WINDHAM — ASM appeared in Willimantic’s 29th annual Boombox Parade on July 4, 2014 care of AEMT and Field Training Officer Stephanie Boutot. Stephanie has been insistent that ASM participate each year as she was in the very first Boom Box parade.
Category Archives: Employee Spotlight
ASM’s Ray Stovall Receives Medal of Valor from Somers Fire Department
By Gayla M. Cawley
Journal Inquirer (Read the full article here)
SOMERS — The Somers Fire Department on Monday recognized one of its own and a firefighter from the Hazardville Fire Department in Enfield for their heroism in rescuing a woman from a burning building last December.
Somers firefighter Ray Stovall was on hand at the Fire Department on Main Street to receive his Medal of Valor and official citations from the General Assembly and his department, but Capt. Jaime Hurley of the Hazardville Fire Department was unable to attend as he was working.
First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini presented Stovall with the citation from the General Assembly, reading aloud some of it, which proclaimed, “You are a model firefighter and an inspiration to us all.”
Pellegrini told Stovall, “You are a hero.”
Somers Fire Chief Gary Schiessl presented Stovall with the Medal of Valor and a citation from the department for “entering a burning structure, rescuing the woman, and bringing her to safety.”
“There is no greater reward for firefighters than to save a life,” Schiessl said.
Somers Deputy Fire Chief Frank Falcone, Jr. also responded to the call that Wednesday morning on Dec. 4, 2013, at a multi-family residence at 61 Main St. He witnessed the lifesaving actions of Stovall and Hurley as they found the woman, Katie Colgan, 34, lying unconscious in her daughter’s second-floor bedroom and carried her outside to safety.
Falcone said the Medal of Valor was fitting and that the rescue was “truly a team effort.”
Stovall agreed, saying, “It was one of those days where everything worked. It’s one of the proudest moments of my career so far. To be able to save a life is definitely awesome.” (Read the full article here)
Words That Describe Us: Volume 27
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:
- Top shelf.
- Very professional and compassionate.
- Excellent!
- Professionals.
- Professional. They got me there alive!
- Very professional. The staff is without a doubt, top notch.
- Exceptional.
- Caring.
- Very professional, very kind, sympathetic. They did their very best at keeping my anxiety level down. They did a great job. This was my first call for help in this nature and I can’t say enough on how well I was treated. Thank you so much. (14-38217; B. Mathiau, J. Bush).
- Caring and efficient.
- Outstanding!
- Caring.
- Excellent. They were very professional. Couldn’t have been better. (14-38987; R. Fraley, R. Leslie).
- Personable and very knowledgeable.
- Ok.
- Great.
- The [EMS Providers] were knowledgeable, good communicators, kind and professional. It was a positive experience for a difficult situation. (14-39676; M. Levasseur, R. Fross responding with Coventry Volunteer Fire Association).
- Very caring, knowledgeable and professional.
- Wonderful!
- Efficient, kind. Thank you so much for your help…Thanks to you, I’m on my way to a satisfactory recovery.
- Very professional.
Paralyzed Man Gets Surprise Lift To Son’s Graduation
Read the original Fox CT story here…
LOUISA MOLLER — Fox CT
A paralyzed Connecticut man was given a special gift Monday by a generous ambulance company. Frank Foster was transported from New Britain to Danbury by the Ambulance Service of Manchester to see his only son graduate from Bethel High School.
“None of us expected this. If it wasn’t for my friends at the ambulance company, it wouldn’t have happened,” Foster said.
Foster has spent most of his time in hospitals since a devastating incident a few years ago. He suffered from an aortic aneurism resulting in a spinal cord injury.
“I was in my living room and all the sudden, I dropped to the floor. Luckily my phone was next to me,” Foster said.
He had discussed his son Paul’s graduation with ASM employees but did not learn that the company was transporting him, free of charge, until a few months later.
“Surprise is an understatement,” Foster said. Read more from Fox 61 here…
Meet the Newest Members of the ASM Team: ASM Adds Four
MANCHESTER — On June 19, 2014, four EMTs were added to the ASM team. As part of our continued growth ASM and Aetna 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.
