Monthly Archives: August 2013

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 7

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MANCHESTER — The renovation of space once occupied by Marcus Communications continues…

  • Primer and in some cases paint has been applied to the main rooms.
  • In the hands-on, body mechanics training room, matte black paint has been applied to the exposed roof structure and part of the deck.
  • A corner soffit was framed to accommodate a drop down screen for an AV projection system.
  • Doors were hung in one of the new offices.
  • Metal framing has been added to the door cutouts in the main hallway.
  • The dry wall was cut through a removed where the main cross-hall will go, connecting the old and new spaces.

The next steps are to complete priming and painting, hang doors and install the lighting and drop ceiling.

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.

ASM’s Tim LaChappelle Promoted to Supervisor

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MANCHESTER — On August 28, 2013 ASM’s Tim LaChappelle was promoted to the position of Supervisor.

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 congratulate Tim on his promotion and look forward to great things from and for him. We are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 11

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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! Staff were highly professional and sensitive to an otherwise embarrassing situation. This was highly appreciated. (13-55969; M. Weller and M. Cafazzo)
  • Quick!!
  • Caring x 4.
  • Professional. Thank you! Joyce was great. Helped me feel safe and taken care of.
  • Competent.
  • Pleased.
  • Perfect.
  • Excellent. Very professional – kind and caring.
  • Awesome.
  • Great.
  • Good job!
  • Excellent x 7.
  • Extraordinary.
  • Very, very good.
  • Fantastic.
  • Adequate.
  • 10 Stars. The driver was great! The medic kept my spirits high. Excellent team!! Thank you so much!! (13-59441; R. Leslie and B. Langan)

NHTSA Releases Report on EMS in Connecticut

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resources_clip_image001_0000HARTFORD — On August 17, 2013 the Department of Public Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) released a report entitled “A Reassessment of Emergency Medical Services” that represents a review of recommendations made by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s Technical Assistance Team. The last such review was ten years ago.

The report includes of Regulation and Policy, Resource Management, Transportation, Evaluation among other general components of the EMS system in Connecticut. The full report is informative and provides an enlightening look at EMS in Connecticut from the perspective of expert outsides. The report can be found here:

Final CT EMS Reassessment July 30 2013

EMT Course at MCC Prepares Students for Certification

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Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.Mike Jordan-Reilly, Manchester Community College

7:10 p.m. EDT, August 15, 2013 (Originally posted in the Hartford Courant)

Manchester Community College‘s Continuing Education Division offers an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course that fully prepares students to take the certification exam.

The MCC Credit-Free course is offered in partnership with the Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) LLC, whose staff teaches the MCC course on site at the ambulance building located at 275 New State Road in Manchester.

“This course will prepare students to sit for the State of Connecticut and National Registry Board EMT Basic examination,” said Steve Conley, Director of Operations for Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC. “This test is a primary qualification for EMT certification.”

An EMT is a first responder in the event of accident or illness and must assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, extricate trapped individuals and transport sick or injured people to medical facilities.

ASM, a 2012 recipient of the Governor’s Award for Career EMS Services, provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to Manchester, East Hartford, Bolton and supplemental paramedic service and transport to the Town of Windsor. ASM also provides paramedic intercept services to Glastonbury, South Windsor,Stafford Springs and Somers and responds to Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support(ALS) 9-1-1 requests to many surrounding communities in Hartford, Tolland and Windham Counties.

Training Room 2The ASM staff will begin the Fall 2013 offering of the MCC course on Monday, September 9. It runs for 13 successive Mondays and 12 successive Wednesdays, through December 16, from 6 -9:30 p.m. It also includes 12 clinical sessions held on successive Saturdays, from Sept. 21 through Dec. 16, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The course fee is $750 (refer to CRN 31723).

Ann Bonney, MCC’s director of Credit-Free Programs added, “Taking this course through the MCC partnership with ASM means students have access to hands-on experts in the field for instruction and clinical work, and it provides students with the added benefit of official college transcript that serves as a record of their education.”

