Tag Archives: Ambulance companies in Connecticut

External Winter Storm Update from DESPP / DEMHS

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Hercules2014

STATUS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER – MONITORING

Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect for the entire state until Friday morning.  A Coastal Flood Watch (Minor Flooding Expected) is in effect from 10:00 PM until 2:00 AM Friday morning for Coastal Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

At 1:45 PM radar showed bands of light snow falling across the state with temperatures ranging from the mid teens in Northern CT up to low 20’s along the coast.  According to DOT Camera’s secondary roads are currently slush or snow coated in many areas.  Most highways are still fairly snow free in the travel lanes.  Northeast Winds are currently gusting to 20 MPH inland and up to 30 MPH along the coast with wind chills near 0 F in Northern CT up to +10 F at the coast.

This Afternoon: Bands of light snow becoming steadier by 4:00 PM with around an inch of accumulation during the afternoon.  Northeast winds gradually increasing and gusting to 25 – 35 MPH by late this afternoon.  The impact on the afternoon rush hour is expected to range from minor in the valleys and highways to pockets of moderate impact in the rural areas and in the higher elevations.  Temperatures are forecast to fall into the low teens by late afternoon with wind chills ranging from -10 F to +10 F.

Tonight: Northeast winds increasing to 30 – 35 MPH with snow becoming moderate to heavy at times.  The heaviest snow and wind (with near blizzard conditions expected along the coast) is currently expected between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.  During this time snowfall rates are forecast to be approximately 1” per hour with low visibilities, blowing and drifting of snow and a moderate to major impact on overnight travel.  Temperatures will also be bitter cold overnight with lows between +5 and +10 F and wind chills ranging from -5 to -15 F.  Total overnight snowfall of 5 – 7” is expected.  Minor coastal flooding is expected around the time of high tide at midnight in Western Long Island Sound with tide departures around 2 feet above the normal high tide.

Friday Morning: Snow tapering off to flurries from West to East between 7:00 – 10:00 AM and ending completely by early afternoon.  The impact on the morning rush hour is expected to be to moderate to borderline major with several inches of snow cover on most roads, light snow falling early and considerable blowing and drifting of the dry snow across roads.  Highs on Friday are only expected to reach the low teens with wind chills ranging from -10 to 0 F during the day.  Blowing snow is expected thru the Afternoon with a minor impact on the afternoon rush hour expected.

Total snowfall for the storm is forecast to range from 7 – 10” statewide with the lowest amounts in Southwestern CT and the highest amounts along the Southeast coast and in far Eastern CT.

Friday Night: Very cold conditions are expected with lows ranging from -10 to -15 F in Northern CT up to +0 F along the coast.  Lighter winds are expected to push wind chills down to –10 to -20 F at times.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will continue to monitor the latest weather conditions and will issue another update at 6:00 PM this evening.

Aetna, ASM, State Police Toy Drive Pictures for 2013

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WEST HARTFORD — Attached are pictures from the Connecticut State Police ‘Stuff a Cruiser’ Toy Drive for 2013 which is a team effort with Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester.

The Toy Drive took place December 19-22 at Toys R Us locations in Manchester, Newington and West Hartford and brings in cash donations and toys for children treated at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center locations throughout the year. Photo credit to David Tedeschi.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 17

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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:

  • Great job.
  • Kind and caring.
  • Caring.
  • Professional.
  • The ambulance came on time, the staff were loving and caring people. (13-97557; G. Geres, R. Fross).
  • Professional and skilled.
  • Professional.
  • Very good.
  • Excellent service. This was my first time using the Ambulance Service and I must admit this was a time in my life that made me very nervous and the technicians made me feel very comfortable. I give the technician an A plus for their service. (13-87462; V. Maston, N. Raiola).
  • The medics were very helpful and kind.
  • Excellent.
  • Great! The student was good too.
  • Caring, professional.
  • Very compassionate.
  • Greatly appreciated.
  • Caring.
  • Very impressed. Made me feel at east and kept my mind off the pain. (13-95988; S. Crittenden, B. Langan).
  • Many helpful skilled staff people.
  • Professional.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 7

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efe459069aby Sam Porcello

Miss earlier volumes? Click here…

The fact that the business grew and continues to be strong today is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of this family.

