Tag Archives: Ambulance companies in Connecticut

Cleared for Independent Dispatch: Aetna’s David Kemp Completes Precepting Phase

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Hartford Hospital's Mike Zacchera (L) and David Kemp (R)

Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera (L) and David Kemp (R)

HARTFORD – As of August 7, 2013, Aetna’s David Kemp has been cleared by Hartford Hospital medical control for independent dispatch as a paramedic to the towns that Aetna serves.

David’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, David’s final approval came from Hartford Hospital’s Mike Zacchera after shadowing he and his preceptor in the field as they responded to emergency calls.

David currently lives in Collinsville, CT, where he volunteers for the town Fire and EMS department. He became an EMT in 2009 while studying physical therapy and holistic health at the Eastern Connecticut State University/University of Connecticut. He earned his paramedic license in the fall of 2012 through Capital Community College and hopes to eventually earn a bachelors degree in nursing.

On behalf of the Aetna Family, we would like to wish David the best of luck and say we are very proud to have such skilled professionals on staff.

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

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HARTFORD — On August 8, 2013, six EMTs were added to the Aetna 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.

Jacob Brungard:  FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jacob Brungard I am 23 years-old and I’m from Waterford, CT. I started doing EMS with my volunteer fire department in Waterford in 2010, obtained my EMT in 2011 and have worked for Waterford Ambulance since then.  I enjoy spending my free time outdoor playing baseball, football, lacrosse, rugby, softball, frisbee and the occasional game of paintball. I spend as much of my free time as possible with my friends and family. I am a die hard Yankees fan and love going to the stadium to watch them play. In the near future I would like to either attend paramedic or pursue a degree in nursing  I have not decided as to which path to go down. I look forward to joining the Aetna team and to learn from and contribute to the company and it’s employees.

Shawn Patrick Finnigan:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Shawn Finnigan. I’m 21 years-old and live in Waterford, CT. I obtained my EMT certification five years ago. Since then I have been working with Waterford Ambulance Service and as a volunteer firefighter. In the future I plan to further my education and take a paramedic course. In my free time I like to spend time with my friends and family, and travel to new places. I look forward to expanding my knowledge and experience in the EMS career at Aetna.

Andrew Gomme:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Andrew Gomme and I am a 29 year-old West Hartford resident. I am excited to be starting an EMS career with Aetna Ambulance. I received my EMT training in South Windsor at CPR Training Professionals and I hope to eventually continue my education with a paramedic program in the area. In my downtime I enjoy boxing and hiking and I look forward to a future with Aetna Ambulance.

Raymond McDonald:   FULL TIME, EMT. I am 23 years-old and from Wolcott, CT. I was raised in a strong Irish bound family. I’m from a family of seven, with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. Ever since I was young I have had an interest in the medical field. I grew up in a family with Paramedics and a Firefighter. I was originally interested in firefighting as a potential career so I joined the Fire Explorers. I was also a lifeguard for a period of time. After some time I realized that firefighting was not right for me. I found my way into EMS where I have been an EMT full time since 2010. Some of that time I spent as a field training officer. I’m considering furthering my education by becoming either a paramedic or a respiratory therapist. I enjoy spending time with my family and close friends and bonding with my father while hiking and fishing. I enjoy art in the form of tattoos. I find ways to relax through drawing and playing video games. I’m always interested in further expanding my knowledge of the human body. When I was younger I started collecting comic books and I have been interested in the comics and the movies based off of them ever since. I look forward to working with Aetna Ambulance and furthering my EMS career.

Justine Monahan:  FULL TIME, EMT. I am 24 years old and was born and raised in the Eastern Connecticut area.  I graduated from the State University of New York, Canton in 2009 with and Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. Since graduation I have worked in the City of Hartford within an Early Childhood Learning setting as an assistant teacher. I have grown to enjoy the City of Hartford and their people.  I have always had a passion for assisting others in any way, shape and form. I believe that is what made me fall in love with the EMS field. I am a new EMT and anxiously await the opportunity to develop my technical skills along with continuing to  provide assistance to those in need. I love sports, in particular the game of  soccer. I have successfully played through the collegiate level accomplishing several national individual rankings. I also currently play ice hockey and have volunteered my time for eight years mentoring and developing the skills of young children in a learn to play hockey program at the Bolton Ice Palace. I derive great pleasure in traveling, exercising, raising my wonderful Chocolate Lab, hiking, fishing and maintaining great relationships with all my family and friends. I really look forward to beginning this next step in my life with Aetna Ambulance Service.

