DwayneEMTP

Does that mean I can stop trying to remember what an inferior wall MI with a righ fascicular block and and lateral ischemia looks like? Well, thank God for that.... Dwayne

Did we in some way misquote you? It was truly a wanker thing to say. You often toute the superiority of Canadian EMS over American. If this is what you bring as proof it simply labels you as a poser, and gives a black eye to Canadian EMS. If you didn't mean it, you shouldn't say it. Also, that 2%...do they come with a sticker on their chest or something in Canada? In the U.S we need to treat every patient as an individual. How do you know when it's time to stop leaning on your machines and actually treat your patient? All of my patients are the 2%. I've often called your gnads into question. What is different about this time? Most often, when not religion related, you say something foolish and then run away the first time that you're contradicted...What else should I assume? You're weak vs-eh?. Your logic is weak, your education is weak, and you have a history of only asking questions you already know the answers to in the hope some newbie will step up to take a beating. As I've said in the past, on several occasions...I think there is more to you than we've seen...you simply need to quite being afraid of making mistakes before we'll get a chance to see it. I look forward to that day. Until then...step up to the plate and stop crying...that doesn't work in the forums like it does in chat... Dwayne

See. This is the part that EMTCity brainwashed me with before I decided on my path in EMS. I can accept that I am going to lose patients. I can't accept the fact that I didn't do what I could to save them, and then they died. And education is part of what I CAN do. And During my clinicals, people died without my preceptors intervening. The only thing that helps me sleep, is that I'm truly confident that I gained the education required, plus X, and they died anyway. There were a hundred times during my AAS in EMS experience that I cussed Dust and AK and meant it, as they were the ones that convinced me that this was the correct path! But when people died under my hands, I slept like a baby, because I knew that I had done all that was realistically expected to provide the care necessary to save their lives. Then=not a big deal. Now=pretty big deal. And trust me. When/if you ever get the chance to sit down with the types of people that Dust and AK are, you don't want to have to explain that people's lives are not worth the few extra semesters of school...or that..."the volly's don't do it!" Honest. Dwayne

AMESEMT, not sniping at you, honest. But you're program is known to turn out quality and educated medics...By who? Based on what standard? Can you put a link to your school so we can compare prerequisites? If your school doesn't have strict prerequisites then the average medic coming from it is not well educated. See what I mean? They can't teach you anatomy, physiology, cellular biology, psych plus all the necessary, required DOT info in four months. It's just not possible... I'm not doubting you flat out, but we'll need some objective data to substantiate your claim before it can be accepted to be factual enough even for the sake of argument, much less adequate for the proof necessary for the rebuttal you're attempting. Dwayne

Cool Matty...thanks for that. Now I need to go back and read the whole page.. Dwayne

I see some pretty obvious road blocks to getting any intelligent public debate on this subject... First, it's being presented as a patriotic act. America is standing up for returning servicemen and helping them find their new place in society in "what they already do." They will spin it to be politically indecent to oppose it. Second, the major ambulance services partnered with the major fire unions are going to see a cheap, voluminous medic pool populated by young people with an above average chance of showing up for work on time. They will easily be able to shave a couple of dollars an hour off of wages and still have no trouble filling seats while basking in their new glory as "patriotic employers." Third, the schools are going to see a huge chance to procure their share of a giant government subsidized market that will likely have very little oversight for the reasons mentioned above. Yeah...Though it is all bad for EMS, I don't really see anyone standing up to it. We just need to hope it loses momentum on it's own. Dwayne

Where I've just precepted (?) I was told that all new hires (speaking of medics, I'm not sure about basics) go through an academy. It consists of 14-14 hour days in a row, where pharmacology, cardiology, review of a&p and local protocols are reviewed and pass or fail testing is done daily. I was told that about 50% of new hires remain after the academy. Then they have a mandatory 2 month FI period during which time the new hire assesses,treats and creates documentation for ALL patients as well as having an expectation of one becoming familiar with the local geography. If you should be found lacking in either month, and they like you, you can apply for a third month. Should you fail to pass competency in the FI phase, but for some reason they have decided you have potential, they will keep you on as a basic, with the appropriate basic pay for six months. During this time you're expected to strengthen the points that caused you to fail your FI and are regularly tested and your improvement/lack of improvement noted. At the end of the six month period, if it's found that you've applied yourself to meeting the standards you fell short of, then you can reenter the academy and FI process and give it another go. From what I've heard, though the option exists, only two or three people have been allowed to follow the route to retake the academy, which I've also heard is very hard. Anyway, I've gotten this same story from two medics...maybe more, but haven't' verified it in their paperwork...but I believe this is probably pretty accurate. What I can say from personal experience is that this system is populated with very smart, very professional medics. (I'm sure there are some chuckle heads...but I didn't cross paths with any). The system is probably not perfect, and I'm sure there are other safeguards in place to create this professional environment...I just have not idea what they are...I'm just a student after all...sheesh. Hope this helps! Dwayne

