Medic117

I always ease through them if necessary. Some people get upset, but I will not delay care to someone who I might have a chance of saving, in order to respect one that we couldn't. Logical people understand that. However, if our call is downgraded to non-emergent, or we are transporting non-emergent, I always have my driver stop...even if it's on the opposite side of the road. Living takes precedence over the dead.

This is a good point. I recently drafted a policy, which stated that the medic should operate lights, radio and all communications whenever possible. There are times when I am busy with a critical patient, and have asked my driver to notify dispatch to call the hospital, and give some basic information, but these are extreme and rare cases. Radio traffic is always very short. Drivers should not be having "conversations" over the radio, but providing status information only. I have worked for some cheap services that only had radios in the front. The reputable companies I have worked for always have had a remote module in the patient compartment for communications. The unit cell phone stays in my pocket, so there is no reason for the driver to be on....AND CERTAINLY NOT TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.

JPINFV, You made some great points. Thank you for posting the research to back it up. That whas what I was hoping to get in this post. You've changed my opinion. I have been looking for such articles, and haven't found any reliable studies. I will use this to make my case. Hopefully the facts will open the eyes of the administration. Thank you all for your participation in the forum.. I think we should stick to no cell phones whatsoever while operating an emergency vehicle.

...and you should be fired for putting the lives of your crew and patient (if applicable) at risk for doing so.

Some people can use a hands free device while driving, and others can't....if it in any way effects your driving, it should be banned.....

I did mention bluetooth. I don't have a problem with talking with a hands-free device DURING POST MOVES ONLY. It should never be done while dispatch is trying to communicate information to you, a pt. is on board, you are maneuvering traffic during an emergency, or any other time during a call...and I wouldn't be opposed to a complete ban on using them while driving period. Certainly, if you paramedic (we run one paramedic/AIC and an EMT/driver) has a problem with anything, they should have the authority to end the practice.

That was my point...shouldn't be used while in motion, or at any time with a patient, or on a call period. as for the argument that "we didn't have cell phones in the 80's, so we shouldn't use them.".....we didn't have seatbelts in the 50's, but we don't mind them. Cell phones are a great tool to help us keep up to date on home life. Personally, I work 40 miles from home, and may need to be contacted. Plus, working 7:30-19:30, if people leave messages, I can't exactly call them during business hours until 5 days later, if I can't call them from the cell. I am by no means glued to the phone, but I use it when parked in a parking lot. Furthermore, like most of us, I don't exactly make enough money in this field to work only one job, so I run a business on the side. The company understands that, and has no problem with conducting conversations if it does not conflict with patient care...which is my point precisely. Furthermore, the company says they reserve the right to hold you over indefinitely after the end of the shift (I've been held as much as 4 hours over because they couldn't staff enough units). In this event, it'd be nice to contact the wife and let her know that I won't be home for another 4 hrs. No, I don't remember when SSM came about, but I've done my research, and think it's bad science. Good theory, but without about 2200 years of data, you're not going to accurately predict a call....hence we run across the city on a priority one all too often, and are NUA multiple times a day.

We are a system status management system, meaning we sit in a unit for upwards of 12 hrs. a day. There is no way to contact us except for our cell phones. If you're sitting at a post for 4 hours (not common, but does happen), it would be unreasonable to tell someone you cannot use your cell phone during that 4 hours you are sitting in a parking lot of a 7-11 "waiting" for a call.

