Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Matthew Burrell Completes Precepting Phase

MANCHESTER – As of September 2nd, 2018, ASM’s Matthew Burrell has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves. His preceptors were Paramedic Supervisor Beth Sheils and Paramedic Dave White. Matthew was hired at the Ambulance Service of Manchester in December, 2017. He offered the following sentiment regarding his time at ASM:

“I began working at ASM last December after completing Paramedic school at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. I was immediately impressed by the professionalism and technical proficiency of my coworkers and have been proud to be part of a company where the EMT’s and Paramedics are held in such high regard throughout the EMS community. Over the past months of precepting, I benefitted greatly from the experience of both of my preceptors who have each worked in EMS for twenty years. I am honored to have been mentored by such capable Paramedics and look forward to utilizing the knowledge I have gained from them while providing ALS service to the communities that ASM covers.”

As with all precepting phases at ASM, Matthew’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 Matthew the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Ashley Linardo Completes Precepting Phase

Ashley LinardoMANCHESTER –  As of June 28, 2016, ASM’s Ashley Linardo has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves. Her preceptors were Paramedics Mike Levasseur and Dave White and Paramedic Supervisor Tim LaChappelle and Beth Sheils.

Ashley started at ASM in October of 2015 and graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic program.  She started off in the medical field five years ago as a Patient Care Technician and a volunteer firefighter.

As with all precepting phases at ASM, Ashley’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing her and her preceptors in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

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

Born Rolling Down I-84

Reunited two months after Kyra Deschene's birth on I-84, (l-r) Jamie and Andy Deschene, ASM paramedic supervisor Beth Sheils, holding Kyra, and ASM emergency medical technician Julie Bissell. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

Reunited two months after Kyra Deschene’s birth on I-84, (l-r) Jamie and Andy Deschene, ASM paramedic supervisor Beth Sheils, holding Kyra, and ASM emergency medical technician Julie Bissell. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

By Jesse Leavenworth

HARTFORD COURANT

MANCHESTER — Andy and Jamie Deschene had to make a quick decision on the night of Sept. 5.

Pregnant with her second child, but not due to deliver until Nov. 9, Jamie Deschene, 30, was having labor contractions when she called Andy at work and told him to hurry home. A doctor at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford told the couple that if they could make it to the hospital from their Bolton home in 20 minutes, they could drive. If not, the physician advised, call an ambulance.

Jamie’s water had not broken, and the Deschenes decided to drive. Her water broke on I-384 near the Spencer Street exit.

Soon after, the infant’s feet emerged, and the couple were faced with a potentially dangerous breach birth in their car. Andy pulled off on Exit 56 of I-84 and called 911. The off-ramp was soon bustling with state troopers, East Hartford firefighters and medics from Ambulance Service of Manchester.

Pregnant herself, ASM emergency medical technician Julie Bissell had answered four or five maternity calls within the past month. Each patient’s due date was closer than the one before, Bissell said. On the last call before the Deschenes’ emergency, the woman’s water broke on the ambulance stretcher.

Andy Deschene made his 911 call at 7:42 p.m. Within minutes, East Hartford firefighter/paramedic Tamarah Collins and firefighter Judith Geier joined Bissell and ASM paramedic supervisor Beth Sheils at the scene. They secured Jamie Deschene for transport and headed to Hartford. Read the rest of the story here…

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Dave Pozniak Completes Precepting Phase

Dave PozniakMANCHESTER –As of July 17, 2014, ASM’s David Pozniak has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves.

Dave’s preceptors were  Paramedic Supervisors Scott Thompson and Beth Sheils and Paramedic Dave White. 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 ASM, Dave’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing Dave and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Dave started at ASM as an EMT-Basic in 2010 and graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic Program. 

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

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Tim LaChappelle Completes Precepting Phase

Tim LaChapelle - Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.MANCHESTER – As of May 6, 2013, ASM’s Tim LaChappelle has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves.

Tim’s preceptors were Supervisor-Paramedics Beth Sheils and Scott Thompson. 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 ASM, Tim’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing Tim and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Tim started at ASM as an EMT-Basic in 2006 and graduated from Capital Community College’s Paramedic Program. Tim is currently the Assistant Chief of Coventry Volunteer Fire Association, Inc in his hometown. 

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

ASM’s Beth Sheils is Lead Instructor for Capital Community College Paramedic Program

ASM's Beth Sheils

ASM's Beth Sheils

HARTFORD – As of January 11, 2012 Ambulance Service of Manchester’s Beth Sheils became Capital Community College’s Paramedic Program lead instructor for the night program. In this role, Beth leads didactic instruction for the 18-month program, guiding 20 paramedic students through extensive education and training in the delivery of emergency medical care.

Beth is a Paramedic Supervisor for ASM. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College and a Masters in Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health, and is herself a graduate of the Capital Community College Paramedic Program. Continue reading

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: ASM’s Rory Leslie Completes Precepting Phase

ASM's Rory Leslie with East Hartford Daisy Scouts

ASM's Rory Leslie with East Hartford Daisy Scouts

MANCHESTER – As of May 23, 2012, ASM’s Rory Leslie has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves.

His preceptors were Paramedic Supervisors Vinnie Maston and Beth Sheils. 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 ASM, Rory’s final approval came from ECHN after shadowing Rory and his preceptor (by proxy) in the field as they responded to emergency calls. Continue reading

Beth Sheils and Rory Leslie Present to the Girls Scout Daisy Troop of East Hartford

ASM's Beth Sheils with the East Hartford Daisy Troop

ASM's Beth Sheils with the East Hartford Daisy Troop

EAST HARTFORD — On April 6, 2012, Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) Paramedic Supervisor Beth Sheils and Paramedic Rory Leslie presented the basics of Emergency Medical Services to the Girls Scout Daisy Troop of East Hartford.

The presentation took place at the East Hartford Cultural Center where the girls (and one boy!) saw the ins and outs of the ambulance and learned about first aid, when to use 911 and growing up to be a Paramedic. More pictures below. (All pictures appear with written parent permission).  Continue reading