Aetna Director of Operations Graham MacDonald Retires

Graham MacDonald, Director of Operations, Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

Graham MacDonald, Director of Operations, Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

As I prepare to leave Aetna Ambulance Service I look back at the many wonderful people that I have had the pleasure to know and to work with. Aetna has always been known as a “family” and I have seen and experienced this first hand.  It was an honor for me to have known both Jean and Ethel Grady. This family truly loved their community and always stood ready to help anyone in need.

Aetna Ambulance has excelled over the years and today it is known as one of the best ambulance companies in the state.  It is widely respected by the hospitals and facilities that we serve. It has become the sought after place to work for EMT’s and Paramedics coming out of school. Our reputation is based not only upon the dedication and excellence in patient care but the family atmosphere that lives on today.

My time here has been a great experience and I have enjoyed coming to work every day. I will miss the many people that I have worked with both here and the Ambulance Service of Manchester.   I am proud to say that it has been an honor for me to be a part of this organization.

Sincerely,

Graham MacDonald, Director of Operations

Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Jeff D’Albero Completes Precepting Phase

Aetna's Jeff D'Albero

Jeff D’Albero (left) is congratulated by Supervisor Chuck Roode

HARTFORD – As of October 10, 2012, Aetna’s Jeff D’Albero has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

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, Jeff’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Jeff and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

Jeff is 25 years old and lives in New London with his fiance Mariaha, and two year old Caleb. He has been involved in fire and EMS since obtaining  his EMT certification when at age 16. He is a graduate of the paramedic program at Capitol Community College in Hartford and began working as a paramedic in Bridgeport. He also works as a part time Firefighter for the Town of Waterford.

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

Praise for Aetna’s Tiago Paula Santos

Tiago Paula Santos - Aetna Ambulance Service

Aetna’s Tiago Paula Santos

HARTFORD — In an email from October 10, 2012:

“I would like to express my praise for Tiago. On September xx, 2012 he transported my mother to Saint Francis Hospital with a broken leg. He took great care of my Mom and was very compassionate. On October xx, 2012 he transported her to a doctor’s appointment and provided excellent care. I found him to be very patience with my Mom and he had a great concern for her well being  He is a great asset to your company and makes not only the patient but the family feel good. Please let him know that my Mom and I appreciated everything that he did for her.”

Sincerely,

[Patient’s Daughter – #12-79510]

Chuck Roode at Goddard School’s EMS Awareness Day

Note: Aetna Ambulance does NOT provide emergency services to  the Town of Glastonbury. Always dial 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.
GLASTONBURY — Aetna Ambulance Supervisor Chuck Roode gave tours of an ambulance and spoke to about 50 students of Goddard School in Glastonbury. Chuck went over how and when to call 911 and introduced the kids to PBS’s Caillou, dressed as an EMT.  Caillou “helped” Chuck show what a check of a blood pressure entails, what oxygen masks look like, what a stethoscope is and how important it is to wear seat belts.

Aetna’s Tiago Paula Santos Visits CCMC’s Kids Are Great Learning Center

Aetna Ambulance - Tiago Paula Santos Visits CCMC Day Care Center

Aetna Ambulance – Tiago Paula Santos Visits CCMC Day Care Center

HARTFORD — Aetna EMT-Intermediate Tiago Paula Santos made a recent visit to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s Kids Are Great Learning Center to do a show-and-tell with an Aetna ambulance.  Continue reading

Three More Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Ambulances Arrive

MANCHESTER — On August 24, 2012 three Mercedes Sprinter Ambulances arrived from American Emergency Vehicles in North Carolina.

The three additional, unmarked ambulances will be added to the two already being held on-site as ASM. Four of these will soon be sent out to receive the high-visibility Aetna/ASM Battenburg markings, rear chevrons and company logos.

The Mercedes Sprinters will replace several aging Ford models, leaving the fleet with only four Fords at ASM and seven at Aetna as of this writing.

American Emergency Vehicles’ Brochure Features Aetna’s Design

Aetna Ambulance - AEV Brochure for Sprinter

AEV Brochure for Sprinter

HARTFORD — Aetna’s distinct half Battenburg featured on the Dodge version of our Sprinters was used in an American Emergency Vehicle brochure for their Mercedes version.

Aetna began taking delivery of AEV Dodge Sprinter ambulances in 2009 and Mercedes Sprinter ambulances in 2011. Only a handful of Ford ambulances remain in both fleets.