Justin Duval: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Justin Duval and I am 31 years old. I live in Ashford, CT with my wife and two awesome boys. We have a 110 pound German shepherd babysitter named Major. I am certified at the level of Firefighter II and Wildland Firefighter Type 2. I have been a volunteer firefighter with the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department for five years now. My experience there has given me a passion for the EMS field. I have been an automotive mechanic for the past twelve years and I am ready to pursue a career in something that I enjoy doing and that makes me happy. I feel honored to be chosen for this position and look forward to my new career at ASM.
Carolyn Judge: FULL TIME, EMT. Hi I’m Carolyn and I’m from Weston, CT. I graduated from UConn with a degree in Biological Sciences and subsequently became an EMT. I’ve been living in Newington for about a year and volunteering with Newington Volunteer Ambulance. In my free time I enjoy outdoor sports in particular trail running and backpacking. I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of ASM!
Laura McHugh: FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Laura McHugh and I am 23 years old. I grew up in East Windsor, but currently reside in Vernon, CT. I graduated high school in 2008 at EWHS, then attended Ridely Lowell for Medical Assistant. The summer of 2013 I studied for my EMT-B certification at CPR Training Professionals while working at JMH in the Emergency Department. In my free time I enjoy running, hiking, reading, spending time with my family and traveling. I am also a huge New England Patriots fan. I’m excited to begin my career at ASM while serving the community.
Jovany Rosado: FULL TIME, EMT. Well I’m a country bumpkin raised on a pig farm on a tropical island. I’m an easy going gear-head that just loves humanity and firmly believes in that an ounce of honest heartfelt kindness will stop a tsunami of negativity and hatred. I’m a loving husband and father to a three month old baby girl and a 13 going 30 young man whom I swear wants me to get hit by a meteor. As a gear head and an overall science enthusiast I love to tinker, modify, tear things apart and poke about it, whatever it may be. I however am not a hopeless and unreasonable romantic. We live in the REAL world where sometimes bad things happen to good and bad people. Where accidents happen and people do terrible things to themselves and sadly to others. I believe without a doubt that I can somehow in this giant equation of life, I can, with my tiny number, make a significant difference. I’m a liver and lover of life. I believe that life is too short as it is without negative circumstances prevailing. As an EMT-B with his eyes on Paramedic school, I might be able to provide some time of precious life to those who I can extent of my abilities to.
Thank You Letters from Bowers Elementary Career Day
MANCHESTER — In April 2014 ASM’s Ted Oliver and Stephanie Boutot attended Bowers Elementary School Career Day to talk to the children about ambulances, Paramedics and EMTs, and medical emergencies.
The Career Day team wrote to ASM to say thank you. An excerpt reads, “Please accept our warmest thank you for volunteering your time to be a part of our Bowers School Career Day! The day was full of wonderful people like you, positive messages, and appreciative students and staff members.”
Words That Describe Us: Volume 26
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:
- Service was excellent!
- Professional and compassionate.
- Great service!
- Very good x 2.
- Professional and caring x 2.
- Helpful and professional.
- Excellent. Very, very good.
- Comforting.
- Skilled. Attendants very courteous and professional! (14-31622; D. Noyes, T. Whalen).
- Efficient.
- Very good.
- Very personable and made me feel at ease. I wish I knew their names, but they provided excellent service. They made me feel very comfortable. They are great employees. (14-32476; K. Caldwell, M. Hoyt).
- I felt they were very concerned with my well-being.
- Caring and professional x 2.
- Very professional x 2.
- Very caring – Very professional.
- Dependable.
- Exceptional professionals.
- The Best.
- Professional – Efficient
- Good medical care.
- Good service.
- Very caring and informative.
- Professional, skilled, prompt, knowledgeable.
- Life saving.
Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Chris Nelson Completes Precepting
HARTFORD – As of June 5, 2014 Aetna’s Chris Nelson has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.
Chris’s preceptor was Kevin Stock. 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, Chris’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Chris and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.
Chris graduated from the New Haven Sponsor Hospital Paramedic Program.
On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Chris the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
Words That Describe Us: Volume 25
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:
- The EMT’s were great, but I hope I never need your services. Thank you for your prompt service, professional care, concern, kindness and humor. (14-39662; J. Pasquale, S. Whalen).
- Excellent services and personnel.
- Considerate.
- Caring and knowledgeable.
- Very caring.
- Professional and knowledgeable.
- Excellent service.
- Well trained.
- Great.
- First class.
- Thoughtful, efficient.
- Quick response to 911 call.
- Friendly, professional, caring. Thank to all of those who took care of me! (drew a heart) (14-20568; L. Mazzoni, D. Rice).
- Excellent, professional service.
- Everyone and everything was perfect (14-25136; M. Campbell, R. Gonska).
- Excellent service.
- Calm, caring.
- R. and K. we’re both great! (14-27862; R. McConville, K. King).
- You guys were the best!
- Kind
- A-O-K.
- Prompt, excellent service.
- Comforting, easing anxiety, courteous. [Patient] had a stroke 15 years ago and can’t talk and was very upset when he could not breathe. EMT relaxed him and helped him immediately and treated me with respect and calmed my fears. Thank you for your services. (14-31597; A. Fine, J. Rassmussen).
High Praise for ASM’s John Bonneau and Drew Hedberg
MANCHESTER — On May 13, 2014 ASM’s John Bonneau and Drew Hedberg responded alongside Manchester’s Eight District Fire Department for a 911 call. One to two weeks after the transport the patient was randomly selected to receive a Patient Satisfaction Report.
When asked to use or word or phrase to describe the crew the patient wrote: “Wonderful. Did their job well.”
She went on to write, “Your ASM team were wonderful, professional and caring. I was crying much of the time off and on from the onset to being in the hospital. The EMT with me was extra special. He made me comfortable, asked necessary questions in a most caring way, even asked me how my Mother’s Day was and told me about his. I highly recommend you company. ASM was represented by your team in a most positive way.”
-14-41167
Another Survey Response for Aetna’s Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau
HARTFORD — On March 26, 2014 Aetna Ambulance’s Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau once again responded to a motor vehicle accident in Wethersfield, a scenario which landed them high praise in a survey in February. Some have begun to believe the two carry blank surveys on their person.
In this case, within two weeks the patient was randomly selected to receive a Patient Satisfaction Survey. The patient sent back a response with all clinical care boxes marked Agree or Strongly Agree and the following narrative:
Please use a word to describe us: “Competent, caring, professional, compassionate.”
“The person who cared for me, Matt, was exemplary. He was very caring and paid attention to my concerns and addressed them. He put my mind at ease in a situation that was tenuous. Being a nurse and knowing what could be happening to me made me very frightened and he made me feel like I could trust him and know it was ok. I hope he sees this and I hope he gets lauded for what he does. I know if did this for me he does this for others. And I know its hard to care for people in the medical profession. I hope I can thank him personally some day.”
-14-25907
Meet the Newest Members of the Aetna Team: Aetna Adds Four
HARTFORD — On May 29, 2014, four 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.
David Jackson: My name is David Jackson and I am 22 years old. I graduated from the Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology in 2014. My goal is to go to medical school and to go into the field of emergency medicine. I took my EMT-Basic class in Bridgeport, CT in 2008 at the Bridgeport Hospital Emergency Medicine Institute. I started working in EMS at Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, however, when I moved to Boston, MA for college I began working for Boston University Emergency Medical Services. In my spare time I enjoy scuba diving and boating on the Long Island Sound and I am very excited to start to work towards my Dive Master certification this summer. I truly love emergency medicine in all its forms and I am very excited to be one of the newest additions to this amazing team and to have the opportunity to work in your community.
Eric Marandino: My name is Eric Marandino. After being self-employed for the past 15 years (in the dental industry) I was looking for a career change. I know many people who are, or were EMTS and they all said how much they enjoyed the job. I graduated EMT last summer through Hartford Hospital. I feel very fortunate to have been hired by Aetna Ambulance and look forward to starting my new career.
I have trained in martial arts for 30 years. After extensive training in Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, Boxing, American Kickboxing and Jeet Kune Do, I began training Brazilian Jiujitsu 10 years ago. I have been fortunate to be able to teach, train and compete a lot in the past five years. I will continue to train jiujitsu for the rest of my life. Some of my other interests include mountain biking, hiking, cooking, movies and working on my house. I am an avid reader and I try to always be reading a good book.