Thank you to Aetna Ambulance and the Grady family for all of your support and your patience, providing photos, information and answering all of my questions.   Mrs. Grady and her daughters even came to cheer me on at the Regional competition!  Mr. Titus’ first-hand account of the fire was chilling.

After advancing through the Regional competition at Torrington High School in March, 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.

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 11

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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 former men’s and women’s bathrooms within the billing office have been demolished as well as the notched hallway walls in order to make way for a new main lobby. The new lobby is taking shape as two glass entry doors have been added and the hallway has been framed.
  • New offices have been framed and drywall has been hung in the rear of the building where the Medicare office once stood and the wall between two of the offices has been removed to double its size.
  • Flooring has been added in the new staging area and locker room.
  • The former main entrance has had the window removed and the cut-out sealed.

The next steps are completing those items listed above as well as installing and completing the drop ceilings, moving the lockers, completing the lobby area and adding in the reception area window.

The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.

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

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HARTFORD — On December 12, 2013, three EMTs and one Paramedic 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.

 

 

 

Samuel Dybdahl:   PART TIME, EMT.  My name is Samuel Dybdahl and I’m 26 years old. I am just completing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and seek to further my career in Emergency Medicine.  I have been a combat medic and healthcare specialist in the military since 2008 with one deployment to Afghanistan. I enjoy helping others and furthering my knowledge within the medical field; I would like to pursue a paramedic program in the near future. In my spare time I often compete in physical activities including Duathlon/Triathlons, road races and weight lifting.

Ryan Gonska:  FULL TIME, Paramedic. My name is Ryan Gonska and I am 23 years old from Torrington, CT.  I am a volunteer with Harwinton West Side Fire Dept. and Harwinton Ambulance. I started at Harwinton Ambulance as an explorer when I was 15.  I received my EMT in 2008. Shortly after, I got hired as an ER Tech at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital while I was attending classes for the AEMT. Four years later I made the decision to get my Paramedic.  I graduated from Capitol Community College in 2012 and I have been working as a paramedic for the past year. In the near future I hope to get my EMSI and start teaching. I am considering going back to school in the to pursue a degree in respiratory therapy or nursing.  In my free time, I enjoy cooking, golfing, fishing, and hiking. I am very excited to join the Aetna family.

Steve Spaderna:   PART TIME, EMT. My name is Steve Spaderna and I am a new EMT! Prior to attaining my EMT certification I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biology from CCSU.  I worked for about five years in genomic research as part of a team that was looking at human gene expression for potential drug targets. Then deciding I didn’t want to be stuck in a lab all the time, I spent about seven years working as a drug rep for large pharmaceutical companies. During my time as a drug rep I became increasingly interested in patient healthcare. I just didn’t feel fulfilled in my last occupation, so I made the decision to go back to school with the goal of eventually becoming a physician assistant. Over the last couple years I have been getting pre-requisite credits done while interning at a doctor’s office for required clinical hours. Physician Assistant programs are extremely competitive and difficult to get into, but I am hoping to eventually get accepted. Personally, I am kind of a science nerd and enjoy learning about anything and everything. I watch Discovery and The Learning Channel a lot (Untold Stories of the ER!) and I have a passion for science fiction. For an interesting combination, I also happen to be really into weightlifting. I am super excited to be part of the Aetna team and I am looking forward to the opportunity to be a patient advocate!

Kat Stewart:  FULL TIME, EMT. I’m a new EMT I finished the Hartford Hospital EMT program in July. This is something I have wanted to do since high school but I never had the chance. So after I graduated college and worked a few different jobs I finally made my chance happen and absolutely fell in love. I aspire to one day go to paramedic school. At the age of almost 26 I can finally say I’m on the right career path. I’m very excited to be part of the Aetna team and look forward to seeing you on the road.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 16

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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:

  • Concerned.
  • They were very helpful.
  • Professional.
  • Prompt
  • Professional + caring.
  • The best! Professional and caring and worked extremely well as a team. Thank you for all you do! (13-97292; S. Crittenden and B. Langan).
  • The EMTs probably unknowingly saved my life. I called 911 and I didn’t know who would come. They were very professional and caring and made sure my apartment was secure. (13-97706; T. Oliver, M. Sparks).
  • Excellent service.
  • Professional and caring.
  • Very kind and comforting. Felt very safe and knew I would be taken care of. (13-97497; S. Allen, D. Rice).
  • Caring and professional.
  • Professional, caring.
  • Professionally concerned.
  • The best.
  • Great.
  • Great!
  • Very professional.
  • Very good.
  • Outstanding service!
  • Fast and great. The East Hartford Paramedics and the 2 ambulance guys were super. I had great service by all.