See the full AEV brochure that features Aetna’s design here…

Aetna Sprinter Ambulance

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

HARTFORD– On August 9, 2012, six EMTs and three Paramedics 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.

Laura Adamowich: Part time EMT. My name is Laura Adamowich and I’m 23 years old. I first started my EMT class a little over a year ago, the day after I moved back to my hometown of Bristol, Connecticut from Virginia, where I had graduated from Liberty University with my Bachelor’s in History. I’ve been volunteering as an EMT since last fall when I received my certification and look forward to starting my career in EMS with Aetna. While working, I will also continue pursuing my Master’s degree part-time online through Northeastern University. When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy reading, gardening, music, photography and media, and exploring the rich history that Connecticut has to offer. I’m excited about the future I have ahead of me at Aetna, and look forward to continuing to learn and grow as an EMT!

Jeff D’Albero: Full time Paramedic. My name is Jeffrey D’Albero, I am 25 years old. I live in New London with my fiance Mariaha, and two year old Caleb. I have been involved in fire and EMS since I obtained my EMT when I was 16. I decided to further my education in 2010 when I started the paramedic program at Capitol Community College in Hartford. Upon completion I received my credentials and began working as a paramedic in Bridgeport. I also work as a part time Firefighter for the Town of Waterford. I enjoy SCUBA diving, crossfit, and spending time with friends and family. I am excited to join the Aetna Ambulance team and am looking forward to work.

Travis Dixon: Full time EMT. I am a full-time EMT and am 33 years old.  After a year of college at the University of Connecticut majoring in Business Management I enlisted in the US Marine Corps in Infantry. After 9/11 I began working at CCMC in the Human Resource Dept.  However in 2003 I was deployed for the invasion of Iraq where I traveled to Okinawa, Japan, Bahrain, Crete, Thailand, Kuwait and various other countries all within a year. When I returned I began working at Hartford Hospital but eventually decided to become self-employed. It was a visit to my mother’s house one day that changed my life.  She wasn’t home however my aunt from Florida was staying with her for the summer.  I found my aunt on her bedroom floor, suffering from a stroke.  It was a Paramedic that first responded.  It was that intense event that opened up my eyes to the EMS field. I have a five year old son who LOVES trains and is beginning kindergarten in September.  He is excited to see his Daddy on an Ambulance, helping people.

Michael Joseph: Full time EMT. Hello, my name is Michael William Edgar Joseph. Yes, I have four first names but I usually only use one or two of them. I graduated from UConn with a chemistry degree in 2009 and have been doing a little bit of everything since. I lived in Spain for a couple years working on farms then came home to work a couple jobs in chemistry and tutoring. My ultimate plan is to go to medical school although I want to get more hands on experience working with patients. Honestly I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity than to work as an EMT for Aetna. I’m really looking forward to learning all that I can so please feel free to share your wisdom with me. As for interests outside of healthcare, I like languages, traveling, the great outdoors, my dog and making movies with my friends and family.

Camillo Quezada: Part-time EMT. My name is Camilo Quezada and I’m 23 years old. I’m fluent in Spanish and enjoy gaming in my spare time. EMS is my passion and to further my career I have enrolled in Medic class inHartford. I have a great girlfriend who also started working inHartfordand we’ve decided to relocate to the area soon.  I began researching EMS providers in the area and was immediately impressed by Aetna’s reputation. After meeting with the staff and looking around the campus I knew this was a place I could work for many years and be fulfilled. Looking forward to meeting the team and continuing my education.

Angel Rodrigues: Full time EMT. The main reasons why I began a career in EMS is to help others in need, to give back to my community and polish my skills as an EMT-B. I took the EMT course through Hartford Hospital because I’ve heard they’re tough and go in-depth with the material. My mentality is, if you can do it, so can I. And if so, go earn it. I enjoy playing baseball, football, and basketball. I love to go hiking during my days off and swim in the pool. During my down time, I like to sit outside and read. It’s called practicing medicine, and I know that there is no such thing as the “perfect EMT/medic”, but I do want to be on top of the game.

Taylor Salva: Full time Paramedic. I’m a new Paramedic. I graduated from Capital Community College in October of last year. I’ve lived in the New London/Groton area all my life, until my wife, daughter, step daughter and I recently moved to Griswold. I enjoy boating, fishing and shooting. I’ve worked as an EMT basic, a firefighter, and ER technician for some time now and am excited to start my paramedic career.

