Monthly Archives: October 2013

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 6

Posted on by
1

Aetna Paramedic receives Kudos from the Cath LabFARMINGTON — On October 21, 2013 a Paramedic Unit from Aetna Ambulance (David Noyes and Kelly Shapiro) responded to a sixty-two year old patient with a significant cardiac history, who had been having chest pain for an hour. They did a 12-lead ECG, which revealed a massive inferior infarction. They called in a STEMI Alert to the John Dempsey Hospital ED. Based on their radio patch, Dr. Sasha Gorenbeyn immediately activated the cath lab (16 minutes before patient arrival).

The patient received a heparin bolus in the ED, and then went right up to the cath lab on the EMS stretcher. The patient was found to have a 100% occluded SVG (saphenous vein graft) to the PDA (posterior descending branch). He underwent a successful thrombectomy and stenting restoring perfusion.

He is doing very well thanks to the great job by the combined EMS/Hospital STEMI Team. Kudos also to the staffs of the ICU and cardiac step down for their outstanding re-covery care. 41 Minute Door-to-Balloon time! The patient was discharged home yesterday doing very well. “Thanks again, and extend our compliments to your crew for a job well done.”

*Individually identifiable protected health information has been removed in accordance with Aetna’s HIPAA-related Privacy Policies. 

ASM at Downtown Manchester’s ‘Halloween Happenings’

Posted on by
Reply

Halloween Happenings - Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC.MANCHESTER — On October 26, 2013 Ambulance Service of Manchester Paramedic Rory Leslie and EMT Matt Tuttle set up an “Amb-boo-lance” near Pinewood Furniture as part of Downtown Manchester’s Halloween Happenings.

Matt and Rory gave out treats to the trick-or-treaters making their way to each store and business taking part in the event on Main Street.

It was estimated that around 1000 children took part.

Praise for EMS Service during and around the ING Marathon

Posted on by
Reply

ph_ING_HM_Course_Info_Half_MarathonThe following combines two letters sent to Aetna and ASM under separate cover.

I wanted to thank you and Aetna Ambulance/Ambulance Service of Manchester for the assistance and hard work put in for the ING Hartford Marathon, which was held on October 12, 2013.

As you know, Mike Bova, Matt Martinelli and Chris Bates were instrumental in the planning for, and the operations on, marathon day. The success of the medical plan was, in a large part, because of Aetna/ASM’s involvement from the beginning.

Beth Shluger, the Executive Director of the Hartford Marathon Foundation stated that this was the best prepared race she has ever had. Aetna/ASM deserves a share of that compliment. Since the bombing of the Boston Marathon this Spring, we were intent that we would not be caught unprepared should a similar event happen here. Aetna/ASM’s commitment of resources and staff was greatly appreciated.

Please pass along my thanks to all of the crew members who stood by and responded in East Hartford, South Windsor, and elsewhere along the course and in the command post. They worked hard and were a credit to Aetna/ASM.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with Aetna/ASM on future projects.

Thanks again,

Michael Zacchera, NREMT-P

EMS Educator

Department of EMS Education

Hartford Hospital

ASM Responds: Crash involving school bus reported in East Hartford

Posted on by
Reply
Photo courtesy of WSFSB

Photo courtesy of WFSB

By Steven Yablonski, Managing Editor – WFSB

 EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) –

(Read the original WFSB article here) A crash involving a school bus was reported in East Hartford on Wednesday morning.

Few details about the crash have been reported, but officials said the crash was reported along Forbes Street before 8:30 a.m.

Officials with the Ambulance Service of Manchester said it sent four ambulances to the scene, and brought eight people to local hospitals.

ASM officials said six were brought to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, one was brought to St. Francis Hospital and another to Manchester Memorial Hospital.

All injuries were described as “minor”. No other information was released by officials.

Comfort, Safety, Space Features Added to Bariatric Ambulance Stretchers

Posted on by
Reply

1363718992_IMG_8412MANCHESTER and HARTFORD — The specialty bariatric stretchers operated by Aetna and ASM have now been equipped with Stryker’s Expandable Patient Surface (or XPS) system.

The XPS System consists of a new wider mattress and new side rails that fold out instead of down. The side rails are not intended to support the patient primary body weight. Instead they are intended to enhance patient comfort.

XPS_LargeAccording to the Stryker website, “XPS is adjustable with seven locking positions and includes a wider mattress that reduces transfer gap and designed with patient comfort in mind. This solution helps address growing obesity trends and supports a variety of patients and environments.”

Words That Describe Us: Volume 14

Posted on by
Reply

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:

  • Professional x 8.
  • Good x 4.
  • Excellent x 3.
  • Considerate x 2.
  • Compassionate x 3.
  • Efficient x 2.
  • They were helpful to me as the wife. Asked if there was someone coming to help me. (13-72584: M. Tuttle, R. Leslie, J. Bush)
  • My team was wonderful in listening to my needs in helping them do their job as effectively as possible. I would like to thank each one for their service. (13-76135: C. Chasse, A. Wysocki).
  • Kind, efficient and knowledgeable.
  • Outstanding.
  • Wonderful.
  • Caring and professional.
  • Medic was very professional.
  • Excellent, kind, came to check on me with another call.
  • Wonderful! Thank you so much.
  • I had passed out and was not fully cognizant of some of the questions that I did not answer definitively – Overall experience was satisfactory.
  • Professional. Humane.
  • Great service.
  • Very efficient. Caring with everything.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 5

Posted on by
Reply

by Sam Porcello

Hartford Circus Fire - Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

Mrs. Grady was really helpful and supportive, and provided me with photos and additional information about her family. She also referred me to Robert John Titus.  I was fascinated to learn how the Grady brothers, who received some basic medical training in the Navy, were inspired to begin a full time ambulance company following the Hartford Circus Fire.  They saw a need for the service, and became only the second private ambulance company to serve Hartford.

More importantly, Aetna Ambulance was the first private ambulance company in Hartford to provide formal medical training to its employees.  The Gradys didn’t stop there, reaching out beyond Hartford to help train other ambulance services.  Mrs. Evans wrote to me that:

“My Aunt Jean was a member of the Red Cross and was a medical instructor. She helped state wide ambulance employees including Ambulance Service of Manchester, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill Volunteer Ambulance Service members retain their licenses…as Emergency Medical Technicians.”

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

Posted on by
Reply

MANCHESTER — On October 14, 2013, four 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.

Kyle Baker:    Full time, EMT. Hello my name Is Kyle Baker. I am 22 years old and live in Hebron, CT. I graduated in May of 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. The second semester of my freshman year of college I took an EMT-Basic class and almost instantly I fell in love.  I began working Saint Anselm College EMS, a student run volunteer EMS unit that serves the campus community, shortly after finishing my class. I also began volunteering with Andover Fire Department in Andover, Connecticut. I worked with Saint Anselm EMS until graduation and I continue to actively volunteer with Andover Fire Department.  EMS has been my passion for the last four years and I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to turn it into a career.  In my spare I enjoy listening to music, golfing and enjoying the outdoors. I am incredibly excited to begin my new adventure with the Ambulance Service of Manchester and I look forward to the new experiences I will have and the new people I will meet.

Evan Burgess:    Full Time, EMT. My name is Evan Burgess and I am 21 years old. I was born and raised in Manchester, CT and graduated Manchester High School in 2010. I attended the University of Connecticut for two years and then transferred to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA to study Biblical Studies. Currently I am finishing my senior year of college online via Liberty University. I came home this year to finish school and get an EMT job. This summer I completed my EMT-B certification class at Hartford Hospital. I am very much involved in my church’s activities at Trinity Covenant Church and I enjoy ministering to people there. I love to play the guitar and I am a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. My brother Colin worked for ASM for a couple years before he headed off to medical school, and he inspired me to become an EMT. I hope to gain experience working with patients and helping them and their families during tough situations. I hope to become a missionary someday, and the experience I gain and learn from this career will aid me in my future endeavors. I am very excited to begin working and learning how to care for people in need.

Polina Yakushchenko:   Full Time, EMT. My name is Polina Yakushchenko and I am 23 years old. I was born in the Ukraine and moved to the United States in 2000. I now live in Vernon, CT. I recently graduated with a Bachelor in Health Science from Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania.  I have had some patient care experience in college working at the student health center along with the local hospitals. One day I hope to go to grad school and continue my education in the medical field. I love to travel and experience new places and cultures. I am very happy to begin working for ASM and I look forward to serving the community.

