scott33

Just one of many aspects to the long, long road to Citizenship.

Oh there is more...much more

Good move Mike. This is actually a very good forum in that many of the native, resident posters have experience outside of the US. You will get to know the regulars who are (quite rightly) pushing for more education over here, as well as the weekend heros who don't have time for "book learning", and everything else in between. You will also spot a few familiar names from Blighty. When you have a mo, have a look through the archives. I hope you can stick around as I know you have a lot to contribute here, given your experience in EMS on both sides of the Pond [life]. Welcome. 8)

I was quoting "Pondlife" when I said it was one of the better systems, and he has worked for a few. Unfortunately, I can no longer cut and paste all the positive things he said many times about his employer ( I am sure you know why :wink: ) The Mobimed system seems to be his only gripe, and I have seen him mention it last year too. Shame he doesn't post here.

Well, by now their "romantic involvement" will have reached the "look what you made me do" / "it's all your fault" / "why did I ever listen to you" stage. Bless 'em. Lot to lose for a bit of strange

As has been mentioned, looking outside the box is an issue in many parts of the US. For example, I have noticed that I seem to be surrounded by two distinct types of EMS provider in my area (NY). Those who think that FDNY should be the national model for EMS, and those who know it is complete bollocks. There doesn't appear to be any middle ground. Its just a case of people being set in their ways, and not being concerned with the possibility that there may just be more user-friendly alternatives. Try suggesting the more progressive vac mat for spinal immobilization in place of the spinal board, or the possibility of treat and release protocols becoming more of the norm, and watch the vacant looks you get... ](*,) To be fair though, there are many in the UK (for example) who can be just as blinkered and elitist on the one hand, or disillusioned and bitter on the other.

Here is the webpage for SWAST. I have heard they have one of the more progressive services in the UK. http://www.swast.nhs.uk/

UK EMS don't operate under protocols

Many NHS trusts in the UK take people out third manning. The likes of medical students, nursing students, Community first responders etc all have the opportunity to do ride alongs. Not sure of the requirements other than being related to your job. You are going to have to be more specific on where in the UK you want to do this. There are, I think, 15 separate trusts within the UK (12 in England, plus Scotland, Wales, and NI) and each one will have their own policies on allowing foreign EMS to ride. All I can suggest is do an online search for the trust in the area you will be going to, make some provisional online enquiries, and take it from there. Good luck.

Dubai isn't a country.

Fair point.

That is probably the most mature and honest opinion of the CC course I have read. =D> Nothing worse than a CC, or an "I" who insist on proclaiming they are "just like medics". As for blocks, just review what they represent physiologically, and then go back and count boxes. Each block will follow a predictable pattern, whether regular in nature or not, so if you know the "rules" you will be fine. I know Dust will cringe at this, but think of the AV junction having a gatekeeper, allowing certain impulses through. It's not the best way to learn electrophysiology, but its a good way to pass your CC :wink: The Dubin book has been recommended by many paramedics for years, so I would get it if you don't already have it. Once you get the basics, and finish your course, you will have ample opportunity to build on what you have learned, with CMEs such as 12-lead EKG, capnometry, PALS, PEPP, PHTLS, AMLS, advanced airway, etc etc. Keep the learning up and you will be one of the better CCs out there.

This has been discussed in some of the UK ambulance forums. Personally, from what I have read, including the actual radio transcript of the events of the call, I think the only issue here was lack of scene safety, and a delay in obtaining it. The lone, female, responder was advised to sit tight and wait for both PD and back up ambulance crew. There was apparently an angry crowd converging on the scene, and it was not safe for her to enter alone. End of. Easterhouse is one of the rougher parts of Glasgow (certainly was when I lived near there) and Police are simply not found in as much abundance as they are in the US and Canada. It’s a case of demand outweighing supply. There is also the much-debated issue of sending lone responders to calls, in order to meet response time targets (less than 8 minutes for the most severe cases). In this case, the “clock” would have stopped when the paramedic arrived on scene, regardless of the fact she did not make patient contact until backup arrived. This is a source of much frustration for most NHS ambulance staff. Just as an FYI, there are no volunteers (worthy of mention) in this part of the UK. These are all career medics, who face constant daily verbal and physical abuse from a generally thankless public (any google search on "ambulance staff violence" will usually take you straight to the UK to give an idea of the cultural, and endemic nature of things). I would have had absolutely no hesitation in doing the same if I were in the same position. There were mistakes made, but having used both rule number one of scene size up (risk to yourself) as well as following the ongoing instructions from dispatch to stay where she was until backup arrived, the paramedic now finds her name plastered all over the press, and subject to questionable practice. That's the real shame.

