Category Archives: Details of our Business Decisions

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: Aetna Hires Five – 2018

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HARTFORD — On May 14th, 2018, three EMTs, one Paramedic and one Dispatcher 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.

Ashley O’Connell: FULL TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Ashley O’Connell and I am 25 years old. I graduated from Adelphi University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I currently live in Plainville, CT, where I am a volunteer firefighter. My future goals are to become a career firefighter and a paramedic. I have 2 rescue dogs and enjoy running, hiking, and snowboarding. I’m very excited to start as an EMT for Aetna and I’m grateful for the opportunity!

 

 

Tori Thomson: FULL TIME, EMT. I am a recent graduate of UConn where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Master in Health Promotion. Throughout college and graduate school my interest lied in the area of food and nutrition so I also recently finished a dietetic internship to become an RD. However, as a former athlete and nurse’s aide I have always had more of a knack for hands on work. It was with this realization that I decided to take the EMT course at CPR Training Professionals in South Windsor. After a job search for both EMT and RD work, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to become a member of the Aetna team! As a lifelong learner, I can’t wait to see what new challenges await me at Aetna and what direction it will point me for my career.

 

Dennis Wynne: FULL TIME, DISPATCHER. My name is Dennis Wynne. I’ve been a Volunteer Firefighter for the town of Plainville for close to 13 years. I have been dispatching for the same Department for 7 years. On my off time I enjoy spending time with my family and taking small vacations when possible. I’m looking forward to working for Aetna and learning new skills.

 

 

Jayson Braman: FULL TIME, PARAMEDIC. My name is Jayson and I am from Wolcott, CT but recently moved to East Hartford. I attained my paramedic certification from New Britain EMS Academy and have been working for Wolcott Ambulance for the past year as a paramedic with medical control through St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. Prior to that, I had worked three years as an EMT for AMR and Wolcott.  I also spent 6 years volunteering for Wolcott Fire Dept.  I aspire to continue helping people as I further my education in the EMS field.  I plan to acquire my Respiratory Therapist certification and one day become a flight medic.  In my spare time, I enjoy traveling around the world and being outdoors.

James Davis: PART TIME, EMT. Hello my name is James Davis I am a Connecticut native. I became an EMT because I have a passion for helping others. Along with being an EMT, I am also a career Firefighter. My goal is to expand my knowledge as an EMT and inter-grade that knowledge into my everyday life. I enjoy watching sports, working out, spending time with my family and traveling. I am overly zealous to be part of the Aetna Team!

ASM Puts New Paramedic Intercept Vehicle in Service

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MANCHESTER — In late April, 2018 Ambulance Service of Manchester placed in service a new Paramedic Intercept vehicle. The 2018 Ford F-250 was outfitted with a custom shelving unit, emergency lights, high-visibility Batternburg pattern livery, and reflective rear chevrons.

The non-transporting EMS vehicle will be used primarily to maintain the continuity of day-to-day operations, respond to mass casualty incidents and support EMS staff in the field.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Thomas Winterbottom Completes Precepting Phase

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HARTFORD – As of May 15th, 2018, Thomas Winterbottom has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. His preceptor was Paramedic Matthew Campbell. He offered the following sentiment regarding his time at Aetna:

“I started working at Aetna about three years ago. After spending sometime as an EMT, I decided to start the challenge of paramedic school to further my knowledge in the medical field. I graduated from Capital Community College’s paramedic program this past December. I was eager to start precepting and utilize some of the new skills I learned. Special thanks to Matt Campbell for his patience and knowledge provided during precepting. I am excited to practice as a paramedic and continue assisting those in need.”

As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Tom’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Tom the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

ASM Participates in Mock Crash Event in Somers

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Ambulance Service of Manchester Paramedic Matt Traber and EMT Matthew Kleza teamed up with Somers Fire Department and Somers chapter of S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) to partake in a Mock D.U.I. crash at the high school on Thursday, May 3rd, 2018. The goal of the event was to educate students, parents, and community members about the risks and consequences associated with unsafe driving practices, including driving under the influence. ASM assisted by demonstrating a few assessment and treatment techniques required following a motor vehicle accident.

