No Shave November is officially here! ASM and Aetna are encouraging employees to put down their razors in an effort to raise awareness for men’s health!
Official Rules for Team ASM-Aetna
Road personnel are required to follow all OSHA requirements and adhere to the grooming policies outlined in the ASM and Aetna employee manuals.
One “Beard” Team Captain from ASM and one “Beard” Team Captain from Aetna will be selected based on popular vote at month end.
Alternates from each company will selected following results in the same fashion.
Anonymous votes will be collected inside dispatch at 10-1 for ASM and Station A for Aetna.
Prizes for the four respective winners will be distributed by the management team in early December.
ASM and Aetna will be contributing to the Movember Foundationat the end of the month.Employees, family members and friendshave the opportunity to contribute as well by following the link to Team ASM-Aetna provided below.
To learn more about the cause and donate to the Movember Foundation please:
MANCHESTER- On October 21st and 22nd, Ambulance Service of Manchester hosted NETEC (National Ebola Training and Education Center) for a one day program designed for Emergency Medical Services. This program teaches the participant how to identify a potentially infectious patient and how to safely handle and transport them. During the class, participants learned how to prepare their ambulance and how to properly don and doff protective gear, including the PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator). Multiple agencies participated in this training and ASM would like to thank the Connecticut Department of Public Health for sponsoring it. For more information on NETEC, please CLICK HERE.
MANCHESTER- On Monday October 14th, 2019 Ambulance Service of Manchester hosted its fourth American Red Cross Blood Drive at ASM’s headquarters. Numerous employees, friends, family, and community members participated in the day-long event. ASM has committed to hosting a drive at least twice a year. Thank you to all of the new and returning donors and we look forward to the next event!
ASM’s Kayla Fortin and Amie Lacasse spent this past Sunday morning supporting the Lowe’s “Safety Day” event in South Windsor. Stores across the country worked with local EMS agencies to educate families about equipping their homes with accident preventing devices. Children had the opportunity to work side by side building wooden trucks with Ambulance Service of Manchester staff and members of South Windsor Police Department.
MANCHESTER – As of October 10th 2019, ASM’s Orlando Diaz has been cleared by Eastern Connecticut Health Network medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that ASM serves. Orlando was hired at the Ambulance Service of Manchester in February 2017. He offered the following sentiment:
“Precepting with ASM was truly an unbelievable experience. ASM covers a large area, which opened up great opportunities for newer Paramedics, like myself. Learning how to work with volunteers and managing a scene appropriately was one of my favorite parts of precepting. I also appreciated the time my preceptors took to share their experiences. I look forward to being cleared for independent medical control, as well as continuing to learn while providing the best possible care for my patients.”
As with all precepting phases at ASM, Orlando’s final approval came from Eastern Connecticut Health Network after shadowing him and his preceptors in the field as they responded to emergency calls. On behalf of the ASM Family, we would like to wish Orlando the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
Year three fundraising for Team ASM-Aetna was a great success. Through the efforts of our employees, family members, and friends, we were able to raise a total of $2,280 for Breast Cancer Research. In addition, Team ASM-Aetna returned for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk this past Sunday, at Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford. Thank you to everyone involved for your generous contributions and dedication to the cause.
EAST HARTFORD- On Sunday, September 29th, employees, friends and family members from Aetna Ambulance Service and Ambulance Service of Manchester volunteered at the 2019 Greater Hartford Walk to Defeat ALS. The event was held at Rentschler Field. Team ASM-Aetna members worked in registration and in the food and refreshment booths to support walkers and assist with the day’s overall success.
Please see below or click here for the full article by Hartford Courant Report Jesse Leavenworth.
Sean Norton, an Ambulance Service of Manchester operations
supervisor, talks to visitors during ASM’s 60th anniversary celebration
Tuesday. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)
From a single “hearse-style” wagon and a crew of three in 1959,
Ambulance Service of Manchester has grown to 190 employees and 30 ambulances
serving the area from East Hartford to Stafford Springs.