Someone here (more than likely Dust) made the perfect analogy which I use often. If those caring souls in the community really want to aid their fellow man, they would be emptying trash cans for free, dishing out soup to the homeless for free, providing emotional support for victims of spousal abuse for free, running down to the local store for the elderly and infirm for free, shovelling snow for free.... I am paraphrasing, and yes I know these volunteer activities do happen, but not nearly on the same scale as EMS. The point was very well made, and changed my view on volunteering in EMS. The prior post about volunteers becoming Paramedics (if they really cared about doing there best for their patient) vs staying a basic all their life, as they "have no time, due to work commitments" was also an eye opener for me. You live and learn.

Yeah, it was a bit of a silly comment. I have absolutely no problem with "taking money to help people". I have no doubt he will be happy to collect his LOSAP money. Thankfully, the jolly volly is a dying breed in the NYC area, and I am hopeful the trend will spread East to Montauk, at least within my lifetime. :roll:

I was sitting having lunch with World Chess Champion Garry Casparov. Coincidentally, our table cloth had a black and white checker design... ... ... ... It took him half a fu**ing hour to pass me the salt. (Bernard Manning, UK)

I am really not sure of the exact time frame for these things to be taught. My point was that I was astounded that someone felt cheated by her university, because she could have "skipped two semesters" (her words) and learned the same stuff by going to an 8-hour interactive lecture given by Bob Page. I just wonder how much of the lecture she wold have followed, had she not have had those two semesters in the first place. Just because medic schools can knock out cardiology over a couple to a few months, does not mean there is not much more to learn on the subject. We are taught just enough to pass state exams and no more. Having already gone through "basic" cardiology in nursing school, I can safely say that medic school didn't cover cardiac A&P in the same detail, not to mention the 8 credits of anatomy and physiology required, before you can apply to nursing school. There are a few medic programs which require this, but not all.

His book and seminars are excellent, and I and will continue to recommend them! It is assumed however, that you will have a good grasp of basic cardiology in the first instance, as he doesn't teach (or will only touch upon) the following "need to knows" at his seminars: anatomy & physiology, Eindhoven's triangle, the "drop of blood" through all the structures of the heart, coronary vasculature, cardiac diseases, or even basic rhythm interpretation. This is where the couple of semesters worth of education should come into play.

I fully agree that learning mnemonics should never take the place of having a good insight into their application. Knowing "what they stand for" really means nothing, and it would be a sad day if cardiology were to be taught this way exclusively. Kind of reminds me of when I attended Bob Page's EKG seminar (and very good it was too) where I had to listen to one perturbed individual, complaining that she could have easily learned in 20 minutes from Bob Page, what she already "had to endure" over two semesters at university. ](*,)

Never heard of SALLY, but SALI is a common mnemonic to remember the parts of the left ventricle and their respective leads. S = septal = V1, V2 A = Anterior = V3, V4 L = Lateral = V5, V6, I, AVL I = Inferior = II, III, AVF There are other variations of this, such as ISAL, and LISA.

Happened only this month in the UK, and not a Doctor in sight (though they were consulted) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/7327673.stm

I don't believe that Australia will automatically recognize NREMT-P, other than in a "life experience" capacity. I know the UK certainly won't. The problem is, many other countries do not provide Emergency Medical Services merely as an extension of a Physician's license. Having ones own license to practice prehospital medicine, without the need for medical control, is a more widespread and progressive means of prehospital care delivery. I am sure a lot of people may think that the job must be similar worldwide, purely on the basis of the skill set of the average Paramedic (after all, an IV is an IV, and a 12-lead is a 12 lead right?) What is generally overlooked however, are the considerable differences between working independently and working autonomously, not to mention the many other countries which now require degree-level education for entry to the profession. It all boils down to the legal disparity between certification and licensing, as well as the massive limitations of having a "physician-extender" system...something the US seems to have made entirely its own. You may undertsand why the more proactive providers on this forum are calling for a total revamp of the nation's EMS system from the bottom up. However, if you want something bad enough (and I am using "you" in the generic sense), you would have no worries starting from scratch. PS The reeeeaaalllllyy hard bit is the work visa and immigration. #-o

Don't try this at home kids! :shock:

Another recent (but brief) thread on it here. Haven't really heard anything too negative about it, and it's definitely a course I would recommend

Very interesting course and long overdue. Deals with the common medical calls we get most often. One of the few courses that actually encourages critical thinking (vs memorization of algorithms) with rule-in, rule-out criteria and "possibility to probability" by means of a more comprehensive H&P, and review of some of the more common disease processes. An excellent, very involved course. Should be mandatory on all Medic courses. I just hope it doesn't go the way ACLS went :roll: