Monthly Archives: March 2014

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

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HARTFORD — On March 27, 2014, one EMT, one AEMT and one Paramedic were added to the Aetna team. As part of our continued growth Aetna and ASM 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.

Jason Chasse:   FULL TIME, AEMT. My name is Jason Chasse. I am 22 years old and am from Burlington, CT. I have been an EMT since 2009 and an AEMT since 2011. I began my career in EMS as a volunteer for the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department in 2008. Before my employment at Aetna Ambulance I worked as a per-diem AEMT at ambulance services in Waterbury and Bristol. I graduated in the fall of 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven and plan on perusing a career as a police officer. In my free time I enjoy spending my time outdoors with my friends and my German Shepherd named Indie. I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and shooting and am also an avid Jets fan.  I am very excited for the opportunity to join the Aetna Ambulance team. 

Adam Ordway: FULL TIME, Paramedic. My name is Adam Ordway, recently I graduated from paramedic school through Goodwin college. I am from Middletown and very excited to take the next step in my EMS career. I’m very happy to be working for Aetna Ambulance. Hopefully I can to live up to the great reputation Aetna has throughout the state and learn from some of the best. Previously, I worked for another commercial ambulance service in the central part of the state for about two and a half years. Currently, I am in the National Guard and served two deployments to Afghanistan as an Infantryman. I also worked as an emergency vehicle technician for a few years after graduating from high school.  I’m looking forward to working with everyone. 

Collin Whalen: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Collin Whalen and I am 21 years old from Rocky Hill. I am a firefighter with the Rocky Hill Fire Department and a Volunteer with Rocky Hill Volunteer Ambulance. I started with Rocky Hill Fire Department at 14 years old as a cadet. In the summer of 2012 I took my EMT and joined Rocky Hill Ambulance. Public Service has run in my family for many generations as firefighters, EMT’s, Paramedics and police officers. I am glad to continue the tradition along with my brother Scott, who is a firefighter and who has also recently graduated from Army boot camp. I am looking forward to taking my paramedic in the future, after gaining valuable experience as an EMT. I am very excited to be apart of the Aetna team.

ASM’s Alpha Five: Volume 7: David White

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Dave White AJohnson Medic Dave White describes his career path.
I grew up in the small town of Sterling and graduated Plainfield High School in 1998.   I joined the Connecticut Army National Guard in 1997, went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and went to Fort Eustis VA for ten months of aircraft avionics school.  I spent the next five years going to drills and traveling throughout the country for training.  I left the Guard six months before my unit was sent to Iraq. 

When I returned home in 1998 I joined Sterling Fire Department and went to Fire Fighter-I school and Medical Response Technician training.  I felt a greater connection to EMS.  I joined two of the local EMS departments; K-B Ambulance and Moosup-Plainfield Ambulance in 1999.  I took an MRT to EMT-B bridge class and became Moosup-Plainfield Ambulance’s training officer shortly after I became an EMT-B.    I remained active in both departments for the next three years until I moved out of the area. I was hired at ASM in March of 2002 and worked as an EMT-B and Dispatcher for the next two years. I started Paramedic school and returned to working only the road while I attended Hartford Hospital’s paramedic program.  For the next 16 months I worked hard and finished first in my class.

In 2005 I became a paramedic and started precepting with Bob O’Neil as my primary preceptor and with Don Hart.  After I was cleared and on my own as a paramedic I was lucky to be one of the first full time Paramedics to work out of ASM’s Johnson Memorial Medical Center office.  Continue reading →

Praise Again for Aetna’s Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau

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Campbell and Mathiau 2HARTFORD — On February 15, 2014 Aetna Ambulance crew members Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau responded to a motor vehicle accident in Wethersfield. Within two weeks the patient was randomly selected to receive a Patient Satisfaction Survey. The patient sent back a response on the care she and her family received.

Matt and Kevin received “Strongly Agree” in every response category. When asked to use a word or phrase to describe us, the patient wrote “Timely, professional, informative and caring.”

The following was handwritten in the additional feedback space provided:

“We truly appreciated the kindness that was shown to us and to our children by the EMTs and Paramedics. We were in a side rollover with our two small children and the EMTs and Paramedics helped make a very scary situation very positive. Keep up the excellent work. Everyone was very personable and we felt as if we were being cared for by good friends or family members.”

– Run #14-13714 (Information appears with permission).

Words That Describe Us: Volume 21

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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:

  • Good x 4.
  • Professional and prompt.
  • Sympathetic and professional.
  • Good team!
  • Very good x 2.
  • Caring and considerate.
  • Excellent service. The ambulance arrived shortly after being called and I felt relief right away. The attendants were very professional and informed me about all the procedures. I felt very secure in their hands. Thank you very much. (14-4436; T. Allbee, J. Lentini).
  • Polite, helpful, competent, friendly. (14-3308; E. Sheils, M. Khan).
  • Professional. Thank you. I really needed your services.
  • Excellent service.
  • Very professional.
  • Beyond my expectations!! Excellent.
  • Great x 2.
  • Great care.
  • Caring professionals.
  • A1, efficient.
  • Great job
  • Very professional and kind.
  • Very professional and caring.
  • Competent.
  • Helpful, knowledgeable.
  • Professional x 8.
  • Great that you’re around.
  • Very capable and concerned. Very soothing and kept me calm (14-6515; M. Carter, T. Webster).
  • Professional, kind, caring, non-judgmental (13-105889; R. Davenport, M. Guertin).

ASM Visits South Windsor’s CREC International Magnet School

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SOUTH WINDSOR — On March 6, 2014 ASM AEMT/FTO Stephanie Boutot and AEMT Brian Langan visited CREC‘s International Magnet School for Global Citizenship in South Windsor as part of public safety day. Stephanie and Brian gave an age-appropriate talk to the kindergarten students about what EMTs and Paramedics do and when to call 911. They passed out ASM coloring books and gave a tour of the ambulance.

Photos with permission.

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 14

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MANCHESTER — Additions and renovations to the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s main headquarters, known to employees as “10-1,” continue. As of this writing:

  • The painting and flooring in the main hallway is complete.
  • The small conference and training room is now housing a  temporary dispatch center during the renovation.
  • The foyer flooring is complete and the reception window is functional.
  • The locker room is complete and in use.
  • The new training room is mostly complete including the placement of a integrated training podium. Installation of the drop down screen is pending.
  • The new storage area is open and medical supplies and other materials are being moved in.
  • Demolition of the old dispatch area is underway.
  • The wall between dispatch and a defunct office space has been cut through to accommodate the placement of a new wheelchair van dispatch office.

The next steps are renovating and expanding the new Dispatch Center, opening the new main entrance, completing the main hall drop ceiling, re-configuring the main call-taking office, installing water fountains and demolishing the old storage cages for more ambulance and wheelchair van parking.

The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.