fireflymedic

No, but does it not still have a trickle down effect to us as well with poor pay overall (and yes I know here we go jumping into the education debate). But bottom line, the poor counties are going to pay less than the rich counties. Go work where the half million dollar houses are and you're going to get paid decently with the newest trucks and the best equipment with good pay and a nice station. Go work in rural BFE where people live in shacks in hollers and you'll be lucky to get a truck that starts and equipment that works sometimes and even a paid staff on a station that doubles as a mechanics garage that floods when it rains (been there that's why I picked that). That's just how it goes - people can't pay with what they don't have, and poor people don't have much. You take two docs, both of which have spent an ungodly amount of money putting themselves through school. One chooses to work rural poor area, the other in an upper class city. Doc number 1 sees double the patients of doc number 2 but guess who is going to pay off his loans faster? Prolly doc number 2 'cause his patients are going to pay. Is another reason for the mass exodus out of general practice like family/internal/pediatric medicine. It just doesn't pay and at the end of the day, you have to pay the bills. On another note, there was an entire show - Royal Pains on USA - that is based on conceirge doctors as that's what this failed ER ended up as because he chose to save the life of an inner city kid over a big whig with the hospital.

I never cease to be amazed at the stupidity of our government. I'm not sure where KY falls in all this crap. I'm amazed they aren't flat out refusing. Probably because they are some of the world's largest procrastinators. What I find hilarious is that they use all of these "upgrades" in the name of security due to 9/11 however I have to sit back and ask - then why in 2003 was I allowed to fly internationally using just my driver's license (canada) ? It really makes me sit back and go hmmm, now how about that? I would think we would have had greater security concerns then than now wouldn't you? I know I did. I don't have the required DL, however I do have a passport and I don't think it's unreasonable to ask a person to get one to fly out of the country and even to the US virgin islands. However, to have to have one to function within the continental US - that is absolutely absurd. But I do wonder for those states that won't have the federal ID's that will be required - will they have all out of state juries for court cases? Come on people - we gotta put our foot down somewhere !

Ak I wonder about you sometimes buddy...I get these frequently, but mine seem to always come from south africa. That's the common theme for me. All well, I never respond so I guess I'll never be rich. Just for kicks and giggles though - anybody see the thing dateline did "to catch a conman?" and they did a long following even meeting the guy in Paris ! If you get to catch it, it's rather interesting (and kinda funny to watch considering he calls himself jimmy de money). Take care and always be safe.

and we thought it was bad in the US...it's bad, but I think you all definitely take the cake there. Please fly safe my friend.

I read this as well earlier today and was fascinated by it. After reading this and some things I've heard from patients that I've talked to later on down their road to recovery makes one really think before they speak ! Hearing is the last thing to go and your patient very well may understand and just not able to respond so watch what you say !

There is a place in Ohio that does the I 99 online, but then you have to go there and do your clinical time there. I also know TN is looking at doing a boot camp idea there where you just go for 2 weeks and do the transition course they provide (since they no longer recognize basics) GA I know does a similar advanced skills things at certain sites but it's been a bit since I've looked into it. I know they still recognize the basic EMT down there for certain things and will let you come down with national registry as a basic, but you must transition to the I 85 to work. You might try one of the accelerated transition courses like that but as far as an actual intermediate class I don't know of one. Here is one option, but i know nothing about them or their reputation only that it's offered http://www.prlog.org/10183529-percom-launches-emt-intermediate-online-course.html

Wonderful and the happiest of news for the holidays ! May she continue to do well. Thanks for the update - we'll keep praying for you and her.

Okay terri, I tried really, really hard not to laugh, but I couldn't help it. This was just too dang funny !

relax you'll do fine ! The class isn't really that hard. Like I said before, it's just elaborates a little more on what you already know. Sit back, take good notes and they'll tell you the heads up stuff. Have fun !

Hey there, The BLS version of PEPP and the ALS version really aren't that different. It's same material covered in class, just two different tests at the end and two different cards. But the material is the exact same. Alot of classes won't give the books out in advance, but rather the day of class as most do it as a two day class. THey'll go over the major points day one, tell you to study that night, do skills day two and the written test. Biggest thing to know is Peds assessment triangle - probably the one thing that they will just grill in your head over and over. As well as know your CPR rates for newborn/infant/child. The rest will be just adding to what you already know from your basic book. Good class though to take. Have fun !

There was quite the discussion recently regarding the fact that IFSAC was trying to develop their own basic exam. KY was taking into consideration using that for their basic certification IF it was found to be desirable. However, that's not happened yet, and as of now, there are no plans to change the current certifications. Currently they are looking at following the national practice scope of practice with a few adjustments to each level (mainly the emt-advanced). The reason it hasn't been settled yet is because of changes within the state offices. Hopefully it will be soon, but I don't look for the NR to go anywhere anytime in the near future.

