Stuff-a-Truck in South Windsor a Success

South Windsor Touch a Truck ASM

ASM’s Mandi-Lynn Guertin and Cody Lemire.

SOUTH WINDSOR — ASM had the fortunate opportunity to work alongside several agencies including South Windsor Police and South Windsor Fire Department as part of a holiday Stuff-A-Truck event. The following is a note from Adult and Senior Services regarding the success of the event:

I wanted to say a big thank you to you and all of the staff and volunteers who have helped us this holiday season! The Food and Fuel Bank is going to be set for several months to come thanks to the generosity of time the volunteers and staff gave to the cause.

The community is extremely generous, and you all made it easier for them to donate by being stationed at both grocery stores before Thanksgiving and yesterday as well. The monetary donations will help several families with oil during this cold season. And of course the toys will go to very excited children on Christmas day! It doesn’t get any better than that!

I would love it if you can pass along our thanks, from the entire Human Services Department, for your commitment to helping your neighbors. It so greatly appreciated!

Yesterday’s total was just under $2000 in cash, $85 in gift cards, countless bags and boxes of food and dozens and dozens of toys! In November, the monetary donations were almost $4,000 in addition to all the food!

May you all enjoy this holiday season knowing you brightened the days of so many!

Andrea

Director of Adult and Senior Services

Human Services Department

Town of South Windsor

Snow Queen to join ‘Stuff a Truck’ event

Snow QueenJOURNAL INQUIRER

SOUTH WINDSOR — The Police Department, the Fire Department, and Ambulance Service of Manchester will hold a “Stuff a Truck” food and toy drive, which will include a special guest character actor.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Stop & Shop, 1739 Ellington Road, and at Geissler’s Supermarket, 965 Sullivan Ave.

Organizers are looking for new, unwrapped gifts, including clothing, toys, gift cards, and food.

The donations will benefit local families in need during the holiday season.

“Anything that people can do to make these families’ and children’s holidays a little better is much appreciated,” South Windsor Police Lt. Scott Custer said.

The Snow Queen, from www.Onceuponafairytalect.com will join volunteers in collecting donations and also will be available for pictures.

For more information, contact Officer James Nicoletta at 860-648-6256, or at james.nicoletta@southwindsor.org.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 43

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:

  • Kind, skilled. Thanks so much!
  • The EMTs that came were great. They not only took me seriously they had my anxiety under check. I felt as though I was the only person that needed their help. (14-90435; M. Weller, K. Mathiau).
  • Professional. Well trained.
  • Wonderful.
  • Fabulous.
  • Attentive.
  • Very responsive, professional, comforting. (14-92443; S. Crittenden, E. Vaughn with East Hartford Fire Department).
  • Very skilled + professional.
  • Calm, friendly.
  • Excellent.
  • Great crew, both professional yet sensitive. (14-93666; V. Maston, J. Lentini).
  • Very professional x 2.
  • The paramedics were so nice + comforting + personable. (14-93612; M. Osborne, R. Buechele with East Hartford Fire Department).
  • Professional and courteous.
  • Friendly + caring.
  • Fantastic.
  • Wonderful.
  • It was a smooth and fast ride. I am so grateful.
  • Outstanding.
  • I’m very happy, impressed how my mom was treated (14-90614; C. LaChance, G. Geres).
  • Very helpful.
  • Great.
  • Very thorough.
  • Your men were good guys.
  • Very professional and caring.
  • Very caring and helpful.

Public Service Announcement on EMS Use of Lights and Siren

Courtesy of MONOC this Public Service Announcement (PSA) discusses the use of emergency lights and siren in EMS response and its impact on the public policy and the public’s best interest.