Thank you all for your input. Unfortunately, no the state I am in does not have a cell phone policy except for school bus drivers. I have addressed it as high as the CEO, but never get a straight answer. I love where I work because of the medical director, but the administration refuses to address issues preventatively. I even asked them to simply give me that authority (in writing) so that it was clear that I had the right to address these issues. Instead, every time I mention something to a driver, I am hit with..."don't start with me...you're just pissed off about something and taking it out on me. I'm not going to tolerate your knit picking." At first, I kind of thought maybe I was being too tedious, but it seems I can't say anything. If I go up the chain, the chain will deal with the issue in such a way that the "chain" hangs me up as a pinata to be beat by the staff. I am looking, but the only alternative is transport companies...and that's not what I want to do. Perhaps a fire dept. will open up soon, and I'll go back into that (got out of it a few years ago to do strictly EMS.). BTW, I grew up in the era of cell phones, but where I lived they didn't work. I didn't get one until my second year of college. The best policy I've seen, also the most reasonable was this: Absolutely no cell phone use by either member during ANY part of a call. While driving post-to-post, you may only use a cell phone with a hands-free device. The paramedic has full responsibility and authority to increase the standards of driving in their unit.

I would like to guage your opinions on cell phone use by emergency vehicle operators. As a paramedic, without even looking in the front of the unit, I know when my partner is using a cell phone. The company refuses to make a policy regarding the issue, but were we to have an accident, I would be held liable for "not ensuring safe driving." When I confront him/her, I'm "just being a dick", and he/she doesn't listen. If I report the issue, the safety officer tells the staff that I'm out writing people up, then conspiracies arise amongst the staff to write me up (I'm pretty "by the book," but no one wants to be a target). If I talk to my supervisor, they say,"we don't really have a policy..." However, the safety officer says that I am supposed to address issues such as this, though I have no actual authority. It would be easy to say that I should seek other employment, but the service I am with is known worldwide for clinical breakthroughs in EMS. Any ideas on how to deal with safety issues in this environment?

RN is not a mix, because it is a very different field. RN's are trained in long-term care, and in working under a doctor's orders. I don't see any difference in my area as to the skill and "level of training" from RN vs. Paramedic...many of us on both sides just forget that they are two completely different fields. BS entry level training I highly support...but this change has to be gradual, and allow those working to increase to that level, as they did in 1999 curriculum. And, you have to have enough BS programs in place for this to happen....the one BS-Paramedic program in my area just began in 2007. Remember that not all RN's are BS level, either...though it is becoming more popular. The greatest thing holding EMS back is our own lack of professionalism. Too many EMS providers live the "trauma junky" mentality, and have no sense of professionalism in patient care. Many of us have lost our compassion, and do not treat people in a professional manner. Then there is the overwhelming fear of lawsuits....but many of those will be eased with a professional outlook on everything we do. Jumping out of an ambulance with only a clipboard and cup of coffee with a wad of chewing tobacco in your mouth, and shirttail hanging out does not scream "healthcare professional" to the public eye. All of the ideas listed are important...but it must start with us, and deciding that together, we will become a better profession. As for the structure, we should be set up as a separate, but similarly structured system as Fire. The problem with Firemedics (not that there aren't some who are great medics) is that most of them are not really interested in quality medical care. Staying current on the latest EMS advancement is something that takes serious dedication to this. I think the volly services need to stick to a support role, and keep career EMS professionals responding to the scene.

No, I think I can top that. I was called to a store a few blocks away from the ER to take a man to Walmart to get his prescriptions filled.

You're dealing with two similar, but very different fields. I think it's great that you're doing both, and you'll be able to write your ticket with both. I know several people who do both, and love it. I think Paramedics are very underappreciated by Nurses and by the world, but we as medics underappreciate the nurses. Personally, I'd like to see nurses spend some of their clinical time in an ambulance so they'd realize that if we don't come in to the ER with a critical patient, always having blood drawn, 2 IV's, 12-lead 'ECG's, 3 sets of vital signs, intubation, and and a hospital gown....doesn't necessarily mean we're incompetent. I think we all just need to realize that we work in two different fields that MUST learn to work together and appreciate the work of the other. Good luck on school!!!

What is the problem with Hell, fire, and brimstone? "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."--Jude 21-23

You have the right to not believe. However, you must be willing to accept the consequences at the Judgement. One day ALL will believe. I do not tell my patients what they have to do. I ask permission to talk to them, but I will tell them the truth. They know I am there to serve, and I tell my patients that i will be praying for them...and I follow through. It's who I am