For more information, call the Credit Free Information line at 860-512-2800, or to register, contact the Registrar’s Office at 860-512-3232, or visit http://www.manchestercc.edu/continuing/creditfree.php.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 3

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Hartford Circus Fire - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

by Sam Porcello

Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

Aetna Ambulance employee and Hartford Circus Fire survivor Robert John Titus wrote to me that:

“My most poignant memory was that there was no fire engine responder on standby.  My second most poignant memory was that some people used jack knifes to make their own exits…I remember sitting and looking at the tent starting to burn and then coming down…people panicking, running and screaming, stepping over people to get out using the exits of which there were  only 3.  I remember Emmett Kelly the clown along with the Flying Wallendas helping people to get out.”

I started my research by attending a July 6, 2012 service at Hartford’s Circus Fire Memorial honoring the 68th anniversary of the fire.  There, I learned about the fire from memorial plaques and interviewed a survivor.  As I dug into newspaper articles, microfiche, secondary books, ordinances and the Circus Fire archive at the Connecticut State Library, I found many changes in local, state and National laws that were created as a result of the fire.  Something else also caught my eye – I noticed a single article from the Hartford Courant written about 20 years ago that discussed Aetna Ambulance’s history.

Check back for future volumes…

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

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Hartford Hospital's Mike Zacchera (L) and David Kemp (R)

Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera (L) and David Kemp (R)

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

David’s 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, David’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.

David currently lives in Collinsville, CT, where he volunteers for the town Fire and EMS department. He became an EMT in 2009 while studying physical therapy and holistic health at the Eastern Connecticut State University/University of Connecticut. He earned his paramedic license in the fall of 2012 through Capital Community College and hopes to eventually earn a bachelors degree in nursing.

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.

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

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HARTFORD — On August 8, 2013, six EMTs were added to the Aetna team. As part of our continued growth ASM and Aetna 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.

Jacob Brungard:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jacob Brungard I am 23 years-old and I’m from Waterford, CT. I started doing EMS with my volunteer fire department in Waterford in 2010, obtained my EMT in 2011 and have worked for Waterford Ambulance since then.  I enjoy spending my free time outdoor playing baseball, football, lacrosse, rugby, softball, frisbee and the occasional game of paintball. I spend as much of my free time as possible with my friends and family. I am a die hard Yankees fan and love going to the stadium to watch them play. In the near future I would like to either attend paramedic or pursue a degree in nursing  I have not decided as to which path to go down. I look forward to joining the Aetna team and to learn from and contribute to the company and it’s employees.

Shawn Patrick Finnigan:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Shawn Finnigan. I’m 21 years-old and live in Waterford, CT. I obtained my EMT certification five years ago. Since then I have been working with Waterford Ambulance Service and as a volunteer firefighter. In the future I plan to further my education and take a paramedic course. In my free time I like to spend time with my friends and family, and travel to new places. I look forward to expanding my knowledge and experience in the EMS career at Aetna.

Andrew Gomme:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Andrew Gomme and I am a 29 year-old West Hartford resident. I am excited to be starting an EMS career with Aetna Ambulance. I received my EMT training in South Windsor at CPR Training Professionals and I hope to eventually continue my education with a paramedic program in the area. In my downtime I enjoy boxing and hiking and I look forward to a future with Aetna Ambulance.

Raymond McDonald:   FULL TIME, EMT. I am 23 years-old and from Wolcott, CT. I was raised in a strong Irish bound family. I’m from a family of seven, with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. Ever since I was young I have had an interest in the medical field. I grew up in a family with Paramedics and a Firefighter. I was originally interested in firefighting as a potential career so I joined the Fire Explorers. I was also a lifeguard for a period of time. After some time I realized that firefighting was not right for me. I found my way into EMS where I have been an EMT full time since 2010. Some of that time I spent as a field training officer. I’m considering furthering my education by becoming either a paramedic or a respiratory therapist. I enjoy spending time with my family and close friends and bonding with my father while hiking and fishing. I enjoy art in the form of tattoos. I find ways to relax through drawing and playing video games. I’m always interested in further expanding my knowledge of the human body. When I was younger I started collecting comic books and I have been interested in the comics and the movies based off of them ever since. I look forward to working with Aetna Ambulance and furthering my EMS career.