It's always sad to hear of another. From my understanding though, all three were killed in the crash and names have not been released yet. Everyone stay safe tonight and always !

I'm extremely cautious about what I open. The link came and resembled a you tube link (even had the youtube thing in it) and mentioned brain, with the simple message of check this out. It was from a coworker and so I thought it was safe. Worst part about it is - if your system isn't totally updated, it won't allow you to perform updates needed or even access any antivirus material to get rid of it. It sends you to other sites to "protect" itself. I am now having to completely crash my computer and restore it to factory in hopes it will be okay.

Hello, First of all to any that may have received the virus from me - I am sorry. It acts in typical virus fashion of grabbing all your contacts and emailing and posting the link to their wall. I tried to delete and things and hopefully you were unaffected. Second, If you do get this immediately change your password to facebook and run your antivirus. Third, hopefully it hasn't or won't get into the site because of the connection with facebook. I'm not linked that way through it, but I'm guessing if you change password there you may have to here (any input admin would be really appreciated !) Fourth, this thing is a disaster as it messes with all your connections, gets into your antivirus hardware and won't allow you to do updates to get rid of it, routes you to weird sites, does all that strange stuff. Mine kept trying to route me to porn sites (yeah yee ha) - definitely not work safe until this thing gets in to the "comp doc" Finally - it will look like something that's a valid link. Mine when it came looked like it was something on brain injuries and from someone at work which is only reason I opened it. Yeah then about five minutes later he sent me a message saying don't open it - too late. Watch out for you and your comp !

I respectfully have to say I think you misread my post. I believe this was my exact statement "You need to be in as good if not better shape for EMS as the demands are on a regular and consistent basis, not occasional like in the fire service." Meaning you are going to be exposed to the same high level of stresses on a regular basis (multiple times a day) as opposed to occasionally as in a fire where you work very hard no doubt and alot of stress is placed on that time, but even in busy fire hall's it is not usually multiple times a day every day. Think of it in these terms - EMS is more a repetitive stress job - the injuries you'll likely see are from the same stresses over and over wearing on the body. Biggest complaint in EMS that ends careers besides burnout - back injuries and it's from frequent lifting, turning, etc. That eventually causes significant wear and tear on the body and repetitive injuries much similar to those experienced by those who do factory work, etc. It's still going to happen to some degree, but if properly conditioned, it's going to be significantly reduced prolonging your career. Fire however, is more likely to be a traumatic injury - also due to deconditioned body, but more from the fact your body wasn't adequately prepared initially for the job rather than daily wear and tear. This I suspect is the largest reason that MI's are a huge cause of death within the fire service. If you look at it in that aspect, no one is harder than the other, but the effects it has on the body differ in the injury causes. I have worked both urban and rural fire and ems so I think I can make a fair comparison. As far as the demands placed on EMS - it really varies where you work. Some rural places deal with a different situation and have to pack people out for long distances (hunters, hikers, etc in wooded areas). Some urban people are frequently packing people down multiple flights of stairs because the building is so old it doesn't have an elevator. Each says their job is hard, make them switch places and they'll respect the other side. It's just a different game whatever area you are and you have to condition your body to the needs of the job you perform and the area you serve. That's the ideal way we prevent injuries, not sitting here debating who's job is harder, better, or more dangerous.

Okay, so I took a peek at it today - overall not bad I think. I'm actually kinda liking that captain. He's growing on me. Not a jerk, but definitely demands the job be done right - my kinda guy. As I said, my husband had seen it with LASO - I didn't care much for it then, but I like it a bit better to the fire side. Perhaps because I can directly relate to it. Gives me horrible memories though my experience wasn't as physically hard, but mentally was pretty bad. Went through TN state fire school and they were less than kind, especially if you were a female. Hey, I survived though and I was better for it. Shame you don't see smaller depts having access to a state fire school similar to the set up TN has. Few have access to the larger depts academies in other states and they can't really put on a proper academy, so people breeze by. On the EMS side, I think it's more an aspect that outside the fire service, there is a general attitude of the job isn't that hard, so who cares whether I'm in shape or not (heck I still see it significantly in the fire service - walk in a fire hall and see how many pieces of equipment are covered in dust or rarely used). Very few are doing more than a few leg lifts using the foot stool on the recliner. You need to be in as good if not better shape for EMS as the demands are on a regular and consistent basis, not occasional like in the fire service. Fire has done such a good job with prevention they've almost put themselves out of a job and in reality, there are few actual "fought" fires (at least in this area) as by the time you arrive, it's more surround and drowned and put out the hot spots. Not harrassing fire or fire medics, I was one of them, but just stating a comparrison in the demands of the job and the consistency at which they are done.

I've not watched it, but my husband's caught a few episodes on HULU and he seemed to think it was okay. Haven't heard him fuss too much bout it (course this is coming from a guy that watches COPS and laughs at them)...

Mobey - I'm incredibly sorry. Prayers for your families during this time.