CBEMT

I'm forced to over-stock certain items by any means necessary in order to still have enough supplies on the truck given that certain crews refuse to complete the very simple, state-required restock of equipment from the ER. Also, certain supplies that I know I won't be able to get from my company except during business hours.

I guess getting a college-level paramedic education doesn't necessarily mean it's better than any other type of program.

My point is more or less that you'd expect healthcare providers with all this education that EMS "doesn't want" to be leading the way in their temples of healthcare. Instead, I have yet to meet a (college educated) nurse who doesn't make O2 decisions by SPO2, automatic T-burg for hypotension, and on and on. Furthermore, I don't think the problem is individuals, I think the problem is endemic- in other words, I think things like hypoxic drive and Trendelenburg are still being taught as dogma in nursing school. At least EMS is trying. I don't want to hear how bad EMS is from people who still have a ways to go themselves.

Lol, I recently had a lesson to be careful with this. My patient knew who she was, where she was, what day it was, and that she was going to the hospital (not really why exactly, because the snf nurse hadn't told her and I was still early in my assessment to get into details). We get to the hospital, I tell the triage nurse that she's alert x 4 etc etc. It was a possible CVA, so nuero status was important. Nurse asks her what year it is. "1998." D'oh....

Care to explain that one? Somehow volunteering makes you immune, is that what you're saying? Or is it because "we're just volunteers," you won't be expected to meet the same standards as everyone else? Do you believe in the East Bunny too?

In the hospitals, I commonly see patients with their feet in a Trendelenburg position, but the head is elevated by the back of the stretcher. Intubated patients also seem to get T-burg often. It seems that once again, nursing hasn't gotten the message yet, just like hypoxic drive. As for EMS, our upcoming protocol revisions state that hypotensive patients are to be placed supine wherever possible.

So are you Basics who are allowed, with Medical Control, to start IVs and push D50, or are you Basics, awaiting your Intermediate licenses, who wanted to skirt the rules and get a doctor who doesn't know you from a hole in the wall to let you perform an invasive procedure and push a potentially dangerous medication? I'm curious. In my experience, most systems don't have the money for the resources they need daily on the street, nevermind a fulltime Medical Director who can QA every run.

Anybody considering flying a patient who's 16 minutes drive time from a Level 1 should have their license shoved straight up their @$$, forthwith and postehaste.

They made it part of an overall ED computerization system. So it didn't cost anything except a monitor in the hallway from the EMS parking area.

He was outside, running the pump. Don't assume you know the situation.

LA County medics will be lucky if they're still intubating before long. Let's not start dreaming about EMTs.

The last firefighter who dropped on a scene around here had a cyanide level of 66. ER got him back and he's currently in rehab. So maybe it's not always lifestyle. Most of the time I'm sure it is, don't get me wrong. But I think there's a subset of patients who go down for reasons that are chalked up to overall health but aren't.

We have one hospital that just started it. The name of your service flashes over the bed number on the screen. Problem is they didn't do a great job marketing the new system, so most crews just blow right by it because they don't know what it is. I know about it but I'm not used to it yet, so I'm forgetting a lot. The other issue is this hospital took this opportunity to simultaneously re-number EVERY bed in the ED. So not only am I looking on the screen for my assignment, I then have to wander around the ED looking for where the frack the bed is because bed 23 is now bed G12 or something.

We're taught same side for "groin injury," opposite sides if no injury.

Alrighty then! :twisted:

Well.... if you're a Bible fan, you may not like what happens when he finishes reciting the passage.... :wink:

My bad for not citing it, but I figured with so many obvious Pulp Fiction fans already posting in the thread, I wouldn't have to. "It's a hundred and five miles to Chicago. We've got half a tank of gas and a carton of cigarettes. It's dark and we're wearing sunglasses." "Hit it."

"There's a passage I got memorized, seems appropriate for this situation: Ezekiel 25:17. 'The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.'"

City: "Man down," which are the same locations every day, several times a day, usually for the same people. "Flu-like symptoms" is another popular one. Everywhere else: the usual geriatric problems.

Please god tell me this was sarcasm.

Mine too, but I will say I'm attracted to the idea of the ALS providers being able to scoop and screw on a run that needs to be scooped and screwed, if necessary.

Yeah, that's what I want- a glow-in-the-dark uniform so I can be shot easier.

What's with coding all the dead threads? Pronounce them for cripe's sake!

There are a myriad of circumstances under which a BLS unit is required to speak with a medical control physician while enroute to the ER. Granted nobody ever does it and no one's ever prosecuted for it, but the language is there (most just provide pre-arrival notification to the triage nurse). Also, BLS is required to contact MC prior to assisting a patient with their own nitro, providing Albuterol, or giving Epi 1:1000 to a patient over 50 or with a cardiac history. Other circumstances include AMS, poisoning, etc.

So there's no radio channel, no PHONE NUMBER you can call to talk to somebody? Whatever method the medics use to contact MC, you should have the same option. Anything less is so beyond rediculous as to approach criminal negligence by whatever government hack dreamed up this abortion.