Justine Monahan:  FULL TIME, EMT. I am 24 years old and was born and raised in the Eastern Connecticut area.  I graduated from the State University of New York, Canton in 2009 with and Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. Since graduation I have worked in the City of Hartford within an Early Childhood Learning setting as an assistant teacher. I have grown to enjoy the City of Hartford and their people.  I have always had a passion for assisting others in any way, shape and form. I believe that is what made me fall in love with the EMS field. I am a new EMT and anxiously await the opportunity to develop my technical skills along with continuing to  provide assistance to those in need. I love sports, in particular the game of  soccer. I have successfully played through the collegiate level accomplishing several national individual rankings. I also currently play ice hockey and have volunteered my time for eight years mentoring and developing the skills of young children in a learn to play hockey program at the Bolton Ice Palace. I derive great pleasure in traveling, exercising, raising my wonderful Chocolate Lab, hiking, fishing and maintaining great relationships with all my family and friends. I really look forward to beginning this next step in my life with Aetna Ambulance Service.

Adam Wagner:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Adam Wagner and I am 22 years-old. I currently live in the Bristol area and have lived in Connecticut my entire life. Many of my family members have careers in both healthcare and public safety. I have been involved in firefighting and EMS since I was in high school and received my EMT in November of 2010. Currently I volunteer as a Firefighter/EMT in Waterford, CT and have been there for a little over three years. Reading and spending free time with family and friends is very important to me. I am a New York Jets and Yankees fan and enjoy going to games when I can. I am excited to join Aetna Ambulance and to be an asset to the service and to better myself as an EMT by learning from others.

Meet the Newest Members of the ASM Team: ASM Hires Six

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MANCHESTER — On August 7, 2013, six EMTs were added to the ASM team. As part of our continued growth ASM and Aetna 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.

Jonathan Bush:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jonathan Bush I am 29 years old from Vernon, CT. I was born and raised near West Palm Beach, FL and moved to Connecticut when I was 16 years old with my family.  I just graduated from Capital Community College in Hartford with an A.A. in Fire Science and EMS which is where I received my EMT training.  I have also been a volunteer firefighter in the Town of Vernon for over ten years where I have gained experience with emergency response calls and made a lot of great friends. I am getting married soon and cannot wait to start our new life together.  In my free time I am an avid runner and love to hike, mountain bike, kayak, and in the winter snowboard. I like to relax by watch movies, going to lakes and beaches, and hang out with family and friends. I am excited to start my career with ASM and look forward to all the new experiences I will have and meeting the all of the ASM team members.

Sean Gregg:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Sean Gregg and I am 23. I am from Plainville CT, and I graduated from Plainville High School in 2008. I am currently residing in Avon, CT and am actively seeking to relocate to Manchester for a shorter commute. My home life consists of my fiancé and two dogs Foxy and Mini who are a Japanese breed called Shiba Inu. I have spent the last four years of my life as a Cardiac Monitor Tech at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. My hobbies consist of cars, and street bikes. I also like to stay up to date with the latest technology and I’m a Green Bay Packers fan. I have successfully completed an EMT-B course at Bristol Hospital in May of 2013. This is the first step of my career, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work for such a great company as ASM, and look forward to furthering my career and education with them. I dedicate my EMS career to my best friend who died last year in a motorcycle accident. As for my  EMS career with ASM I hope to gain much knowledge and experience so I can go back to school to be a Paramedic.

