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I do miss the old days and the "old" people. I think that it was the right time and the right people, and the circumstances have simply not occurred again. Chat was a huge drawing point, and people who chatted lots were likely to post lots too. We did have some pretty amazing natural leaders, but the big thing is that it was fun as well as instructive. I will be volunteering in Uganda for 5 weeks in February on an EMS pilot project. Odds are good that there will be some issues I want to mull over with those of you who have experienced overseas work. Hopefully We can get a bit of action going on that!

It is nice to see all the old faces. Perhaps now is the time for the students to become the teachers. There are plenty of new providers that need the wisdom that you all have gained over the years. Stick around. Make this your home again. Post something interesting and welcome the rebuttals and questions. Engage in others and make them think, and let them return the favor. EMT City has been around for a long time and it is because of the members like you that we are still here. I thank you for that and I look forward to seeing your posts.

I have so many good memories of this forum in its heyday. Chat was a blast. Great threads. Lots of interaction. Definitely shaped me as a provider in a lot of ways. It's also hard when the curtain gets pulled aside... so I think I'll just revel in that nostalgia, lol. Good to see so many old faces! Doczilla, I'm stoked for you to be in Texas, but wonder if the trek to CAP Lab is gonna be worth it without you at the helm... ;-) Plus your opening speech every year was one of the highlights!

To follow on Mike's post, a lot of the issues with community based care is system based. ie a for profit system isint going to benefit from such novel ideas..again, a $$ thing. Working as part of a government funded service, it's a different story and all about value for money and keeping those out of hospital who can be treated in the comunity and trying to save ambulance resources for 'real emergencies'. We are doing this both in a call diversion program (only in its infant stages) where callers can be directed to local services and a paramedic run extended care program to deal with minor wound care / burns, epistaxis, catheter problems, some home rx for migrane, gastro, etc. The major success is that everyone benefits. And yes, major baseline education differences. And spending that extra few minutes preparing some food or having a cup of tea with a pt isn't just about doing a 'good deed' IMO, but is as much about being able to assess the daily living capacity of that person. Spending that extra 10 minutes chatting with someone and looking through the fridge can raise all sorts of red flags that might otherwise go unnoticed.

In 15 years, I've only had one pt not respond to a dose or two of benzos and we ended up RSI'ing him. Just remember when you RSI status that just because the body movement has stopped, doesn't mean the brain activity has stopped.