14Gauge

Geez everyone, stop holding it all in and let us know how you REALLY feel. Personally, I absolutely despise my dispatchers. But thats because the ones I have to endure, are, with a doubt -- [insert worst possible insult you can think of here]. However, at my previous service I could never say enough good things about them. They were my dispatchers but also my personal friends. We knew each other socially and in some cases were married to them. I neither want to know about, or care about, a dispatchers problems or tragedies. Just give me the address. I'll find the Pt and treat what is wrong. I'd never rely on medical info from someone who only holds the title and doesn't work the field. What is that about?

I have to say up front, I have only been in EMS for 2 years but did spend 20 in the Military so I have seen a few 'bad' situations before. I've never yet cried or teared from a call. I'm not some kind of super-cool-tough-guy because of this. The truth is that when/if someone dies I'm more like: "Eh. Did I miss on the s/s or the What did I miss in the treatment?" Rather than " Wow, a human being just died. How sad." I'm really more interested in the mechanics of medicine, than the person behind it all. The company I currently work for only increases this outlook, it's private and 97% of the 'PAYtients' don't require and ambulance but DO have medicaid/medicare. So of course the company will transport them. I was told I WILL lose my job if I was ever caught trying to do anything to discourage or change this, even for obvious b/s. If there is a chance of me caring about a patient as a person instead of a case, this job is destroying it. I pray every day that I get hired on somewhere else before I burn out totally or become truly soulless.

14Gauge wrote: I've been reading the replies to the question. One thing I noticed is everyone who had assists had the help on the corners of the stretcher. I was taught, and always used, one person per side of the cot. Or am I just reading too much into it? So, 1 person walking backwards? Not sure I like that No, not 4 people during the move, just for the lift to the cot and the load to the rig. Sorry, I wasn't clear on the first post. Now I realize we're referring to a move w/o a cot. Thanx.

I've been reading the replies to the question. One thing I noticed is everyone who had assists had the help on the corners of the stretcher. I was taught, and always used, one person per side of the cot. Or am I just reading too much into it?