Pretty cool Doc, thanks. She's doing very well it seems. The type of tumor she has is very difficult to monitor as it doesn't show markers in the blood as it dies, and it take a looonnnggg time to be reabsorbed as it dies so it's difficult to monitor it's size by scan. She was told be to happy with a 15% decrease in size at 6 months (I'm pulling all of this out of my head, and as we all know my head isn't that reliable, you'll have to take it in the spirit intended) and it appears that she showed approx. 33% shrinkage at 6 months! We're all pretty excited, but tempered by the realization that this is a terribly aggressive cancer with a tiny survival rate to 2 years. But if there is a person that can put themselves into the tiny percentage with mental will alone...then little Alyssa is the one to do it. I wish you all could meet her...she's truly unique...a real individual amongst the masses (pun intended) Thanks for thinking of her! I'll let her know she's welcome here. Dwayne Note: Should anyone invite her, we should start a different thread as there are things in this thread not productive for her to read at this time. For example my explanation of her survival chances...Know what I mean?

Ah. I see your point. I wasn't really thinking of it from that point of view.

Yeah, I can't remember where I saw it, but it seemed to say that most of the air would be moved from the bronchial tree, but over time that air is mixed with that from the alveoli. It is not much, but perhaps enough for the short term until intubation can be initiated. Of course, I'm also just yapping, as I don't remember where I got the info, and haven't seen the studies. Dwayne

So is it then also your contention that Dr.s and nurses are also much dumber than they used to be? I haven't seen that trend, though I don't really live much in that world to have been able to see it. The educational system certainly has many flaws, but the attempt to stop failing the majority of kids in it probably isn't one of them. I was talking to my preceptor about this on my LAST...(Did I mention it was my LAST clinical?) a couple of weeks ago as well as the Medical Director for one of the local systems the other night. It seems obvious to me that pay and hiring practices are the reason for this trend. When I decided to go to medic school here I called AMR while trying to choose between three schools and asked them which they thought was best, which they would be most likely to hire from. I was told, "I doesn't really matter. Just bring me a med cert and we can put you to work." When I told them I'd chosen to get an AAS instead of simply a cert, and wondered if that would be a benefit when attempting to get hired, I was told, "Not really, you only really need a cert. It's all the same." So I chose the school with the easiest drive as well as the EMS chair that spent the most time talking to me about their program. When "meat in the seats" is the goal of management, the the cheapest, easiest, dumbest school becomes the brass ring for those wanting to buy some lights and sirens. Also, I think the fire union's constant onslaught to reduce educational standards because of "hiring difficulties" certainly doesn't help things change. When you're on the outside of "No Child Left Behind" and believe what you hear in the media, it seems like a bad idea. When you're involved in children's education, as I am with my son, you see that the kids are becoming more personally, emotionally, and intelectually stable than has been the case in the past. This isn't a child problem, it's an industry problem. The vast majority of companies with higher intellectual standards are not complaining of issues attempting to fill their seats, right? We need to keep this problem focused "in house" where it can be addressed and resolved instead of tossing out into the abstract ozone where it remains, "not my fault." Dwayne

What is 'casual employment'? Dwayne

Actually I think I read an abstract on a Canadian study that said that good compressions move a significant amount of air for a body that needs little... As well, pulling this out of my rear as I don't remember who/what/where I may have heard it...before intubation the ventilation of the patient is using up valuable circulation time. Now I'm really reaching...but it was something like 15-20 sec/min of max effective CPR circulation with resps vs a continuous maximum effective CPR circulation without, minus the first 15 second or so of CPR. Intuitively it seems that bagging instead of compressing is obviously foolish...but many things seem foolish on their face... Dwayne

The reason I ask is that 'let the smart people govern' is good in theory, but it assumes that the smart people must live within the social/political/ethical environments that they create...Something that is no longer happening in the U.S. You'd probably find it an interesting read... Dwayne

To step out even a little further into the ether.... If you had the time, and the means, and it would be an obvious death without the amputation, would you have a legal/ethical duty to act? I watched a special on Baby Jessica (In the well, right?) about a hundred years ago. When they interviewed the medic he stated that med control (as she was stuck with one leg pointing straight up passed her head) had ordered him to attempt to break the leg to free it, and if not able to do so, to amputate it. He went down into the hole for the last time with the tools to do so. Or so he said on the program. He said it was an amazing relief that when he cranked on the leg it came free without breaking... Just a bit of amputation trivia...As heard, but not verified by any means... Dwayne