On Tuesday, police officers and firefighters who work with the mobile medical crews joined other visitors at ASM’s cavernous headquarters on New State Road to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary.
Paramedics and emergency medical technicians stood by to describe
ambulance and equipment displays. ASM has updated its fleet with new Mercedes
vans, replacing box-style ambulances. Four of the new vehicles are longer and
sturdier, equipped to lift and transport patients who weigh up to 750 pounds.
ASM also recently acquired two “stair chairs,” which allow crews to more easily
carry patients up and down stairs. Along with heavier patients, ASM crews also
have been dealing with an increase in drug overdoses and mentally ill patients,
officials said.
Paramedic Chris Myska demonstrates a medication injection in ASM’s
training room. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)
ASM and Aetna Ambulance Service are sister companies headed by
president and CEO Kim Aroh. Asked about the companies’ biggest challenges
today, Aroh cited operating costs, such as the recent $300,000 expense to equip
all ambulances with digital radios. The companies strive for modest growth each
year, she said, but reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid have been
flat for a decade.
Besides maintaining equipment and keeping up with changes in
life-saving technology, another priority, Aroh said, is to encourage workers’
participation in fun events such as a polar plunge fundraiser _ which benefits
the community and the employees. Ambulance crews, she noted, regularly have to
handle traumatic scenes.
“They see so many tough things,” Aroh said.
Visitors and ASM employees at the celebration inside the company’s
headquarters on New State Road. (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant)
ASM started as Manchester Ambulance with three men _ J. Stewart
Johnston, Thomas Carpenter and Roger Talbot Sr. _ who were based at a local
auto dealership, according to its website _ www.ambulanceservicemanchester.com. The
outfit moved to a three-bay garage at 134 Center St. in 1969 and its territory
expanded to include East Hartford and Bolton.
Today, company spokesman Patrick Gleason said, ASM and Aetna serve
about 1.2 million people.
Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com
MANCHESTER- On September 20th, 2019 Bowers Elementary School hosted their annual Touch-A-Truck event. Ambulance Service of Manchester EMT’s Philip Zetterstrom and Danielle Kamenskiy gave tours to the students and treated a special patient, “Chompers” the Yard Goats mascot.
MANCHESTER — On September 9th, 2019 seven EMTs and one Paramedic 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.
On September, 15th ASM participated in the “Manchester Police Benevolent Association Softball Tournament”, playing against Manchester Fire and Rescue, Manchester Police Rookies and the Manchester Police Veterans. ASM won 2 out of 3 games to earn a spot in the finals bracket and faced the Manchester Police Rookies to determine a winner. In the end, ASM took home the trophy by defeating the Rookies 9-0 in an epic battle. All proceeds generated will be donated to the PBA.
Here at Ambulance Service of Manchester, we are dedicated to providing Consistent, Timely and Clinically excellent service to our patients, clients and communities. We do this by providing our employees with state-of-the-art technology, training, and equipment. One example of our continuous efforts to better serve our communities is by keeping our fleet well maintained and up to date. Not only does this ensure seamless and reliable service, but it also makes our patient’s and employee’s safety a number one priority. The video provided shows one of six 2019 Mercedes Sprinter ambulances that are scheduled to go on the road within next couple of months. ASM, ensures that our fleet is performing at top-notch level, with no detail overlooked, including performing all of our vehicle decaling in house. (CLICK HERE for video demonstration). This is a prime example of our continued efforts and dedication to grow, expand, and adapt. Please enjoy the video and don’t forget to subscribe for our latest updates and events.
On Wednesday September 4th 2019, ASM hosted the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce “Sheroes Project.” A total of 75 women attended the third installment of this event. This project consists of four workshops throughout the course of the year to teach women self-defense tactics and techniques to avoid being targeted. These techniques include awareness of surroundings, personal security, self-confidence, active shooter training, and bleeding control. The workshop held at ASM focused on “Once the Shooting Stops… Critical Wound Care.” The women were taught first aid, CPR, and bleeding control techniques using tourniquets, QuikClot gauze, and other field expedient methods.
