Aetna and ASM Send Ambulances to Mass Casualty in New Britain

Posted on June 20, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

Aetna and ASM at Rock Cats Stadium – Photo Courtesy of WFSB

NEW BRITAIN — On June 29, 2012 multiple ambulances from Aetna and ASM were requested to Rock Cats Stadium in New Britain for a report of multiple patients suffering from heat exhaustion.

The stadium was the venue for a graduation exercise at the time and due to 95 degree temperatures, many in attendance were displaying signs of heat related illnesses. Aetna and ASM had up to six ambulances and two paramedic units to assist New Britain EMS.

Check WFSB News for more… Continue reading →

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 4

Posted on May 18, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

ASM Aetna Paramedics operate LifePak 15 cardiac-monitors

MANCHESTER — On May 17, 2012, ASM Paramedic Supervisor Robert O’Neil wirelessly transmitted a 12-lead EKG to Hartford Hospital in order to precipitate a field activation of the cardiac catheterization lab.

The transmission, which flows through a purpose-specific modem stored externally on the LifePak 15 cardiac monitor, draws the attention of the ED physician, interventionalist and cardiologist and most often results in the patient being conveyed from the field directly into the care of the cardiac staff in the cath lab.

This particular patient was in cardiogenic shock as partially manifested by bradycardia.

The following is excerpted from an email from Dr. Marcin Dada, Associate Director of the Chest Pain Center, Hartford Hospital: Continue reading →

ASM Responds: Car Crash in Manchester

Posted on May 16, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

: (Photo Courtesy of Hartford Courant)

HARTFORD COURANT

MANCHESTER— Three people were taken away by ambulance after an accident on Tolland Turnpike Wednesday afternoon.

The injuries were non-life threatening, police said. Two vehicles had heavy front-end damage. Police traffic Sgt. Hank Minor said speeding and inattentive driving caused the accident. A driver of a third car involved in the accident would be cited, Minor said. Read the full Courant article here… Continue reading →

A Thank You Letter for a Cancelled Call?

Posted on May 6, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

MANCHESTER — On April 3, 2012 the Ambulance Service of Manchester received the following letter in regards to a 911 call that ended in a refusal of transport and care.

On Sunday April 1, 2012, I had a medical problem that led my wife to call 911. Within a very short time up rolls your ambulance with Mike Panciera and Jeff Rasmussen.

They jumped in Continue reading →

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 3

Posted on April 24, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

Kudos from the Cath Lab

(Content that follows is excerpted from an email from the Hartford Hospital cardiac team…)

Great job everyone.

I though you would like to know that today’s STEMI times were as follows:

Door to Balloon Time – 36 minutes

EMS to Balloon time – 69 minutes

The system-organized response was initiated in the field (town withheld) where the pre-hospital ECG was transmitted by AETNA Ambulance to the Hartford Hospital Emergency Department and then forwarded to the Cath Lab (Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory). Many should be congratulated, in particular:

Drs. McKay and Almahasnen and the Cath Lab team (A. Almeida, R. Fisher, E. Letoutneau)
Drs. Smally, Sullivan and the ED team (C. Urso, A. Mugovero)
Last but not least, the AETNA Paramedics Ashley Harkins and Preston Ryzak for timely ECG interpretation and transmission. Continue reading →

Aetna Responds: Ambulance Crew Provides EMS Support at Standoff

Posted on February 27, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

Aetna Ambulance Crew Stands By

HARTFORD — An Aetna Ambulance crew can be seen standing by at a standoff last night on Allen Street in Hartford.

SWAT officers were present and a suspect was taken into custody. Link to the Courant article and one additional photograph below, care of the Hartford Courant. Continue reading →

ASM’s Vinnie Maston and Ryan McConville Receive Top Scores

Posted on February 21, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

ASM's Vinnie Maston

MANCHESTER — On February 3, 2012 Ambulance Service of Manchester crew members Vinnie Maston and Ryan McConville responded to a non-emergency transport request from a private residence within ASM’s service area.