Aetna and ASM support the judicious use of lights and siren and industry best practices in regards to “hot” and “cold” responses.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 42

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:

  • Excellent.
  • My son (13 years old) shared that the crew made him feel comfortable, even making him laugh. (14-87784; K. Baker, K. Beaulieu).
  • Very friendly & comforting.
  • Wonderful. They cared. I felt safe.
  • Professional + compassionate.
  • Great.
  • Friendly & professional.
  • Professional and considerate.
  • Skilled and professional.
  • Impressed and so appreciative of the service! The paramedic was highly professional and informative. I’ve already spoken positively of my experience to others! (14-91352; M. Buerk, L. McHugh with Manchester Fire Rescue EMS).
  • Very cared for. Professionally cared for. Hope to call this company again if needed. (14-91552; M. Traber, R. Buechele).
  • Friendly and caring. (Know what they were doing!!) (14-91173; S. Lowe with Rocky Hill Volunteer Ambulance).
  • Professional, expertise + very calming effect once in their care. Your Aetna folks are the BEST! (14-90924; J. D’Albero, B. Chase).
  • Excellent.
  • Compassionate.
  • Professional.
  • Understanding.
  • Good service.
  • Professional x 6.
  • Very very good to me.
  • Quiet, calm and in control. (14-90156; S. Parent, T. LaChappelle).
  • Excellent. Great job.
  • Quick and efficient. We were treated well.
  • The EMT/Paramedic were a great team, extremely professional and helpful. The EMT was so nice he actually went back into the office to retrieve my belongings. I am so grateful for the great service and care they provided. Thank you so much. I can’t thank you enough. (14-91630; S. Allen, K. King).

Regional Food Drive – Another “Excellent” Year

hc-manchester-hunger-results-1126-20141125-001HARTFORD COURANT

Delivering donated food to the MACC Charities pantry recently are, left to right, Sean Gregg of Ambulance Service of Manchester, Rotary Club members Ana Ramos and Marty Fins and MACC Executive Director Beth Stafford. (Rick Lawrence).

By Jesse Leavenworth

NOVEMBER 25, 2014, 1:27 PM

Read the full, original article here…

The Emergency of Hunger drive collected nearly 40,000 food items, an outpouring of generosity that an organizer characterized as “excellent” and a good gauge of citizens’ holiday spirit.

The regional collection by police, fire and emergency medical agencies and Rotary Club members benefits food pantries in Manchester, Vernon, South Windsor, Rocky Hill and Windsor.

Conducted over the past two weekends,the drive took in 39,956 food items, $23,839.80 in cash, checks and gift cards and 788 turkeys, organizer Dave Skoczulek of Ambulance Service of Manchester said Tuesday.

“It was an excellent year, once again surpassing our expectations,” Skoczulek said.
Collections in each town go to pantries that serve those towns. The drive provides a big lift to pantry stocks, not just for the holidays, but sometimes extending into February, pantry
representatives said. Organizers said the need has not diminished since the first drive in 2009.

The drive’s six ­year totals, which Skoczulek reported Tuesday, were 186,956 food items, $120,025.80 in cash, checks and gift cards and 5,498 turkeys.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 41

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 and courteous.
  • Very professional.
  • Very caring. I’m glad for this service. They made me comfortable. They are the best ever. Thank you. (14-85225; T. LaChappelle, J. Startup).
  • Professional + polite.
  • Very caring to me and my husband’s needs. (14-86367; S. Piscopiello, J. Tyree).
  • Very timely + excellent service.
  • Caring.
  • The ambulance crew was very efficient. We were very satisfied. (14-88662; S. Thompson, J. Hornish).
  • They were very professional.
  • They were great.
  • Excellent.
  • Seems they have performed this for me quite a few times and were always very very good in handling me and I would not hesitate to recommend them. (14-87237; S. Allen, N. Raiola).
  • Caring and professional.
  • Service was excellent. (14-83579; A. Cichy, A. Wysocki).
  • Very polite. (14-86876; M. Campbell, C. Quezada).
  • Friendly, Professional, Efficient. (14-84425; J. Bak, K. King).
  • Knowledgeable, reliable. (14-86907; J. D’Albero, T. Salva).
  • Excellent!
  • Very satisfied.
  • Sensitive.
  • Competent.
  • Very good.
  • Please tell the people that worked on me Thank You.
  • Professional and kind.
  • Professional + compassionate. They were great!
  • Thank you for their kindness.
  • They were wonderful! (14-83829; G. Geres, M. Sparks).
  • Compassionate and down to earth, intuitive. The crew was excellent at their jobs, kind, respectful and helped ease anxiety. Thank you!!! (14-89776; A. Ordway, E. Marandino).
  • Great.
  • Crew [was] nice and caring.

“Emergency Of Hunger” Food Drive Begins Saturday

Emergency response agency and food pantry representatives gathered Thursday at the Hockanum Valley Community Council in Vernon to kick off the Emergency of Hunger Food Drive. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

Emergency response agency and food pantry representatives gathered Thursday at the Hockanum Valley Community Council in Vernon to kick off the Emergency of Hunger Food Drive. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)

HARTFORD COURANT

by Jesse Leavenworth

VERNON — Emergency response agencies in the region are teaming up again to boost food supplies for poor and struggling residents. Read the full article here…

Police, fire, emergency medical services and Rotary Club representatives gathered Thursday at the Hockanum Valley Community Council to kick off the Emergency of Hunger Food Drive. Collections are set for Saturday and Sunday at supermarkets in Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon and Rocky Hill. Collections in Windsor, Manchester and Rocky Hill also are scheduled for Nov. 22-23.

Now in its sixth year, the drive has collected a total of 147,000 food and personal care items, 4,170 turkeys and about $96,000 in cash, checks and gift cards, organizer Dave Skoczulek of the Ambulance Service of Manchester said. Collections in each town go to pantries that serve those towns, Skoczulek said.

Full article here…

Following are locations and dates for collections (locations are Stop & Shop supermarkets, unless otherwise noted):

  • Manchester, 286 Broad St. — Saturday and Sunday and Nov. 22-23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Rockville section of Vernon, 50 Windsorville Road — Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Rocky Hill, 80 Town Line Road — Saturday and Sunday and Nov. 22-23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Vernon, 10 Pitkin Road — Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • South Windsor, 1739 Ellington Road — Nov 22-23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • South Windsor, (Geissler’s Supermarket) 965 Sullivan Ave. — Nov 22-23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Windsor, 1095 Kennedy Road — Nov. 22-23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

HARTFORD — On November 6, 2014, eight EMTs 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.

Ryan Dunn:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Ryan Dunn and I am 23 years old from Houston, Texas. I graduated from TCU in 2013 with a degree in Biology and Chemistry and the eventual goal to go to medical school. After working in the Emergency Department as a scribe for 2 years, I moved up to Tolland and got my certification at CodeOne in East Harford in July.  In my free time I like to watch sports of all types, play basketball, and play video games. I am excited and grateful to be part of the Aetna team and can’t wait to work with and meet all of you!

Shahbaz Khan:   FULL TIME, EMT. Hello everyone my name is Shahbaz Khan. I am 29 years old and live in Bristol, CT. I was born in Pakistan but raised in United States. I did my undergrad at Central Connecticut State University, from there I went to Atlanta, GA because I got accepted to Cambridge Allied Health for RT(T) Radiation Therapy. I took two years to complete the course and got my diploma. When I come back to CT I became an RA (Recovery Assistant) helping mentally disabled patient, not getting enough working hours I knew I needed to do something else. I was doing my independent studies to get licensed for RT(T) but I needed a profession which will help me gain knowledge, experience, and something I would love to do. My friend who works for Aetna told me “why don’t you come to Aetna and try working as an EMT”. I thought about it and gave it a shot. I was lucky enough to get a job in Naugatuck Ambulance and after getting cleared from the FTO’s I started to enjoy myself as an EMT. I learned new things every day. Every my partner and I did was exciting and I was hooked. I enjoy working in the medical field and try to stay connected as much as I can. The feeling of helping someone and being there for the patient in time of their need is the best feeling. In my spare time I love spending time with my friends. I am a people person so I like interacting with people and making new friends. I enjoy working out, going for a run and dance whenever I have spare time. I live life to fullest although sometimes life does pull you down, but you only get one life so enjoy it as much as you can. I look forward in meeting and making new friends with this company.