No, they are building a camel (building a horse by committee) The only way I'd be ok with it is if the decision was going to be made in front of me. I'm not going to jump through hoops if Mikey the muscle head or Suzie the office slut can torpedo me because I didn't give off the right 'vibe'. Besides, it sounds as if none of the pertinent questions were asked. I would ask peoples opinion's about the 'scuttlebutt' on you, and then probably ignore it, but I'm not choosing my employees Democratically. The main problem I see with this system is people being 'job scared'. A very qualified employee isn't going to have a chance of winding his/her way through a system of people afraid that someone that shines is going to make them look weak. Most employees, and perhaps even more managers prefer to keep those around them weak so that it's easier to appear successful. I'm a true believer that a manager's success should be directly tied to the success of those they choose to employ. This system is idiotic. Only in the most rare and unsustainable of circumstances is it going to provide a good company. I would run, not walk away from them unless there is something so amazing about this company that you can't afford to pass it up. Dwayne

Probably a silly question...but is 'first responder' and 'paramedic' synonymous in Canada? Just commenting that it said the study was of first responders yet relates the conclusions to paramedics... Dwayne

Hell lady, how can anyone not like you? I'm actually in the "go ahead and punch her in the face" crowd... I don't believe you have to have them for the Registry, in fact I'm almost certain of it, but your program needs them for the random audits to maintain their accreditation (sp). And man, you're right, they are a pain in the ass to reproduce. Do you still have your PCRs? Are you able to reproduce your logs from them? I have no idea what the best way to deal with this is. I think I would work it on two fronts. First, reproduce my logs from my PCRs if possible. I was often a month behind on my logs so 'created' them from my past PCRs...perhaps you can do the same. Second, I'd begin talking to anyone and everyone to develop whatever information and documentation I needed to burn this witch down. It wouldn't matter if it was related to my issue or not...I'd make her sorry. But that's my way...I'm thinking your a kinder person than that... If your preceptors are anything like my Springs preceptors I know I would have a lot of confidence that if they told me, "let me deal with this", that soon my logs would appear with instructions to keep them with me from now on. (After one of my classmates lost her hospital clinical sheets and had to redo a hundred hours or so, I've never let mine out of my sight!) They know how to play the game, and would do so on my behalf I'm sure. If that doesn't happen in your case then I don't really know the right thing to do... Good luck...Let us know what happens would you? Dwayne

Isn't that an oxymoron? Free once you've purchased it?

Hehe..hehe...Dawn say assholes....hehe :shock:

Fine. Leave it to you to ruin a perfectly good reference to porn....

A question Spenac...as you're one of those on the board known to be terribly honest.... Did you find that your original purchase came with a lot of stuff available locally? Or did you need to download almost everything? Did I get lost in the Twilight Zone somewhere? Dwayne

Why? Was there something in my review that you found dishonest or mean spirited? I'm actually pretty confused by the irritation on a professional forum of my honest opinion. I've asked him specific questions, which he's chosen not to answer, and voiced specific concerns, which he's chosen not to address, what is the problem here? He's got a pretty comprehensive page for his product. You are free to look at it and compare it to my review and decide if you feel it's fair. I'm truly lost on what it is you'd want me to change here. What part of it was a database is my question. And what part of my review led you to believe it was free? Why is that? You said you stand behind your product 100% right? What have I said, or asked that has been unfair? Or did you mean that you stand behind it as long as everyone is quiet and it's done in secret? There are 18,000+ people on this board, I'd think you'd thank me for giving you the opportunity to have your say and sell some stuff! I've made it clear that perhaps I've misunderstood what I should expect from your product. You've had ample opportunity to make me look foolish for misrepresenting your product, but have chosen not to do so. You've made clear in the past that you believe that this is an educational and learning forum...did you mean except where your "program" is concerned? What is going on here? Wendy, please let me know what was unclear and I'll do my best to be more specific... I've been in business nearly my whole adult life...and you know what's missing from EMS Solutions posts? Why did you feel that way? What could I have done different? Do you have certain things you'd like changed in the future? What can I do to make you comfortable with my product? If he's 12 then his responses make sense. If he's a true professional (Isn't that what EMTCity is about, helping each other to be more professional?) then he attempts to learn from the responses instead of discredit them. Again. If I'm off in the ditch, please show me where I've been unfair...until then...save a little face and stop posturing. Dwayne

Who said anything about your Grandparents? I thought this was all about me? Of course you make a good point, and it also brings to the forefront why this can be such a polarized issue. I live on this beautiful little country street. I have a nodding acquaintance with my neighbors and if I heard them scream, would be there in a second, and I believe the opposite is also true. But if that is not the case in other people's areas, then I agree...equalization is necessary as long as evil and victimization exist... I guess I'll have to rethink this before I make my presentation to the World Council on Everything.... Dwayne