As per normal practice for patients who request non-emergency service from their private residence, within two weeks the patient received a Patient Satisfaction Survey. The patient and her caregivers promptly sent back a glowing response on the care she received. So glowing that it needed to be shared. Continue reading →

Aetna’s Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau Receive Top Scores

Posted on January 23, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

Aetna's Matt Campbell

HARTFORD — On December 17, 2011 Aetna Ambulance crew members Matt Campbell and Kevin Mathiau responded to an Advanced Life Support request in one of Aetna and ASM’s “mutual aid” towns.

As per normal practice, within two weeks the patient was randomly selected to receive a Patient Satisfaction Survey. The patient promptly sent back a glowing response on the care she received. So glowing that it needed to be shared. Continue reading →

Aetna Crew Receives High Praise as “Local Heroes”

Posted on January 6, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

Aetna Ambulance Responds: Charter Oak Landing

(From June 2011): Who are your heroes and why?

When asked this question, some choose historical figures like Lincoln. Some pick fictional characters such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Some point to family members. Others select athletes.

Perhaps we should redefine heroes by the way they behave, the legacy they leave, and the difference they make every day in the real world.

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the local heroes of Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc. for the assistance they offered my husband, Douglas Zimmerman. Read the full article here…

Top Ten Story of 2011: EMS Response to Springfield, MA Tornado

Posted on January 4, 2012 by ASM-Aetna

ASM in staging in Springfield, MA following tornado

The EMS response to the June tornado that struck Springfield, MA was highlighted as one of the Top Ten Stories of 2011 by Tolland Patch. Tolland Fire Department as well as many other Tolland County fire departments, EMS agencies and ASM responded to Springfield and Munson, MA to assist victims and provide other rescue services. Read the full story here…

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 2

Posted on December 17, 2011 by ASM-Aetna

Kudos from the Cath Lab

Email from Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center:

“Greg D. [ASM Paramedic #438] and the crews did a great job with this STEMI patient yesterday. Patient did very well and is fortunate to have been transported to a STEMI center. Nice work for the crew working with the patient to make an informed decision. Cath showed 99% RCA Lesion which was opened and stented.” Continue reading →

ASM Responds: Students Hospitalized After Crash With Police Cruiser

Posted on December 13, 2011 by ASM-Aetna

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, jleavenworth@courant.com

The Hartford Courant

ASM Responds: Accident involving police cruiser and teenagers

— Four Manchester High School students were slightly injured when a police cruiser collided with their car Tuesday, officials said.

The driver of the Oldsmobile sedan may have been pulling out of a curbside parking space, or making a u-turn in the road when the cruiser struck the driver’s side, Police Chief Marc Montminy said, but investigators are still gathering information. Read the full Hartford Courant article here…

More pictures in full blog post… Continue reading →

Aetna Ambulance a Vital Link in Making Organ Donation Possible

Posted on December 9, 2011 by ASM-Aetna

LifeChoice Donor Services and Aetna Ambulance are partners The following is an excerpt of an email message from LifeChoice:

“This patient’s family was very uplifted that he was able to be a donor and found great comfort knowing that he was able to continue to help others in death as he had in life. This could not have been possible without the involvement of EMS (Aetna Ambulance, in referenced case) when a patient codes at home.

Continue reading →

Kudos from the Cath Lab: Volume 1

Posted on November 28, 2011 by ASM-Aetna

: ASM and Aetna Paramedics operate LifePak-15 cardiac monitors

(Content that follows is excerpted from an email from the Hartford Hospital cardiac team…)

STRONG team work.

Kudos continue – to the Cath Lab/ED/EMS team. This patient was brought by ASM who transmitted ECG and activated the team pre-hospitaly (STEMI). The patient was taken straight to the Cath Lab after a quick triage in the emergency department (without any STOP at the [critical care pod]). Continue reading →

‘The Reminder News’ Profiles Emergency Response to October Storm

Posted on November 18, 2011 by ASM-Aetna

: Radar impact of Winter Storm Alfred, care of the Weather Channel

Among other services, The Reminder News profiled ASM’s local response during Winter Storm Alfred. The historical damage wrought by a rare October storm was acutely felt by Aetna and ASM as emergency and non-emergency volume soared. Both core locations, Manchester and Hartford, ran on generator power and redundant phone lines. Service was fully restored within several days. Read the article on Winter Storm Alfred and its impact here…

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Category Archives: EMS Response