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Sean Howard Completes Precepting Phase

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HARTFORD – As of May 4th, 2018, Sean Howard has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. His preceptor was Paramedic Matt Carter. Sean began working at with us in October of 2009. He offered the following sentiment regarding his time at Aetna:

“I began my journey into EMS at Aetna nearly 9 years ago, and have been proud to see my work family grow alongside my own. Having recently graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic Program, I look forward to playing an expanded role in serving one of the finest communities in the country. “

As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Sean’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing him and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Sean the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

Rebuilding Together- Work Day

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MANCHESTER- On Saturday April 28th, 2018 close to 30 ASM employees, friends and family members participated in the Town of Manchester’s 26th Rebuilding Together Event. This “First-Responder Group” made up only a small portion of volunteers as nearly 1000 individuals registered for the work day. Part of a National non-profit organization, Rebuilding Together was formed with the goal of “bringing communities together in efforts to assist those in need of general home repair and improvements.” Teamed up with MPD and MFRE staff, ASM partakers tackled numerous projects ranging from replacing CO and Smoke Detectors to installing a mail box, cleaning up yards, and painting a large back deck. See below for pictures!

ASM Visits Manchester High School

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MANCHESTER- On April 17th, 2018 Veteran Paramedic Greg Derosier spent the morning at Manchester High School’s Bentley Campus providing students with insight about pre-hospital medicine. Greg fielded questions about what it takes to become an EMT or Paramedic, offered tours of the ambulance and gave of brief demonstration of some ASM’s specialized equipment.

ASM Teams up with Bob’s Discount Furniture to benefit MACC Charities

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MANCHESTER- On April 23, 2018 Ambulance Service of Manchester employees Chris Tevnan and Kaylyn Fuller joined forces with Manchester Area Conference of Churches for the first annual Bob’s Discount Furniture Food Drive. The event was coordinated by MACC Charities Director & CEO Beth Stafford. Animatronic Bob made an appearance while St. James students helped M.A.A.C. and ASM team members unload the donations.

Aetna’s Joyce Valentukonis Returns to Duty

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HARTFORD – As of April 10th, 2018, Aetna’s Joyce Valentukonis has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves. Joyce returned to Aetna on October 4th and resumed her role as an acting Field Supervisor. As with all precepting phases at Aetna, Joyce’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing her and her preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls .On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Joyce the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

A note from Joyce:

Hello. My name is Joyce. I am returning back to Aetna Ambulance as a part time Paramedic Field Supervisor after a 2.5 year hiatus of staying home with the kids full time. I previously worked at Aetna for 8 years in both a road employee and supervisor capacity. Despite working part time as a lab instructor at a local paramedic program for the past few years, I missed being on the road. I am thrilled to be back and look forward to working with everyone.

ASM partakes in “Rebuilding Together” Event in Manchester

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The Ambulance Service of Manchester is thrilled to announce that it has joined forces with the Town of Manchester Fire Department and Manchester Police Department for The Town’s 26th Rebuilding Together Event. Part of a National non-profit organization, Rebuilding Together was formed with the goal of “bringing communities together in efforts to assist those in need of general home repair and improvements.” On April 11th, ASM employees, and members of MPD and MFRE were sent out in small groups to perform home assessments during phase one of the endeavor. Each team compiled a list of projects in order to help streamline the workday on the 28th.

For more information on Rebuilding Together, please click here!

ASM Participates in ‘Stop The Bleed” Event

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MANCHESTER-On Saturday, March 31, 2018 the town of Manchester joined with over 600 communities across the nation in observing the inaugural “Stop the Bleed Day” by hosting the American College of Surgeons’ Basic Bleeding Control course. This course, which was offered free of charge to members of the community, provided participants with the knowledge and skills needed to save a life in the event of a serious bleeding emergency. Bleeding is the number one preventable cause of death associated with a traumatic injury, regardless of the cause of that injury.