Andrew O’Laughlin: My name is Andrew O’Loughlin. I am 21 years old, and I am from Hebron Connecticut. I am a senior at UMASS Amherst, where I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology this December. I work UMASS EMS while at school, and I am a volunteer EMT with the Fire Department in my hometown. I have a passion for patient care, and I look forward to working with the team at Aetna.
In my spare time I’m fairly active. I spend a lot of time weightlifting, running, hiking etc. You will see me at a lot of events like the Spartan Races and Tough Mudders. I have also done a few events with GORUCK. They focus on team building, for long hours (24+ for my most recent), under heavy weights. I also recently became a certified scuba diver, and plan on diving the local area this summer.
In the future I plan on continuing my education. My plan is to return to UMASS after graduation to complete a second bachelor’s in Nursing. I’m excited to expand my role in the healthcare field, but EMS will always by my passion. I intend on staying active within the field after I begin my career as a nurse.
Tony Mazzola: My name is Anthony Mazzola, but you can call me Tony. I am 21 years old. I received my EMT last summer and have been working for Newington Volunteer Ambulance for the past six months. Even though I am relatively new to this field, I have developed a passion for it and I feel as though I have a lot to gain from it. I have just recently graduated from Manchester Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I am going to be continuing my college career and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). I love working on cars, particularly, Volkswagens. Yes, I am a Volkswagen guy! I am very excited to be a part of the Aetna team and I look forward to meeting everyone!
Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Shannon Whalen Completes Precepting Phase
HARTFORD – As of May 17, 2014 Aetna’s Shannon Whalen has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.
Shannon’s preceptor was Jennifer Pasquale. 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, Shannon’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Shannon and her preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.
Shannon graduated from the Goodwin College Paramedic Studies Program.
On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Shannon the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
Injured Manchester EMT Focus Of Fundraising
HARTFORD COURANT
by Jesse Leavenworth
MANCHESTER — Friends, coworkers and teammates are rallying in support of Carolyn Edwards, a beloved emergency medical technician who was badly hurt in a recent motorcycle accident.
“The reason everybody descended on this is that she’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Ambulance Service of Manchester spokesman Dave Skoczulek said Thursday. “I’ve never heard her say a negative thing. She’s one of those people who’s always laughing, positive, upbeat. When this happened, it made a mess out of everybody and they came together as fast as they could.”
Read the original Courant article here…
Edwards, 36, of Manchester, was driving her motorcycle on East Center Street on the morning of May 6 when she collided with a car at the Vernon Street intersection, police have said. She was treated for head and arm injuries in the intensive care unit at Hartford Hospital, but was recently transferred to a rehabilitation facility.
Along with ASM, other organizations raising money to support Edwards’ family and help pay her medical bills include sports teams she belongs to, including the Hartford Wild Roses Women’s Rugby Team. The team is selling t-shirts with “#Carolynstrong” printed on the back. To purchase a t-shirt or a #carolynstrong bracelet, visit http://www.carolynstrong.org.
ASM employees also have been raising money through “cold water challenges,” which involve immersion in swimming pools and other chilly bodies of water. The company’s president and CEO, Wayne Wright, recently took part in one such challenge (see the video at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carolynstrong/1447016028872363).
Edwards, who was born in New York City, moved with her family to Manchester as a young girl and graduated from Manchester High School, ASM paramedic Kenya Russell said. Edwards, who is single and has no children, has been working for ASM for about five years. Russell said the two were frequent partners.
“She is consistently kind all the time, no matter what the scenario is,” Russell said. “We have stressful scenarios, but she’s always smiling.”
“She was like that as a little kid,” Edwards’ uncle, Doug Edwards, said.
Little by little, Edwards said, his niece’s condition is improving. Her great physical shape before the accident and the many friends she has made are helping, he said..
“Between her physical stamina and her relationships with people, I think that’s really the thing that makes her recovery go well,” Edwards said.
When Carolyn Edwards regains her health, friends plan to convert the fundraising organization they started after the accident into a standing foundation to benefit all emergency medical service workers in the state who face similar crises, Russell said.
Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s Halston Mendes Completes Precepting Phase
HARTFORD – As of May 15, 2014 Aetna’s Halston Mendes has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.
Halston’s preceptor was Matthew Campbell. 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, Halston’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Halston and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.
Halston graduated from the Capital Community College Paramedic Program.
On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Halston the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.