Aetna and ASM Invest in New Defibrillators

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medtroniclifepak1000-2MANCHESTER and HARTFORD — Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester have purchased new LifePak 1000 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for use on every Basic Life Support unit in both fleets. As one of (reportedly the first) commercial ambulance service in Connecticut to equip every BLS unit with this life saving piece of equipment, it was critical to continue the capability with new technology.

Each Paramedic Unit at Aetna and ASM use LifePak 15s capable of wireless transmission of 12-lead EKGs, external pacemaking, cardioversion, CO detection, non-invasive blood pressures and end tidal CO2 monitoring (specification arrangement also known as fully configured). DSC_1580LifePak 15s are used on a daily basis whereas AEDs see use on a rare occasion but have a significant impact for those patients. Typically the CPR and defribillation performed when these AEDs are used is the first skilled services provided to a patient in a life threatening situation.

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 10

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MANCHESTER — Additions and renovations to the Ambulance Service of Manchester’s main headquarters, known to employees as “10-1,” continue. As of this writing:

  • Construction of the new classroom space is complete, with kitchenette and is awaiting drop down screen and AV equipment.
  • The main restrooms are complete and in-service.
  • The Medicare and accounts payable sections of the billing office are complete and those billing agents have moved into the new space.
  • The ancillary/back hallway has flooring and new door.
  • The old men’s and women’s bathrooms have been demolished as well as the hallway walls to make way for a new main lobby.
  • The old Medicare billing office and collections area are awaiting demo and construction of a new hallway that passes through from the call-taking area.

The next steps are mainly listed above but include the construction of new offices and hallways, moving the lockers into a new area and completion of a new lobby and main entrance.

The addition and renovation are part of ASM’s continued commitment and investment in the towns it serves.

Regional Food Drive In Manchester Considered A Success

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By JESSE LEAVENWORTH

The Hartford Courant

4:57 p.m. EST, November 25, 2013

MANCHESTER — A regional food drive in its fifth year tallied “phenomenal” results, an organizer announced Monday.

The Emergency of Hunger drive, run by emergency response agencies and Rotary Club members, gathered 38,309 food items, $24,143 in cash, checks and gift cards and 596 turkeys, event organizer Dave Skoczulek said.

Donations were gathered at supermarkets in Manchester, South Windsor, Vernon, Windsor and Enfield, the latest community to join the effort. The donations go to food pantries and shelters in each town.

“Because we keep adding towns and changing hours and tinkering with the format, it’s hard to say if it was the biggest year,” Skoczulek said. “But I would say it was the best year. We had the most fun, brought in a huge amount, had the best interactions with the public and saw the biggest desire to give.”

Over the past five years, the drive has tallied 147,000 food items, $96,186 in donations and 4,170 turkeys.

Read the Courant article by clicking here…

‘Emergency of Hunger’ Food Drive to Continue this Weekend

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Gallery includes pictures from last weekend. 

MANCHESTER — The demand on local food assistance programs continues to increase for a number of reasons. This makes efforts like the Emergency of Hunger Food Drive at the Stop and Shop Supermarkets in the area THIS WEEKEND even more important.

  • Manchester:      286 Broad Street. November 16, 17, 23 and 24. 900a-500p.
  • Rockville:          50 Windsorville Road. November 23 and 24. 900a-400p.
  • Vernon:             10 Pitkin Road. November 23 and 24. 900a-400p.

The Manchester Food Drive is sponsored by IMCORP, organized by Ambulance Service of Manchester and powered by volunteers from ASM, Manchester Police, Manchester Fire Rescue EMS, the Rotary Club and MACC Charities staff and more has raised a lot of money, food, and turkeys over the five  years of its existence. It fills the freezers, the pantry and adds money that is so important to help with special needs for babies, diabetics and others with dietary issues, and other important household needs.

We urge you to show up SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 AND 24 at the Stop and Shop in Manchester and share so that others may eat.