ASM for supplemental resources as they see fit.
Access to shared radio frequencies and a contractual billing arrangement has made most situations seamless to Windsor residents, leaving the only obvious sign of ASM’s presence being the checkered Sprinter ambulances occasionally in town.
“Since partnering with ASM last July it has been a pleasure for us to work with such a professional organization.”
-Dennis C. Guay, Chief Executive Officer Continue reading
(L to R): Mark Hannegan, Global Exchange/Turkish Firefighter Fatih Belgin, Graham MacDonald, AHEC’s Samia Hussein
HARTFORD — On June 26, 2012, Fatih Belgin from Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality – Istanbul Fire Department in Turkey was at Aetna Ambulance to shadow an ambulance crew, tour facilities and observe 911 calls.
Along with his hosts from the Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Inc., he met with EMTs, Paramedics, and Directors Graham MacDonald and Mark Hannegan. They explained the US EMS system and how fire, police and ambulance services work together. Continue reading
Aetna and ASM at Rock Cats Stadium – Photo Courtesy of WFSB
NEW BRITAIN — On June 29, 2012 multiple ambulances from Aetna and ASM were requested to Rock Cats Stadium in New Britain for a report of multiple patients suffering from heat exhaustion.
The stadium was the venue for a graduation exercise at the time and due to 95 degree temperatures, many in attendance were displaying signs of heat related illnesses. Aetna and ASM had up to six ambulances and two paramedic units to assist New Britain EMS.
Why did I get two bills, one from the ambulance service and one from the paramedic service?
Many patients and families express confusion over the concept of a ‘Paramedic Intercept’ and wonder why many health insurance companies, including Medicare, will not pay for such a service.
A Paramedic Intercept is a service provided during a medical emergency, most often in a rural area, where the ambulance operated by the patient’s town is staffed with EMTs. EMTs provide what is called Basic Life Support (BLS) while paramedics provide what is called Advanced Life Support (ALS).
ASM’s Casey Chubka with a possible future Paramedic
MANCHESTER — On June 10, 2012 the Ambulance Service of Manchester sent a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance to the Touch a Truck event at the Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester.
The display encouraged the kids in attendance to climb aboard, see and touch the EMS equipment and sit on the stretcher. ASM’s distinctive checkered pattern and bright colors brought a lot of attention and allowed us to compete with the Big Boys (like MFRE Engine 4).
ASM’s Casey Chubka and Nick Chasse provided ambulance tours and the entertainment for those in attendance, giving out coloring books and posing for pictures. Casey’s picture and details about the event showed up on a parenting blog about the event.
Click ‘continue reading’ to see more photos.