Adam Wagner:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Adam Wagner and I am 22 years-old. I currently live in the Bristol area and have lived in Connecticut my entire life. Many of my family members have careers in both healthcare and public safety. I have been involved in firefighting and EMS since I was in high school and received my EMT in November of 2010. Currently I volunteer as a Firefighter/EMT in Waterford, CT and have been there for a little over three years. Reading and spending free time with family and friends is very important to me. I am a New York Jets and Yankees fan and enjoy going to games when I can. I am excited to join Aetna Ambulance and to be an asset to the service and to better myself as an EMT by learning from others.

Meet the Newest Members of the ASM Team: ASM Hires Six

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MANCHESTER — On August 7, 2013, six 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.

Jonathan Bush:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jonathan Bush I am 29 years old from Vernon, CT. I was born and raised near West Palm Beach, FL and moved to Connecticut when I was 16 years old with my family.  I just graduated from Capital Community College in Hartford with an A.A. in Fire Science and EMS which is where I received my EMT training.  I have also been a volunteer firefighter in the Town of Vernon for over ten years where I have gained experience with emergency response calls and made a lot of great friends. I am getting married soon and cannot wait to start our new life together.  In my free time I am an avid runner and love to hike, mountain bike, kayak, and in the winter snowboard. I like to relax by watch movies, going to lakes and beaches, and hang out with family and friends. I am excited to start my career with ASM and look forward to all the new experiences I will have and meeting the all of the ASM team members.

Sean Gregg:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Sean Gregg and I am 23. I am from Plainville CT, and I graduated from Plainville High School in 2008. I am currently residing in Avon, CT and am actively seeking to relocate to Manchester for a shorter commute. My home life consists of my fiancé and two dogs Foxy and Mini who are a Japanese breed called Shiba Inu. I have spent the last four years of my life as a Cardiac Monitor Tech at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. My hobbies consist of cars, and street bikes. I also like to stay up to date with the latest technology and I’m a Green Bay Packers fan. I have successfully completed an EMT-B course at Bristol Hospital in May of 2013. This is the first step of my career, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work for such a great company as ASM, and look forward to furthering my career and education with them. I dedicate my EMS career to my best friend who died last year in a motorcycle accident. As for my  EMS career with ASM I hope to gain much knowledge and experience so I can go back to school to be a Paramedic.

Jared Krajewski:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Jared Krajewski. In 2010 I joined the Bolton Volunteer Fire Department to give back to my town. They offered me training as an EMR where my interest in the medical field sprouted. Less than one year after becoming an EMR I obtained my EMT-B. As I am just passing the two year mark as an EMT, I am preparing to pursue a career as a paramedic and will be starting classes shortly. I have spent the past year and a half working in the Intensive Care Unit in Manchester Memorial Hospital and this experience has enabled me to understand patient care in the EMS scene and hospital setting. In the past I was a brick mason/crew leader for my father’s landscaping company and created a portfolio of work that I am proud to show off. I try to be very active and involved person with every aspect of my life including my vast list of hobbies such as shooting, mountain biking, diesel trucks, RC cars, hiking, and fishing. My free time could not all be spent without my three year old German Shepherd Fathom. He will go almost anywhere I go that dogs are legally allowed. I’m looking forward to being part of ASM and furthering my EMS career.

Lauren Mazzoni:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Lauren Mazzoni. I am 20 years old and live in Manchester, CT. I’ve volunteered at the fire department for the past three years handling mostly EMS calls. I am a newly certified EMT and live at the fire department full time. As a night crew member I am able to get a lot of experience. I am very excited to start my career at ASM and gain even more experience. Aside from volunteering at the fire department, I am taking classes at Central Connecticut State University for my criminology degree, which I started with plans to become a police officer. During my free time I like going to races at Stafford Motor Speedway, watch NASCAR every Sunday, fish, hike, and play sports. Since I was five and all throughout high school I have played sports, and it’s always been something I enjoy doing. I am open to new and exciting things and while I am not sure what exactly how far I would like to go in my EMS, I am looking forward to gaining as much experience as possible at ASM.  