Brianna Koshmerl:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Brianna Koshmerl and I am 22 years old from Glastonbury Connecticut. I Grew up in Glastonbury and graduated from Glastonbury High School. I started my college career at UMass Amherst, But transferred for my sophomore year to UConn. While on campus, I participated in many extracurricular’s and philanthropy events, did research in biological sciences, and held student jobs. I graduated from UConn in May, 2014 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Molecular and Cell Biology. I just completed my EMT-B course this past summer, and are excited to begin gaining experience in the emergency services field. I want to attend a Physician’s Assistant program, and are using this experience as a gateway into the healthcare career with patient interactions.

Jared Kuhne:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jared Kuhne and I am 29. Originally I come from northeast Pennsylvania, and recently moved to Ellington CT with my wife.  I am a veteran of the United States Air Force, and served in Afghanistan as a translator. During my four year commitment, I earned my Bachelor’s degree and went on to continue my education as a pre-med major at the Central Connecticut State University.  I received my EMT training in New York City with Empress Ambulance Service, before moving to Connecticut.  I enjoy being a productive member of the community I live in, and I hope that I can make a positive impact here in Hartford.   It is my hope to become a knowledgeable healthcare provider, and I’m looking forward to kick starting this career as an EMT with Aetna Ambulance.

Lauren Slebodnick:   FULL TIME, EMT.  Originally from Manchester, NH, I now live in Suffield, CT.  I am 22 years old and I just graduated from Cornell University in May 2014 with a degree in Biology & Society.  I was a goalie on the Women’s Ice Hockey Team while in college and I hope to continue my hockey career to the 2018 Winter Olympics.  I am also a big Bruins fan.  I took an EMT class over the summer and recently obtained my certification.  I also volunteer with Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association and Johnson Memorial Medical Center.  In the future, I hope to further my education by attending a Physician Assistant Program.  I am very excited to join Aetna’s team and I look forward to meeting and learning from my fellow colleagues.

TJ Wain:    FULL TIME, EMT. My name is TJ Wain.  I am twenty-six years old initially from Waterbury, CT.  I currently reside in Wolcott where I volunteer for the local fire department.  I graduated University of New Haven back in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, concentrating my studies in Police Administration.  I was active as an undergraduate DJing various events on and off campus as well as holding several executive positions in the Sigma Chi Fraternity raising funds for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation as well as the Children’s Miracle Network.  As an alumnus, I continued my work as President of the New Haven Alumni Association until attending Paramedic school at Capital Community College, Fall of 2013.   After attending paramedic school, I found that I truly enjoyed the impact that I was able to have on peoples’ lives.  It may not necessarily be “providing that band-aid,” but providing information, with genuine care, for a more beneficial impact.  “What’s a man’s worth if he’s not making the world a better place.” In my spare time, I still actively DJ events as well as enjoy gym, cross-fit and other endurance activities.  I look forward to advancing my career in paramedicine and find there is a lot of opportunity in the field for growth and education.

Chris Willey:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Chris Willey and I am originally from New Jersey. I moved to Killingworth when I was fourteen and after college moved Manchester where I have lived for the past year and a half. I went to UCONN for Psychology and Anthropology. I had originally planned to go into accounting or business but realized early on that wasn’t for me. I started to have interest in the medical field my junior year and after talking to friends who were involved in it, quickly became interested in emergency medicine and EMS. In 2012 I took my EMT course at Hartford Hospital. The following year I started volunteering as an EMT, and began working in Hartford Hospitals Emergency Department as an ER Technician. I also work as an EMT in East Windsor. Currently I’m in my final semester of Paramedic School at Goodwin College. I am looking forward to starting my career at Aetna and am counting down the days till orientation!

Alex Zhakov:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Alex Zhakov and I am 22 years old. I was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia and I moved to the United States when I was four years old. Since then, I’ve lived in different parts of Connecticut and love the area. Currently, I reside in Farmington, CT. I recently graduated from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA with a Bachelor’s Degree. While attending college in Massachusetts, I completed my EMT certification and am looking forward to beginning my EMS career in Connecticut. When given the opportunity, I love to travel and experience new cultures. In my free time, I love running outdoors, working out at the gym, cooking, catching up on current events, spending time with my family, and playing with my dog. I hope to continue my medical career in the future by attending graduate school. I am particularly interested in the field of infectious disease and would love to someday have a career focused in this area. I am thrilled to be a part of the Aetna team and can’t wait to begin!