Mike Weller: Part time EMT. I’m Michael Weller and I’m 24 years old. For the last five years I have been working as a DJ all over Connecticut and New England. I have been slowly transitioning out of the DJ business to focus more on a career in EMS. I originally got my EMT certification and firearms training in order to become a police officer. After several months in the process of looking for a law enforcement job I started working in EMS and I found I really liked it. For a little over a year I have worked at Cromwell Fire Department and I decided it was a good time to commit to the medical field. I am currently enrolled in Hartford Hospital-Goodwin College’s Paramedic program (expected graduation in December ’12) and I have thought about continuing my education to possibly become a CRNA.  I like to snowboard in the winter and mountain bike in the summer and to generally stay as active as possible.  I would describe myself as outgoing and easy to get a long with and I look forward to the new people I will meet at Aetna.

Aetna Ambulance Participates in National Night Out – Hartford

Aetna Ambulance - National Night Out Hartford HARTFORD — On August 8, 2012 Aetna sent EMTs Jordan Smith and Jason Basora to represent the company at The Boys and Girls Club of Hartford’s National Night Out. According to information provided by the Asylum Hill club:

…this night allows community members, families, neighbors, young people, and Police to come together, celebrate, and promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer neighborhood and safer nation. Continue reading

Aetna’s Leslie Prado Graduates Health Leadership Program

Aetna's Leslie Prado

Aetna’s Leslie Prado

WEST HARTFORD — On June 20, 2012, in a ceremony held at The Pond House Cafe in West Hartford, Aetna’s Leslie Prado graduated from the Connecticut Health Foundation’s 2012 Health Leadership Fellows program.

According to their website, “CT Health established the Health Leadership Fellows Program to create leaders and change agents through who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to recognize and seize opportunities to act for health equity. Every year we select up to 20 applicants who work in fields of influence such as public policy, health practice, health care administration, and other related fields.” Continue reading

Aetna and ASM Paramedics to Use Cutting-Edge Video Laryngoscopes

HARTFORD and MANCHESTER — By the end of July 2012 Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) will put into service a cutting edge, life-saving medical device known as a video laryngoscope made by a company called King Vision.

The use of the King Vision Video Laryngoscopes is part of Aetna and ASM’s long-term commitment to providing cutting edge emergency medical care and our vision of putting gold standard clinical resources and equipment at the fingertips of our skilled EMS providers.

Continue reading

Aetna Ambulance Hosts Turkish Firefighter on Global Exchange

Aetna Ambulance Hosts Turkish Firefighter on Global Exchange

(L to R): Mark Hannegan, Global Exchange/Turkish Firefighter Fatih Belgin, Graham MacDonald, AHEC’s Samia Hussein

HARTFORD — On June 26, 2012, Fatih Belgin from Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality – Istanbul Fire Department in Turkey was at Aetna Ambulance to shadow an ambulance crew, tour facilities and observe 911 calls.

Along with his hosts from the Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Inc., he met with EMTs, Paramedics, and Directors Graham MacDonald and Mark Hannegan. They explained the US EMS system and how fire, police and ambulance services work together. Continue reading

Aetna’s Leslie Prado Competing in Triathlon to Benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Leslie Prado

Aetna's Leslie Prado

Hello Family and Friends. It has always been a goal of mine to do a triathlon for a good cause. And this year, I am swimming, biking and running to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT).

I have committed myself to raise $800 by June 10th, 2012 for this incredible organization that leads the way in funding research to treat blood cancers and in providing financial aid to patients and their family. Seventy-five percent of all the money we raise goes directly to the LLS mission of funding research based on medical need without regard to commercial return or market size. Continue reading

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Ashley Harkins Completes Precepting Phase

Aetna's Ashley Harkins and Hartford Hospital's Mike Zacchera

Aetna's Ashley Harkins and Hartford Hospital's Mike Zacchera

HARTFORD – As of April 26, 2012, Aetna’s Ashley Harkins has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

Ashley’s preceptor was Paramedic Preston Ryzak. 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, Ashley’s final approval came from the Hartford Hospital EMS/Trauma Coordinator who shadowed Ashley and her preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we welcome our newest Paramedic, Ashley Harkins and would like to wish her the best of luck. We are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Benefit for Aetna’s John Cafazzo and Family

Aetna's John Cafazzo
Aetna’s John Cafazzo

Friday, May 11, 2012 at the Polish National Home, 60 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT, 6:00 pm-close. 

Tickets are $25 and includes a buffet dinner, cash bar and raffle. 

John Cafazzo of Hartford Fire Department Ladder Company 3 and EMT Basic for Aetna Ambulance in Hartford was diagnosed with Continue reading