Evan Vaughn:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Evan Phillip Vaughn and I am 34 years old. I live in Coventry with my wife and daughter and have been an EMT for seven years. I was born in Florida and raised in Texas. I started with the El Paso Fire Department and worked there for three years. I then moved to Connecticut and worked for another commercial service in the state for about two years. Eventually I would like to become a paramedic. I spend most of my time with my little girl outside in the woods. I enjoy cooking, fishing, hunting and just being outside. I am very happy to be a new employee of ASM and I look forward to meeting and working with all of you. 

Andrew Wysocki:   FULL TIME, EMT. My name is Andrew Wysocki and I am 27 years old from Marlborough, CT. I graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a bachelors in business finance and a minor in psychology. It wasn’t long after college that I realized that being behind a desk wasn’t for me; I wanted to pursue something a little more hands-on. Spending a number in the years in the restaurant business I found that my people skills were my strength. A recent job working with the mentally disabled was  an eye-opening experience for me and a good introduction to the health field. I learned a lot about myself during this time and definitely was put to the test in many different situations. The experience convinced me that “a life living for others is a life worth living”, as well as a fulfilling one. Now as an EMT I intend on continuing my service to the community in a different way. I hope this is the first step in continuing my education in the emergency medical field.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 10

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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:

  • Excellent x 2.
  • Very good.
  • Professional x 5.
  • Compassionate.
  • Very professional.
  • Excellent. D. Noyes and K. Chadbourne were wonderful, professional and caring. I felt comfortable and relieved in their care!
  • Excellent. The paramedic who took care of me could not have been nicer. Made me feel calm in a scary situation. The driver did a great job of getting me to the hospital. Thank you. I am very grateful (13-59620; M. Weller and J. Rodriguez)
  • Was grateful for great help!
  • Great! Thank you! The EMTs were wonderful about keeping me calm in a terrifying situation and making sure my children were cared for. They diagnosed me accurately and successfully treated the problem promptly. My heroes. (13-62182; A. Fine and C. Haag).
  • Comforting.
  • Very professional. Thank you for being prompt and having patience when listening to me talk. Wonderful job!!! (13-55125; M. Karr)

Renovation and Expansion of ASM’s “10-1″: Volume 6

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MANCHESTER — The renovation of space once occupied by Marcus Communications continues.

  • Basic framing was completed and most of the dry wall is in place and has been joined with compound and sanded within the new space.
  • The fire sprinkler system has been extended to pass the level of the drop ceiling.
  • HAVC systems have been upgraded and re-routed.
  • The basic shape of the rooms is evident.
  • Doorways have been framed in the main hallway.

The next steps are to complete the drywalling process and begin installing the drop ceiling. Visible in the pictures is the shape of the new office space, hallways, training rooms, billing office area, restrooms and medical staging areas.

When completed, the renovated space will include additional training and simulation areas, a relocated locker area, new offices, a medical supply staging area, and two new restrooms although the plans remain fluid.

ASM and Aetna Host NAEMT EMS Safety Course

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NAEMTMANCHESTER — On July 31, 2013, the Aetna Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester will conduct/host a National Association of EMTs EMS Safety Course. According to their website, “NAEMT’s EMS Safety course aims to promote a culture of EMS safety and help reduce the number and intensity of injuries incurred by EMS practitioners in carrying out their work.”

“The course increases the practitioners’ awareness and understanding of EMS safety standards and practices and develops their ability to effectively implement them. EMS Safety is the first national and most comprehensive education program of its kind that teaches techniques on how to best achieve safety on the job.

“The curriculum covers crew resource management, emergency vehicle safety, responsibilities in scene operations, patient handling, patient, practitioner and bystander safety, and personal health. It offers an overview of current issues surrounding safety in EMS, presents and discusses case studies, builds risk assessment and decision-making skills and provides an opportunity for participants to relate their own experiences with EMS safety issues.”

