Johnson Memorial Medical Center and Ambulance Service of Manchester

STAFFORD SPRINGS —  The Ambulance Service of Manchester’s (ASM) Alpha Five has been stationed at Johnson Memorial Medical Center for over eight years.

This transport-capable paramedic unit was initially stationed there at the request of JMMC in order to secure immediate transport of a certain population of critical patients.

In a short period of time the surrounding towns began calling on Alpha Five to provide “paramedic intercepts” as part of their 911 response and the moniker “The Johnson Medic” soon became commonly used.

Originally the service to the hospital and the towns was provided on a 12 hour (peak hour) basis. Soon the hospital and the surrounding towns realized

Johnson Memorial Medical Center and ASM Alpha 5

the need for consistent, 24-hour service and asked ASM to expand to provide it. ASM crews quickly found themselves proving all of the local paramedic service alongside such agencies as Somers Fire Department, Stafford Ambulance, Staffordville and West Stafford Fire, Willington Fire and Union Fire, among others.

Soon The Johnson Medic would be accompanying patients aboard these ambulances to Johnson Memorial Medical Center. Some transports were to locations where the name ASM was not yet well known; places like Baystate Medical Center and Mercy and Harrington Hospitals in western Massachusetts.

Johnson Memorial Medical Center and ASM’s Ayla S. and Greg D.

Several ASM faces have become ubiquitous features on the medic unit staff, known as the “Johnson Medic” to the surrounding towns. Folks like Don Hart, Ray, Al Pardi, Dave White, Greg D. and Alya Sarles became staples of the service.