Wilton Ambulance welcomes a new assistant chief, but Michael Hutchinson — “Hutch” — is far from new.

Hutch officially started as a paramedic with the Wilton station three years ago, and now joins the team full-time, continuing his work as a paramedic on two 911 night shifts, continuously training and following up on calls and documentation.

“I love the medicine, and I love being here,” Hutch said.

Love of music and medicine

Hutch came to the EMS profession later in life. Before starting in his 30s, he was a musician and recording engineer.

He argues there are lots of similarities between music production and emergency medical response. Whether it’s performing on stage or saving someone’s life, he said, these are two of the average person’s biggest fears.

“A lot of people want to panic before they go on stage, and a lot of people get really amped up on their way to emergency, and it’s the same calming tools,” Hutch said.

Additionally, they both require lots of long-term memory and muscle memory.

“There’s tons of information to always be learning,” he said.

Hutch continues to be an active musician in the community. Currently, he is building a performing studio in his home since both his sons share his talent.

The third Thursday of each month, he also joins the rest of the station at Meals on Wheels to help check blood pressure and answer medical questions at the Second Congregational Church in Wilton. Hutch spends the majority of his time playing the piano for everyone. He said he’s excited to learn some Christmas music for the winter months.

‘Talk about EMS forever’

Before Hutch started as a paramedic in Wilton, he worked in the surrounding towns, including with Peterborough Fire and Rescue.

He also owned an EMS education company for 12 years in the Nashua area. Many of his former students are his current colleagues around the area, including Danielle Gardiner, the ambulance director of Wilton Ambulance.

“I could talk about EMS forever,” Hutch said.

Hutch started working in the Wilton station right before the pandemic, but during quarantine, he was quickly pulled elsewhere.

A few years later, when Gardiner started as chief of the ambulance station, she reached out to discuss work culture and building a community. Soon, she casually asked when Hutch would start.

Hutch remembers he turned her down for nine months, until he read an interview with the new town administrator at the time, Nick Germain. He found the quote on the town website, and it resonated with Hutch’s view on constantly learning.

He said the quote said something along the lines of, “You can’t be an expert in everything. You have to trust your department heads.”

He joined the team soon after.

Just culture

Hutch and Gardiner have worked together to create a positive work culture.

One of the important aspects is creating a “just culture,” according to Hutch. This allows for anyone at any level of medical education to speak up if there is a safety issue or when something goes wrong.

“Our staff here is awesome,” he said.

One part he looks forward to each day is the town partnership with Lyndeborough and Greenfield.

“It’s one of those things where you pull up on scene, and you’re genuinely excited, not as the best provider, as a human being,” he said

Hutch said he feels excited to continue his work with a team he respects.

“I have never dreaded coming up here,” he said.