Aetna and ASM employees that takes and pass the class and are either ACLS or PALS instructors (or are a licensed teacher) will be able to teach the class in the future. It is possible that the program will be integrated in future learning opportunities and orientations.

Three ASM Medics Complete Fundamentals of Critical Care Support

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Boston Medflight FCCS

Photo courtesy of Boston MedFlight

BOSTON — Kenya Russell, Mike Levasseur and Greg Derosier attended the Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS) course on July 18th and 19th. Hosted by Boston MedFlight at Hanscom Air Force Base, FCCS was developed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine to help prepare health care personnel to manage critically ill patients for the first 24 hours or until care has been transferred to a tertiary care center or proper consultation can be arranged.

FCCS has been completed by MD’s, RN’s, and Paramedics enabling them to better prioritize the assessment and manage significant changes in the unstable patient. ASM would like to thank Boston MedFlight for their hospitality. Additional information regarding this course may be found at www.sccm.org or for this and other great training opportunities visit www.bostonmedflight.org.

Hartford Courant: Manchester Ambulance Company Changes Fleet

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Mercedes Sprinter ambulance, left. and Ford ambulance. Ambulance Service of Manchester has almost completed a fleet change from the Fords to the Mercedes emergency vehicles. (Ambulance Service of Manchester / July 25, 2013)

Mercedes Sprinter ambulance, left. and Ford ambulance. Ambulance Service of Manchester has almost completed a fleet change from the Fords to the Mercedes emergency vehicles. (Ambulance Service of Manchester / July 25, 2013)

3:24 p.m. EDT, July 25, 2013

by Jesse Leavenworth

MANCHESTER — A local ambulance company has made a substantial investment in its fleet over the past four years, gradually replacing Fords with what is now a German/American emergency vehicle.

Ambulance Service of Manchester is among the first medical response companies of its size in the nation to switch its line to Sprinter ambulances, ASM spokesman Dave Skoczulek said Thursday. Sprinters had been a Dodge product, but are now part of the Mercedes-Benz line.

At the end of the month, the company will have replaced 27 of its 28 ambulances with Sprinters. The only remaining Ford will be the company’s bariatric ambulance, which is equipped to handle heavy patients.

The diesel-powered Mercedes ambulances get three to four miles more per gallon than the Ford E-350 vans they replaced, have more head-room can remain in service longer with less maintenance and are equipped with a stablity system that the Fords lacked, Skoczulek said. Another advantage is the Sprinter’s sliding side door, a roadside safety improvement over the Fords, which had swing-out side doors.

The Sprinters arrive from Germany as spare vans and are outfitted as ambulances by North Carolina-based American Emergency Vehicles. The Dodge and Mercedes Sprinters have cost as much as $20,000 more than the $56,000 Fords, Skoczulek said, “but we felt that the improved gas mileage and decreased maintenance was worth the investment.”

“We didn’t expect to have to change after decades working in Fords,” he said, “but when the landscape shifted, we didn’t see anything comparable to the Sprinters as an overall package.” Read the story at The Hartford Courant

Praise for ASM Crew from the Bristol Hospital Cancer Care Center

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598882_388866057841106_1209553279_aMy name is Theresa Stross and I am a Registered Nurse at the Bristol Hospital Cancer Care Center. I am writing you about three of your employees who were at our cancer center on Tuesday July 16. We had a new patient at our facility who on the way out of the bathroom started to collapse in the hallway. Quickly and professionally your three EMT’s who were here because of another patient,jumped into action and assisted our PCA to get the patient to a stretcher.

Right away they worked with the staff here to obtain vitals, start a line, check a blood sugar, and ultimately transfer the patient to the emergency department for further evaluation. They were very nice, kind, and professional not to mention how helpful they were when this unexpected event occurred at a time when the cancer center was very busy. These three men were: Rob Balkun, Cory Lachance, and Mike Makulis.

I thought it was the least I could do to inform you of how well your employees performed. Many thanks again to Rob, Cory, and Mike.

Sincerely,

Theresa and the Staff at the Bristol Hospital Cancer Care Center

ASM in ‘Run or Dye’ 5k, Most Interesting Ambulance Crew in the World

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HARTFORD — On July 20, 2013 a team from the Ambulance Service of Manchester participated in a Run or Dye event in Hartford.