Words That Describe Us: Volume 40

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:

  • Excellent x 2.
  • Nice – fast.
  • Good.
  • Evan who rode in back with was extremely personable and attentive and definitely put me at ease. (14-81370; E. Burgess, K. Baker).
  • Efficient.
  • Very Good.
  • Knowledgeable and caring.
  • Prompt and professional.
  • Caring + professional. The ambulance staff treated me well.
  • Professional and caring.
  • Very understanding and put me at ease. (14-83557; M. Osborne, J. Rasmussen).
  • Very polite.
  • Calm and professional.
  • Outstanding.
  • Mr. Grady would be proud! (14-84300; G. Kendall, T. Dixon).
  • Very effective, efficient service.
  • Amazingly professional and outstanding. I have used ASM SEVERAL times and each time I have had an amazing experience of my family has had a fantastic experience. They always ease by anxiety and make me feel safe as I have seizure disorder and have used them often. ASM is the ONLY ambulance service myself and my family use. Outstanding job to everyone! Thank you so much. I can’t say it enough. (14-81534; G. Geres, M. Sparks).
  • Very good.
  • Great.
  • Acted like they should.
  • Very highly skilled – Showed concern.
  • Everything was fine no complaints. After I pressed the button you were here in no time – very good service.
  • Professional x 2.
  • Friendly.
  • Caring for others, act[ed] with urgency to situation.

Aetna and ASM Collect 1,000th Patient Satisfaction Survey Response

Professional and compassionateMANCHESTER and HARTFORD — Since August 2013 Aetna Ambulance Service and the Ambulance Service of Manchester have been sending out Patient Satisfaction Surveys to a random sampling of patients who have received emergency or STAT inter-facility services from our companies all over the respective service areas.

Over 1000 Patient Satisfaction Survey responses have now been collected from ASM and Aetna patients. After answering 18 Likert scale questions an unprompted, qualitative field asks the respondent, “Please use a word or phrase to describe us and/or the ambulance crew” followed simply by a blank line.

A staggering 35 percent of responses (352 of the 1000) used some version of the word “Professional” to describe ASM and Aetna. For example, true professionals, highly professional, professional and caring, skilled professionals, and more. 

Other leading responses include Excellent, Caring, and Efficient respectively.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 39

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:

  • Comforting!
  • First time in ambulance…very good.
  • Very capable.
  • Caring and professional.
  • Caring.
  • Compassionate!
  • Excellent. I felt very reassured.
  • Highly professional and caring. (14-78770; S. Whalen, N. Foran).
  • Very skilled and holistic approach. Great people you sent. (14-77937; M. Karr, A. Kramer).
  • Knowledgeable, calming.
  • Very good!
  • Professional and patient. Thank you! (14-78993; D. Slomcinsky, M. Kleza).
  • Very compassionate.
  • Very professional
  • Sensitive, caring and kind. (14-80025; G. Geres, C. LaChance).
  • Excellent care.
  • They were all very nice and helpful. (14-80745; R. O’Neil, J. Rassmussen).
  • Very responsible and informative. Also assisted my husband who is legally blind so he could come along in the ambulance and help with information. (14-75510; J. Duval, S. Gregg).
  • Very caring.
  • Outstanding + very professional! (14-74387; K. Baker, A. Cichy with Manchester Fire Rescue EMS).
  • Skilled, professional, friendly, considerate, reassuring. (14-81291; K. Stock, T. Halligan).
  • Very happy they were here.
  • Wonderful and very caring.
  • Quick and efficient.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 38

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:

  • Comforting.
  • My thanks to the crew!
  • Very professional.
  • Great experience. Guys were amazing!
  • Comforting.
  • Caring.
  • The crew was friendly and caring. I was really flustered by the car accident and couldn’t even tell if I was hurt. The crew took the needed precautions and had me comfortable and laughing on the way to MMH. (14-76252; E. Vaughn, D. Hammett with Manchester Fire Rescue EMS).
  • Excellent x 7.
  • Very professional, knowledgeable, caring.
  • Crew was very nice and comforting.
  • EMTs were very professional.
  • Very professional. I cannot thank you team enough for the excellent care that they provided. (14-79209; S. Thompson, J. Bissell with East Hartford Fire Department).
  • Proficient!
  • Very caring + attentive to the fact that I was in extreme pain.
  • Having been hit head-on by another vehicle, the ambulance crew were so kind + reassuring, stating that I could never be replaced whereas a car could be + I certainly agreed. Thank you for your good care. (14-78261; M. Pacheco, A. Selko).
  • Professional, well-mannered, courteous. (14-79192; K. Russell, B. Langan).
  • Timely, skilled and compassionate. (14-77929; S. Howard, T. Dombroskas).
  • Excellent paramedic. (14-78869; T. LaChappelle).
  • The crew was very patient.
  • Well trained.
  • Very knowledgeable and courteous. Your people are very professional. (14-80073; T. Dombroskas, S. Howard).

Words That Describe Us: Volume 37

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:

  • Extremely caring – Persistent in showing Pt the seriousness of problem. EXCELLENT TEAM!!! VERY professional. (14-48664; R. O’Neil, B. Mathiau).
  • Extremely empathetic! Thank you so much! The two responders stayed with me at Hartford Hospital until hospital staff took over. I really appreciate their attentiveness. (14-70886; M. Levasseur, R. Anderson).
  • Professional, kind and caring!
  • Friendly.
  • Professional, caring.
  • Good.
  • Friendly and professional.
  • The EMT staff was professional and caring. (14-73254; M. Carter, R. Mara).
  • Exceptional.
  • Highly capable. (14-72855; M. Karr, S. Jachym).
  • Professional + caring + prompt.
  • Kept me at ease.
  • Professional + caring.
  • Very nice.
  • Beautiful + nice.
  • Caring + professional “lifesavers” (14-72992; V. Maston, N. Raiola).
  •  Excellent service.
  • Awesome!
  • The crew was very professional. Great service. Great job guys, thank you. (14-74790; D. White, S. Norton with East Hartford Fire Department).
  • Professional x 6.
  • Very good care.
  • The paramedic went the extra mile for me…thank him for me please! (14-76531; R. Bilodeau, J. Hornish).
  • The paramedic was great and caring! The paramedic listened to me about what was going on with my baby. She didn’t just look at what my daughter was doing or just what her vitals were showing…she actually cared and made me feel at ease…about what was happening to my baby. (14-74530; S. Allen, D. Tedeschi).
  • Attentive.
  • Professional while being personable to relieve & calm nerves. (14-74091; S. Thompson, R. Fross).
  • Fantastic.

2014 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance Arrives at Aetna and ASM

2014 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance AMANCHESTER — On September 26, 2014 the first 2014 Mercedes Sprinter Ambulance arrived at Aetna’s fleet maintenance area at ASM from American Emergency Vehicles in North Carolina.

According to Car and Driver magazine, “The Sprinter’s most visible change is its front-end styling, which adopts Mercedes’ smaller, Renault-based, Euro-only Citan van’s flashier look. The grille is more upright than before, and gets Benz’s latest take on its signature three-slat design. A new pair of headlights flanks the grille, and features the same eyebrow-like (LED!) turn indicators that have proliferated throughout the Mercedes lineup. A fresh hood accommodates the new fascia and headlights, and it sits higher than before. Inside, there are new seat covers and upholstery, the steering wheel is thicker, and higher-spec models even get chrome air vent surrounds.”

The most distinctive change thus far for the 2014 ambulance model is the new style light bar.

As of April 2014, all Ford ambulances (except for the bariatric units) had been rotated out of service and replaced with Mercedes (or Dodge-marked Mercedes) Sprinter ambulances. The unmarked 2014 ambulance will soon be sent out to receive the high-visibility Battenburg markings, rear chevrons and company logos. Operating fuel-efficient, safe and modern Sprinter ambulances is part of Aetna and ASM’s continued commitment to the communities we serve.