Jared Krajewski:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jared Krajewski. In 2010 I joined the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department to give back to my town. They offered me training as an EMR where my interest in the medical field sprouted. Less than one year after becoming an EMR I obtained my EMT-B. As I am just passing the two year mark as an EMT, I am preparing to pursue a career as a paramedic and will be starting classes shortly. I have spent the past year and a half working in the Intensive Care Unit in Manchester Memorial Hospital and this experience has enabled me to understand patient care in the EMS scene and hospital setting. In the past I was a brick mason/crew leader for my father’s landscaping company and created a portfolio of work that I am proud to show off. I try to be very active and involved person with every aspect of my life including my vast list of hobbies such as shooting, mountain biking, diesel trucks, RC cars, hiking, and fishing. My free time could not all be spent without my three year old German Shepherd Fathom. He will go almost anywhere I go that dogs are legally allowed. I’m looking forward to being part of ASM and furthering my EMS career.

Lauren Mazzoni:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Lauren Mazzoni. I am 20 years old and live in Manchester, CT. I’ve volunteered at the fire department for the past three years handling mostly EMS calls. I am a newly certified EMT and live at the fire department full time. As a night crew member I am able to get a lot of experience. I am very excited to start my career at ASM and gain even more experience. Aside from volunteering at the fire department, I am taking classes at Central Connecticut State University for my criminology degree, which I started with plans to become a police officer. During my free time I like going to races at Stafford Motor Speedway, watch NASCAR every Sunday, fish, hike, and play sports. Since I was five and all throughout high school I have played sports, and it’s always been something I enjoy doing. I am open to new and exciting things and while I am not sure what exactly how far I would like to go in my EMS, I am looking forward to gaining as much experience as possible at ASM.  

Evan Vaughn:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Evan Phillip Vaughn and I am 34 years old. I live in Coventry with my wife and daughter and have been an EMT for seven years. I was born in Florida and raised in Texas. I started with the El Paso Fire Department and worked there for three years. I then moved to Connecticut and worked for another commercial service in the state for about two years. Eventually I would like to become a paramedic. I spend most of my time with my little girl outside in the woods. I enjoy cooking, fishing, hunting and just being outside. I am very happy to be a new employee of ASM and I look forward to meeting and working with all of you. 

Andrew Wysocki:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Andrew Wysocki and I am 27 years old from Marlborough, CT. I graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a bachelors in business finance and a minor in psychology. It wasn’t long after college that I realized that being behind a desk wasn’t for me; I wanted to pursue something a little more hands-on. Spending a number in the years in the restaurant business I found that my people skills were my strength. A recent job working with the mentally disabled was  an eye-opening experience for me and a good introduction to the health field. I learned a lot about myself during this time and definitely was put to the test in many different situations. The experience convinced me that “a life living for others is a life worth living”, as well as a fulfilling one. Now as an EMT I intend on continuing my service to the community in a different way. I hope this is the first step in continuing my education in the emergency medical field.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 10

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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 x 2.
  • Very good.
  • Professional x 5.
  • Compassionate.
  • Very professional.
  • Excellent. D. Noyes and K. Chadbourne were wonderful, professional and caring. I felt comfortable and relieved in their care!
  • Excellent. The paramedic who took care of me could not have been nicer. Made me feel calm in a scary situation. The driver did a great job of getting me to the hospital. Thank you. I am very grateful (13-59620; M. Weller and J. Rodriguez)
  • Was grateful for great help!
  • Great! Thank you! The EMTs were wonderful about keeping me calm in a terrifying situation and making sure my children were cared for. They diagnosed me accurately and successfully treated the problem promptly. My heroes. (13-62182; A. Fine and C. Haag).
  • Comforting.
  • Very professional. Thank you for being prompt and having patience when listening to me talk. Wonderful job!!! (13-55125; M. Karr)

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 6

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MANCHESTER — The renovation of space once occupied by Marcus Communications continues.

  • Basic framing was completed and most of the dry wall is in place and has been joined with compound and sanded within the new space.
  • The fire sprinkler system has been extended to pass the level of the drop ceiling.
  • HAVC systems have been upgraded and re-routed.
  • The basic shape of the rooms is evident.
  • Doorways have been framed in the main hallway.

The next steps are to complete the drywalling process and begin installing the drop ceiling. Visible in the pictures is the shape of the new office space, hallways, training rooms, billing office area, restrooms and medical staging areas.

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.