According to their website, “Run or Dye is the world’s most colorful 5K, is a recreational 5K that celebrates fitness, friendship and fun while blasting participants with safe, eco-friendly, plant-based dye powder. A leader in the fitness literacy movement, Run or Dye’s mission is to encourage better health, fitness and nutrition decisions among its participants and supporters. With races planned in more than 50 high-profile venues across the country, it is expected that more than 500,000 people will Run or Dye in 2013.”

A picture of Team ASM after the event appeared on the Facebook page “The Most Interesting Ambulance Crew in the World”.

Hartford Business Journal: CT’s ambulance services fragmented, consolidated

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Ambulance Service of Manchester Hartford Business JournalGREG BORDONARO

In Connecticut’s world of emergency medical services, fragmentation is the name of the game.

It may not surprise many people in the Land of Steady Habits, where cities and towns often operate as their own fiefdoms, but nearly every municipality in the state has its own way of providing emergency medical transport services.

When the half-million or so 911 calls are placed each year by Connecticut residents, just who shows up to provide life-saving support depends on location….

Wayne Wright, who is the president and CEO of Hartford’s Aetna Ambulance Service Inc. and Ambulance Service of Manchester, said all ambulance providers are facing financial challenges as a result of declining Medicare reimbursement rates, which are down about 8.6 percent from a few years ago.

Combined, the two companies have a fleet of 48 ambulances and 228 employees, who respond to about 70,000 calls a year. They provide transport services to many Greater Hartford cities and towns including Hartford.

Read the whole article at Hartford Business Journal…

State Police to hold Tactical Medicine Overview at ASM

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CSPMANCHESTER — A free Continuing Medical Education course will be held Tuesday, July 23rd at the Ambulance Service of Manchester, 275 New State Road from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Trooper First Class Bob Maynard of the Connecticut State Police will present a Tactical Medicine Overview as well as the Emergency Services Unit of the CSP’s medical capabilities. TFC Maynard will also review critical factors in scene awareness.

All levels of EMS provider are welcome as are fire fighters and law enforcement. For more information or to register, contact Melissa Osborne at mosborne@asm-aetna.com. CME hours will be available depending on sponsor hospital.

Words That Describe Us: Volume 9

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Aetna Ambulance Service - Ambulance Service of ManchesterMANCHESTER 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:

  • Excellent x III.
  • Respectful, professional.
  • Very good.
  • Excellent service.
  • Thankful.
  • Comforting.
  • Friendly.
  • Dependable.
  • Wonderful.
  • Competent.
  • Excellent!!
  • Wonderful!! Thank you for helping me get to the hospital when I needed your specialized help.
  • Reassuring.
  • Professional x IIII.
  • Good.
  • Outstanding.
  • Excellent! I very much appreciated the calm, gentle, quick manner of the medics. Wonderful folks. Thank you for your kind service.

The Hartford Circus Fire and Aetna Ambulance: Volume 2

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Hartford Circus Fire 1944

by Sam Porcello

Read Volume 1 here…

In Hartford, there was just one private ambulance company at the time, Maple Hill, provided through the Talarski Funeral Home.  (Many funeral homes including Ahern on Farmington Avenue provided ambulance services in the early 1900s, since hearses were large enough for people to lay down in). Penicillin was newly available, and approximately 85% of the world’s supply was being used in the war to treat infections, including pilots’ burns.

There were several factors that contributed to the Hartford Circus Fire.  Small circus fires were actually pretty common in 1944, because more than 41% of Americans smoked.  Safety codes at the time applied mostly to buildings.  Since tents were “just” temporary structures, they did not generate a lot of attention.  Requirements for detailed safety inspections, exit widths and having fire equipment onsite did not exist for outdoor events.  With resources depleted from the war, manpower was scarce, so there were fewer Ringling employees watching inside the tent for fires.

The tent itself was waterproofed with a highly flammable mixture of paraffin and 6,000 gallons of gasoline, which accelerated the spread of the fire.  From the time the fire started until the tent was completely burned away, a total of 10 minutes elapsed.   A total of 168 people died, and another 484 were injured….(more to come, check back for future volumes).