Manchester’s course was coordinated by Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.  ASM’s Paramedic Greg Derosier and EMT/Field Training Officer Cory Lachance joined representatives from the Connecticut Office of Emergency Medical Services, Manchester Police Department, Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS, Manchester Public Schools, and Manchester Health Department to teach participants hands-on bleeding control techniques.

According to a press release available on the American College of Surgeons (ACS) website:

“Stop the Bleed traces its origins to the aftermath of the Sandy Hook School shootings on December 14, 2012. Shortly afterward, the ACS partnered with law enforcement and other interested national organizations to develop the Hartford Consensus. Out of this Consensus (where the initial meetings convened in Hartford, Connecticut), emerged an emergency response goal to improve survival following mass shootings and other intentional acts of mass violence by empowering civilians to take life-saving action when the need arises, regardless of the situation or cause of the significant bleeding.

After recommendations of the Hartford Consensus were released, Stop the Bleed, a national public awareness campaign was launched in October of 2015 by the White House and then-President Obama, with a call to action to begin training more people to become immediate responders. Stop the Bleed cultivates grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency, thus becoming the first vital link of the trauma care chain of survival.”

If you were unable to attend this course and wish to receive this potentially life-saving training, it is offered on an ongoing basis, FREE of charge, to anyone interested.  Please visit http://bleedingcontrol.org and click “Find a Class” to locate a class near you.

Above Post Drafted by ASM EMT/Field Training Officer Cory Lachance

Meet the Newest Members of the Team: ASM Hires Seven – 2018

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MANCHESTER — On March 19th, 2018 one Paramedic and six EMTs were added to the ASM 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.

Kylei Koehler: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi! My name is Kylei and I am 21 years old. I was born and raised in the small town of Willington, CT. I received my EMT-B license after completing my course with Code One in the summer of 2017. I am an active member of the Tolland Fire Department as a volunteer EMT and am looking to earn my fire certifications as well. I currently attend Capital College in Hartford and am pursing a degree in Radiology. In my free time I enjoying hiking, fishing and spending time with my dog, Bentley. I am very grateful and excited that I was given the opportunity to pursue a career with ASM and I look forward to serving the community!

Brian Chapdelaine.:FULL TIME, EMT. Hello! My name is. I’m 30 years old. I am from East Longmeadow, MA and currently living in Enfield, CT. I have an Associate’s Degree in General Studies from Springfield Technical Community College. I took my EMT course at EMT Academy in Springfield. For a little over a year I have been working as an EMT-B for a private company in Springfield. In September I will be starting the Paramedic Program at GCC in Greenfield, MA. I became an EMT because I have always had a passion for helping those in need and love serving my community. I am also getting married this year so it’s going to be a very busy but exciting year. In my free time I love to watch sports, play video games, hunt, and spend time with my family and friends. I am excited to join the ASM team and be a part of this company has i further my career in EMS!

Owen Cummings: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi, my name is Owen Cummings, and I am 21 years old. I grew up in Simsbury CT, and graduated from Simsbury High School. I obtained my EMT certification through the New Britain EMS Academy in the summer of 2017. My passion for this career started as a cadet firefighter in Simsbury. I currently volunteer for New Hartford EMS and Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance. I look forward to learning at ASM, and eventually progressing to a paramedic provider.

 

Tara Monge: PART TIME, EMT. Hello, my name is Tara Monge. I graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. After developing an interest in the medical field, I enrolled in an EMT course at CPR Training Professionals in South Windsor. I am honored to be able to start my EMT career with ASM and look forward to evolving as a medical professional with them. I expect this new experience will help guide me down my next path in this profession.

