EMS49393

How did this thing know my real nickname? Screw's Choice... :D/ Hand my my whip!! edited for spelling

Did you obtain a 12 or 15-lead ECG?

My service uses the KED for stable, otherwise uninjured appearing patients in MVC's with little significant MOI, yet complaining of back and/or neck discomfort. It takes less then 3 minutes to apply one if you're proficient at it and we physically assess our patients before we place them in the KED to remove them from the vehicle. They go from assessment, to KED to long board onto stretcher. The KED keeps the spine in line much better then collaring someone and yanking them out of a car. Again, let me restate, we use it on STABLE patients with no significant MOI yet still complaining of back or neck pain. If things begin to change, they're on a long board and we can always undo the three straps to KED to access that region on the patient. We're looking into changing from the KED to the speedboard. If you haven't seen one, check into it. There are many reasons why it's a fantastic peice of equipment. Just a little FYI, those hook straps on the KED aren't load bearing.

Being me, and knowing where my loyalty is, I have to add my two cents. One of the people hotly involved in this debate is unable to back any of his opinions up with facts, studies, or documented proof of any sort. The other educated person involved in this debate has not only named sources for reference, but has been involved in at least one research project (probably several more then I know about) that changed a protocol where I practice. I'm more willing to side with a person that has proven himself through practice, research, involvement, and commitment to providing the highest in care then someone that skirts around every issue presented. It seems to me that a certain person here likes to argue for the sake of argument, even if he is unable to support said arguments. He commands the English language, twisting into an oblivion in an attempt to make it seem he is intelligent or has a clue. It's my opinion, and only my opinion that if you no longer practice, you no longer participate. We're no longer living in the "good ole days" and I frankly could care less how good a paramedic you think you were. You feel you need to have an opinion about an issue, be prepared to back it. Studies are done for a reason. DG - Got my snail mail today. Excellent article this quarter, ironic how part of it shows up here. My interest is not so much with the LBS, but with the cervical collar itself. What I'd like to know is if we can re-invent the egg. A few designs of cervical collars have come across my career, and I have yet to see one I actually think does a good job. In an age where are patients are getting heavier, and necks are getting wider, the design seems outdated. Is there a better way to restrict the c-spine then what we've been using? I'm very interested in the effects of the design we have on suspected brain injury patients. Do you know of any research about it? I'm interested in it, and I'd love to be involved in studying it further.

NY was Metrocare. They bought out three companys in Baltimore and called named them Transcare. Baltimore had about a thousand different little mom and pop company's about this time. Transcare bought three, Rural Metro bought three, and Lifestar Response bought three or four of them. From what I heard Transcare is the largest one in Baltimore now, especially since R/M pulled out. I don't think you could get me to go back to a private service for all the tea in China. I'd rather ask someone if they wanted fries with that...

I was out of Baltimore, MD, home of the "welfare to work" ghetto EMT job assistance program.

Oh a trip down amnesia lane. I worked for the "driving force in healthcare" as well. Worst several years of my life but I sure learned how to make the Gods at medicare happy . Thanks for bringing me a chuckle with the tranSCARE comment, gee how that got around the northeast coast!