ed2brute

I'm not a member of our county's volunteer FD, but I think they have a nice site: http://www.bcfdmo.com/

Read this. It's the AHA Scientific Statement on Recommendations for Blood Pressure Measurement in Humans and Experimental Animals . It's not too dry and I found it very interesting. It touches on almost everything that's been discussed so far.

In Missouri you have to submit a background check from every state you've lived in for the past 5 years along with your application for EMT licensure.

Speaking of symbols, what about the swastika? For nearly 3,000 years it was a symbol of good luck and life. The US Army even used it as a symbol for the 45th Infantry Division in WWI. The Nazi's chose to use it and, badda-bing, now the swastika's meaning is trashed and anything bearing it is automatically labeled hatred. The heritage of the swastika and it's original meaning were shattered for modern people by a few bad apples and some really atrocious acts. Likewise, the confederate flag to many people has lost it's original meaning and now symbolizes oppression. Fair? Maybe not, but that's the way it works sometimes. Slightly Off Topic: I've always found it interesting how Lincoln's Emancipation Proclimation freed slaves only in states that were in "rebellion against the United States." Nothing like stirring the pot.

Paper and electronic. In the field the info is recorded on a paper form. Patient info is gathered and events are recorded. There is no room for a complete narrative on the paper form, though, basically just the raw data. After the call, and back at the base, the call is typed into the computer and stored in a database. The paper form is filed away for system audits and acts as a crude back-up should the database go down.

The real kicker, for me, is that we have a Medical School, a Nursing School, and a School of Health Professions (diagnostic ultrasound, nuclear medicine, respiratory therapist, etc.) on this campus. It's not like it'd be that difficult to incorporate the things that are already being taught into a Paramedicine cirriculum. Anyway, the University also does not have Fire Sciences or Criminal Justice programs for the same reasons: vocations vs. professions. The good news is that the city college is very receptive to the idea. It looks like they'll offer the BS Paramedicine degree through their Fire Sciences department in cooperation with the University's hospital. Details are still being worked out, but so far all the players (city college, the University, and the hospital) think this is a workable solution.

Thanks for voting. Looking to the future of EMS, there is a desire by the heads of the EMS education at the University's hospital to offer a Bachelor of Science in Paramedicine degree: a four year course of study that would take students through EMT-B and P licensure requirements and augment that training with a liberal arts cirriculum, plus some health care business and management courses. The idea is to turn out well rounded, and well qualified, medics who are also prepared to manage services and staff. When presented to the chancellor of the University (flagship campus of largest college in state), he stated plainly that paramedicine was a vocation and not a profession. The University would not offer a formal degree program for vocational studies. The training would continue to be offered through the University's hospital. I had never given any much thought: vocation vs. profession until this happened. I was wondering what you all thought about it. BTW, In this state we are licenced by the state's Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Emergency Medical Services. It is not regulated through the Division of Professional Registration, which licenses physicians, nurses, accountants, engineers, real estate agents, cosmetologists, etc. I found that very interesting and revealing as to how the work of an EMT is regarded.

Okay, you can see the poll. Is EMT (basic, intermediate, and medic) a vocation or a profession? How do you justify your position? This is a discussion we're having (details later) and I'm interested in hearing other opinions.

Plus I believe some ~$400,000 has been spent on legal fees. He's not going to collect much after this is all said and done. Anyway, does anyone believe this is really about Terri anymore? Terri's gone...all that's left is the shell she once inhabited. This is about those she left behind.

Terri can't communicate any longer. She's not been able to for nearly 15 years. If she could advocate for herself this wouldn't be an issue. Plus her family disagrees over what she would want. That's what makes this so hard. There are many, many mentally handicapped people in the world who function at a much higher level than Terri (e.g., Down's Syndrome) who have been ruled incompetent and have legal guardians.

Since active euthanasia is illegal in every state in the U.S., with the exception of the death penalty, you realize that the doctors simply cannot administer Terri a lethal dose of medication. Don't confuse it with assisted suicide, where the doctors provide the means, but the patient performs the act. In this case, Terri is unable to perform the act of suicide. It is also perfectly legal to refuse care. We've all seen that first hand. Removing the feeding tube is exactly the same thing. Terri has the right to refuse care, even if it's against medical advise and will cause her death. Common law gives Terri's husband, Michael, the right to make those decisions in her place. Michael is saying, "Terri refuses care. Remove the feeding tube. She wants to go home." Sure, dehydration/starving is an unpleasant death. So is cancer. You can refuse chemo and radiation. It is not the doctor's decision on whether you get treatment or supportive care. It is the patients, or the patient's guardian's, decision.

Anyone remember Nancy Cruzan? Hers was the first "right to die" case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Her parents (she was 23 and not married at the time of her car accident that left her in a persistent vegitative state) had petitioned to have the feeding tube removed. The state hospital had refused. Nancy had left no written direction of what she wished to happen if she was not able to speak for herself. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a persistently comatose person can be kept a live if there is not "clear and convincing" evidence that the person would not wish to live in that persistent vegitative state. They found that her parent's testimony was insufficient to be considered clear and convincing. It went back to the state courts. This time Nancy's close friends also testified, along with her parents, that Nancy would not wish to live this way. The state court ruled the evidence met the threshold of "clear and convincing" and allowed the feeding tube to be removed. Nancy Cruzan expired the day after Christmas, 1990. In Terri's case is there clear and convincing evidence that she'd not want to live this way?

DRG - Doctor's Research Group http://www.doctorsresearchgroup.com Like I said, I didn't care for my DRG TiLite Cardiology as much as the Littmann Cardiology III. The DRG is a good enough scope. I just prefer the Littmann.

Littmann Cardiology III. The acoustics are outstanding. I like having both the adult and peds diaphragms on the same scope. It's durable. It's flexible enough to stuff in a pocket. Did I mention the acoustics? Outstanding. Here's one I didn't like (and I really, really wanted to like it): DRG Cardiology TiLite. You know, the $200 job that was engineered by Bose. It has the gel filled ear buds, the springs in the lumens, and the antimicrobal diaphragms. It was quiet. The noise reduction stuff worked...but...I didn't think the acoustics were all that great. I thought the Littmann Cardiology scope was better (louder). Plus with those springs in the tubing, it wasn't very flexible, and that annoyed me. You couldn't just stuff it into a pocket. It was also considerably heavier than the Littmann Cardiology III (and the TiLite..titanium light...is the lightest cardiology scope DRG offers!). You can find good deals on ebay if you look and aren't in a hurry. As for online shops, I've purchased from allheart.com and have been impressed with their service and prices.