EMS Structured for Quality: Volume 1

Posted on by
Reply

specialevents4Essential Performance Results

In 2008, the American Ambulance Association issued a best practices white-paper entitled EMS Structured for Quality. The paper was intended as a guide for “those who want to achieve the balance between quality and cost factors, while earning the satisfaction of patients, taxpayers, elected officials, ambulance service managers, employees, and other customers.”

The white paper identified four Essential Performance Results for high performance emergency ambulance services:

  1. Clinical Excellence.
  2. Response-time Reliability
  3. Economic Efficiency.
  4. Customer Satisfaction.

The next four volumes will describe how Aetna and ASM match up to and use these results to succeed and thrive.

Gizmo the Therapy Dog Talks Up ASM at Crestfield Health Fair

Posted on by
Reply

Gizmo Therapy DogMANCHESTER — From the Facebook account of Gizmo, the Therapy Dog:

“Hi Frens! After a great day at his excellent high school, Gizmo was so excited to his ASM ambulance frens at the Crestfield Rehabilitation Center Health Fair today. Gizmo has gladly ridden on these beds with patients before, to help calm them before they go into the ambulance.  We would like to thank the ASM Ambulance staff, all rescue workers, for the wonderful, selfless work you do comforting those in need and saving lives. Cuz we’re frens!”

ASM to Appear in Manchester Fire Department Parade Sunday

Posted on by
Reply
By JESSE LEAVENWORTH
The Hartford Courant 6:00 p.m. EDT, October 8, 2013
hc-manchester-parade-1010-20131008-001

Credit – Hartford Courant

MANCHESTER — In a show of pride and a celebration of history, the Eighth Utilities District Manchester Fire Department will hold a parade Sunday.

The 125th anniversary parade is scheduled to step off at 1 p.m. with lights flashing, sirens wailing, bagpipes and drums sounding and firefighters from throughout the region marching in full dress uniform.

Among the 40 contingents slated to march, most represent fire departments, parade Chairman and Eight District firefighter Ryan Bilodeau said. Marchers will include first responders from the Manchester Police Department and Ambulance Service of Manchester, along with the Manchester Regional Police & Fire Pipe Band and the Patriot Guard Riders.

Read the whole article here…

ASM to Appear at Crestfield Rehabilitation Center’s Wellness Fair

Posted on by
Reply

CrestfieldMANCHESTER — On Thursday, October 10, 2013 a crew from the Ambulance Service of Manchester will appear at Crestfield Rehabilitation Center and Fenwood Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Manchester. The rehab center is holding its annual Wellness Fair and Apple Festival from 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

Free Flu Shots, oral care, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings will be done on-site as well as muscle and nerve screens, balance testing, chair massage and more. ASM’s crew will give ambulance tours and describe our services.

Crestfield is at 565 Vernon Street in Manchester. Contact Kelly at (860) 643-5151 with questions.

High Praise for ASM’s Stacy DeBarge and Jonathan Bush

Posted on by
1
Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC. - Stacy DeBarge

ASM’s Stacy DeBarge

“My mom had her first ride with your company yesterday on 10/1/13 from Hospital for Special Care by Stacy and Jon and I must commend them for being so professional. My mom has been through a lot and is a very anxious person and they took that into consideration and they explained everything they were doing to her which eased her anxiety tremendously. I explained to them that she had lots going on in her abdomen area so they were especially gentle with her.

“They were polite, courteous, friendly and patient for the entire duration of

Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC. - Jonathan Bush

ASM’s Jonathan Bush

our time with them. Jon even held a conversation with my mom on the ride to the Doctor’s office. They respected her dignity and kept her covered. They looked very professional in there attire, I was tremendously impressed and would look forward to a ride with either of them if ever needed in the future. I would like to add that they were punctual and got us to our appointment on time and they were patient waiting while the doctor’s office had detained us longer than anticipated.”

-Patient’s Daughter (#13-86061)

Larry Magoon’s Retirement Party

Posted on by
Reply

Larry Magoon 2Friday, October 11, 2013

5:30 P.M.

Maneeley’s Banquet Hall

65 Rye Street

South Windsor, CT 06074

Tickets $35/person (buffet meal and cash bar)

For tickets and to RSVP, contact Mike Makulis at (860) 250-9012 or email at mmakulis@cox.net. If you intend to buy your tickets at the door, please RSVP to Mike so that he can have an accurate head count.