Robert Davis: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Robert Davis and I’m 35 years old. I live here in Manchester, and am married with two boys, 5 and 14.  I’m originally from southern Arizona, and grew up just north of the Mexican border. After moving here in 2003, I joined the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department, where I took my EMT in 2005. After obtaining that, I worked at Campion in Waterbury until 2015.After taking a few years off, I realized how much I missed helping people, and am looking forward to doing so here at ASM.

Rodney Bailey: FULL TIME, PARAMEDIC. My name is Rodney Bailey. I am 38 years old, originally from Kodiak, Alaska. I currently live in Wallingford, CT. I graduated from Capital Community College in December with my Paramedic certification, and just received my license in January. I served 11 years in the Navy, including one year in Afghanistan in 2008, and served as an instructor for the Florida Highway Patrol for several years. This is my second time as an EMT, never let it lapse for greener grass, and I am Excited about joining the ASM team and am excited for the opportunities that it presents.

Kayla Fortin: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi I’m Kayla and I’m 24 years old. I went to CCSU for athletic training and took my EMT class there as well. I’ve been in commercial EMS for 3 years now, and plan to continue my education in either paramedic or nursing school. I’ll also be a Medical Officer in the Army National Guard this coming August. When I’m not at work, I enjoy eating sushi, being with friends and family, and working out. I’m really excited to be a part of the ASM team!

ASM Holds Years of Service Recognition Event

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MANCHESTER- On March 15th, 2018 the Ambulance Service of Manchester hosted a “Years of Service Recognition Dinner.” The event honored staff members with ten years of service or greater. Quite remarkably, over 50 employees received an award, including several in the 25-35 year range! Without the consistent hard work and dedication of ASM crew members, dispatchers, office personnel, and mechanics, the company would not be where it is today. Thanks for all you do!

ASM Promotes Three to Field Training Officer (FTO)

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MANCHESTER — On March 9th, 2018 the Ambulance Service of Manchester promoted three from within its EMT ranks to the post of Field Training Officer: Bianca Krzynowek, Ryan Bochman, and Kyle Caldwell. FTOs are utilized primarily to train newly hired employees in the performance of their duties as EMTs.

Kyle Caldwell: I have been with ASM now for about 5 years and an EMT for around 6. I started in EMS when I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go in my life or what I wanted to do. After a short stint working for Ellington Ambulance, I landed a job at ASM which has given me a lot of opportunity to grow. I have an amazing wife who has always encouraged me to better myself and been very patient and understanding with all the long days and hours I’ve put into this job. I am very fortunate to have both my wife and this job.

Bianca Krzynowek: My name is Bianca and I have worked at ASM for around 3 years. I am very excited to be promoted to FTO at ASM because I love meeting new people. I also think that knowing how to be safe on scene while doing this job is important and I hope to be able to instill that in my new fellow coworkers so that they can lead safe and prosperous careers in EMS. Right now I live with my German Shepard Toby and my horse, Abe. When I’m not at work I am running, at the gym, snowboarding, riding my horse, or hiking with Toby. I can’t wait to get started FTOing!

Ryan Bochman: I have been an EMT at ASM for a little over 2 1/2 years and an EMT for approximately 9 years. I have been married for almost 4 years and have just become a father to a healthy and beautiful baby boy.  I became interested in the medical field at 17 when I volunteered for Haddam Fire Company as a firefighter/MRT-now EMR. I took great pride in helping people in what might be one of the worst moments of there life. Over my time as an EMT, I have learned a lot from those working around me, as well as assisting in the education of others and students. As I join the ranks of FTO at ASM, I look forward to training and assisting new employees as they transition to working in EMS full time. I look forward to the opportunity to share the knowledge I have learned over the years with newer EMT’s to make them the best medical professional they can be.

Team ASM-Aetna Participates in 2018 CT Brain Freeze!

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Year one fundraising for Team ASM-Aetna was a great success. Through the efforts of employees, family members, and friends, a total of $1,175 was raised for Brain Tumor Research. All proceeds were donated to the National Brain Tumor Society. Thank you to everyone involved for your generous contributions and dedication to the cause. Please enjoy pictures from the event below!