HARTFORD — Date unknown, likely mid to late 1950′s (comment if you can discern the make, model and year of the car). Note the extent of the damage to the car in picture one and the delivery of what could be last rites in picture two. It is unknown if the pictures are unrelated.
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:
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)– This snow made for a tough day for emergency crews around our state to get to medical situations that could be life or death.
Some ambulance crews went out with help in the form of a snow plow leading the way. Read the original WTNH article and see the video here…
Kevin pushed the ambulance through 6 to 8 inches of slop on the roads as he heads to a call in Wethersfield. It has been a busy evening for this crew.
“We had a gentleman who had his fingers cut off in a log splitter today, thankfully we haven’t had any snow blower accidents yet today. We had a cardiac arrest this morning,” said Matt Campbell, Aetna Ambulance.
And now they are heading lights and sirens to a slip and fall patient in Wethersfield. The problem isn’t the snow, Kevin is used to driving in it and the plows are clearing the way… it’s the other drivers.
“A lot of people, they don’t want to get stuck in the snow, so they don’t want to move over for you, and a lot of people don’t need to be out,” said Kevin Mathiau, Aetna.
But they are out and they are clogging the roads so for big storms like this Aetna Ambulance brings on more crews and more equipment so they can spread it around and shorten response time.
“We will stage ambulances all over the city, we have 2 or 3 in every part of the city. The crews know already to slow down, take your time,” said Mark Hannegan, Director Aetna Ambulance
Telling an EMT or paramedic to slow down isn’t in their nature, but safety is and as long as they can get the patient into the ambulance quickly they can stabilize them for a long ride ahead. But with un-shoveled walks and un-plowed side streets crews sometimes have to carry the patient out to the main road rather than risk getting the ambulance stuck.
“We had to carry out a patient on a back board and there were 4 people on it, and it was a 200/300 yard carry, and it makes it difficult without any snow clearing,” said Mathiau.
“We pride ourselves on speed, and to get to the hospital efficiently and safely, and in this weather it is very difficult to get there safely so it takes a lot longer,” said
Just sending a quick note of sincere gratitude for the exceptional service of your ambulance personnel.
We had a multiple stretcher day here today and the nurses expressed their genuine appreciation for the professionalism and courtesy of your staff both in picking up the patients and returning them. They were all very genuine in their care for the patients as well as communications to the nursing staff.
Thank you again and as always for continuing to provide exceptional service to MCNR,
WE APPRECIATE ASM !
Regards,
— Sandra Burgess, Health Unit Manager/Clinical Care Coordinator
EAST HARTFORD — On February 6th, ASM’s Polina Yakushchenko and Jacob Truebig visited Girls Scout Daisy Troop 10862 during a troop meeting.
“Thanks for sending the ambulance yesterday to our Girls Scout Daisy Troop 10862. The girls enjoyed going inside the ambulance and getting the coloring books. I asked Jacob to explain about the stethoscope and I think that was one of the favorite part for many girls. Thanks so much again for sending them I know winter is kind of crazy with emergency calls.” – Troop Leader Barbara Valdes
MANCHESTER — Additions and renovations to the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s main headquarters, known to employees as “10-1,” continue. As of this writing:
The next steps are renovating and expanding the new Dispatch Center, carpeting the main hallway, opening the new main entrance, adding finishes and flooring in several areas and re-configuring the main call-taking office.
The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.
HARTFORD — On February 3, 2014 Aetna Ambulance will place in service three new Mercedes Sprinter ambulances for regular use and day-to-day operations.
The ambulances are not replacements. Instead they are new additions to the fleet resulting from an application to the Department of Public Health for expanded services last November. To demonstrate need in the application, Aetna cited continued, controlled growth, the need for expanded capacity and the length of time since the last application.
ASM’s Stacy DeBarge
I would like to bring to your attention the actions of [Manchester Fire Rescue EMS Firefighter Paramedic] and ASM EMT Stacy DeBarge of Unit 510.
On 1/XX/2014 Engine X responded to XX Lane for a Medical Alarm. The Incident turned out to be a lift assist only. The patient was an elderly women who had fallen out of bed and had been on the floor most of the night.
After determining the patient was not injured she was assisted into a chair. Patient has a home health aide on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday’s. As this was a Tuesday morning the patient would not have assistance during the day. When learning of this [MFRE Firefighter Paramedic] and Stacy assisted the patient upstairs to get dry clothes as she was wet and had soiled herself. Stacy assisted by [MFRE Firefighter Paramedic] helped the patient shower and get into dry clothes. Patient was assisted back downstairs and into her chair. Arrangements were made for the patients niece to check on her later.
Calling this incident a lift assist only barely scratches the surface as to the above and beyond care that was provided by [MFRE Firefighter Paramedic] and Stacy, who were assisted by John Bonneau, ASM EMT, and [MFRE Firefighter].
I would also like to note that ASM had been dismissed and choose to stay and help.
Thought you would like to know.
[MFRE Lieutenant]
We recently had an organ donor at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. The lung team was going to fly into a Massachusetts airport, so we had to book with an MA ambulance. At the last minute they changed their destination to Bradley, they were on the ground before we knew it! Aetna came through – as always, and quickly had an ambulance meet the team and bring them to BMC. In the world of organ donation timing is everything. Thanks for all the hard work!
-Tania A. Houle, MBA, CPTC
In-House Clinical Donation Coordinator
LifeChoice Donor Services
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:
(L to R): Ted Dombroskas reaches for the coveted medical control letter held by Preston Ryzak
HARTFORD – As of January 17, 2014 Aetna’s Ted Dombroskas has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.
Ted’s preceptor was Preston Ryzak. 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, Ted’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital after shadowing Ted and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.
Ted graduated from the Yale New Haven Sponsor Hospital Paramedic Program.
On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish Ted the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.
by Sam Porcello
Miss earlier volumes? Click here…
(Note: This post was written in the Summer of 2013) After advancing through the Regional competition at Torrington High School in March 2013, I participated in the State History Day competition at Central Connecticut State University on April 27th. During the interview portion of the state competition, the judges were intrigued by the photo of the two “doctors” loading a patient into an ambulance, and specifically asked about them.
The exhibit was awarded first place, so I will be participating in the National Competition at the University of Maryland in College Park from June 9-13. In addition, each year at Nationals, one student from each state is nominated to display their exhibit at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. I am honored to have been selected this year, so the story of the Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance will be on display at the museum on Wednesday, June 12.
Thank you again. Please know that I will be thinking of all of you in June when I compete for Connecticut, and am proud to share this part of Hartford history with others. The story of Aetna Ambulance is remarkable.
MANCHESTER — Year unknown, likely mid 1960′s. Pictured is a victim of a motor vehicle accident victim attended to by Roger Talbot, Manchester Ambulance’s patriarch. Note the Manchester Police officer, the concerned well-dressed bystanders and Roger in the foreground. Photo credit and thanks to Kenneth Burkamp as noted in the watermark.
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:
MANCHESTER — Additions and renovations to the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s main headquarters, known to employees as “10-1,” continue. As of this writing:
The next steps are moving into the new offices, completing the new main hallway and reception area, updating and moving the Dispatch-Communications offices and updating the call-taking office.
The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.