Lone Star

Of course I did.....I guess it's a good thing I didn't mention the chainsaw and the electric jackhammer! (Yeah baby! Now we're playin with POWER!)

A box of condoms, a weed eater, rubber chicken, baby oil, potato chips, and strawberry preserves!

The oncoming medic may have discovered the problem, but it still took a MONTH in order to find the mistake. This tells me that the job of inventory isnt being performed each day. (As it SHOULD be) The supervision that I refer to is from the company in general. We inventory our supplies not only for cost control, but in order to keep tabs on controlled substances, such as the drugs. This will only work if all involved pull their own weight and do the jobs as they're SUPPOSED to be done!

whoa! Asys has a 'human side'!!!

I told 'Santa' one year, that since I had only asked for one thing (the same thing every year) for a period of about 5 years or so, that I was going to take next 5 year or so and be as bad as I wanted to be... I further told him that there was nothing he could do about it, and that I had plans on being so bad, that the 'coal in the stocking' threat should just be ammended to signing over the rights to all the coal mining states in the US....that would pretty much make us 'even' ROFLMAO

Hey Dwayne? Look back at my post about the sports trainer. This happened at a Detroit area High School. The specified injury ( as stated by the 'sports trainer') was a C-8 injury... Last time I checked, this was kind of impossible, because of the fact that the sports trainer had no x-ray equipment on the field, and how in the hell can you injure a vertebra that doesn't exist? So much for the training levels 'over here'!

Yes, this changes things! First off, the narcotics are SUPPOSED to be checked every day...I'm presuming that this also includes checking the expiration dates. There is NO reason that this 'mistake' should have gone an entire MONTH before being discovered. This is a gross dereliction of duty, and at the very least, the medic in question should get an unpaid vacation. There is NO reason for such negligence of duties! Second, the medics that came in on the shift after this medic was done, should have caught the error, so I'm thinking this is getting more and more widespread. If the medics in this company are this lazy in routine duties, what does that say about their performance in the field as well? With higher licensure comes greater responsibilities, and also higher penalties for 'errors'. I would consider termination in this case, but would have to take a long, thorough look at the personnel files and any performance reviews therein. Not only would these steps be taken, but I would also have to look at the supervision staff, after all, they're allowing such behavior be repeated day after day. When I perform My 'routine equipment checks' at the begining of my shift, ...if the list says I need X number of 4x4's...you can BET that there will be a MINIMUM of that many, or they're stocked. I don't trust anyone to 'insure' that they're there if it means I could get my ass in a sling if it isnt! It's a matter of strong work ethics and attention to detail.....nothing more!

I got called to a High School football game several years ago, and arrived to find a 16 year old male supine on the ground. The pt was complaining of a 'burning pain' in his neck. The 'sports trainer' had removed the kids helmet, and had told him to just 'walk it off'. While I was performing the initial and secondary patient survey, the 'sports trainer' had decided to impress us with his 'medical knowledge' (or lack thereof) and told us that he suspected the kid injured his C-8 vertebra. I personally wanted to take this to the County Medical Control Board, but the company ORDERED Me to let it go. The 'sports trainer' had Red Cross Multimedia First Aid training, and was planning to go to school for his CNA cert. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Correct Me if I'm wrong, but aren't we SUPPOSED to make sure the straps on the cot are secured? I guess they forgot in their rush.....

So THAT'S what the backboards are for!!! On a serious note though, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I'm reasonably sure that all the people on the 'snow train' weren't from just one crew......general public maybe? Someone was clearly heard saying 'We're probably gonna get fired for this!', which tells me that they KNEW that it was not acceptable behavior, and that it was a serious infraction of the rules. Personal stupidity is one thing, but when you start endangering the general public because you just 'wanted to have some fun' is inexcusable in my personal opinion! I personally think that all of the EMS crews involved (since they were in identifiable uniform, I'm presuming they were on duty at the time of this incident), would be suspended indefinately without pay while this was investigated. Once the investigation was complete, I would terminate their employment and have them charged under any applicable civil laws that would pertain to this. And we wonder why we're referred to as 'abulance drivers'! Ron White said it best......"You can't fix stupid!" ô¿ô

I found this clip while surfing one day. It shows a soccer player being taken from the field by what appears to be an EMS crew. It looks like they started to jog, to clear the field quicker.....haste makes for major screw ups! http://www.break.com/index/medical_team_dr...red_player.html

I would have to agree about checking personnel files to see if this is a 'repeat performance'. If it is, then yes, harsher penalties would have to be considered. People are bound to make mistakes, and if I can be assured beyond any reasonable measure that there is nothing underhanded or 'hokey' about this, then I dont see how the employees can be terminated for a flawed system. In any event, as soon as the situation has been presented, then the employees involved should be sent to the local clinic for an IMMEDIATE drug screen. (Just to make sure it all on the level. That way it not only protects the company, but will also protect the employee from innuendo and false allegations. In the mean time, the system that allowed an error of this maginitude would have to be seriously considered for areas of improvement and prevention.

So, the valium was actually wasted? Since the labels all generally appear the same (except for the written contents), something like this event is inevitible. Replace the needed drugs, document the event, recall and interview witnesses, and seek better package markings to prevent a repeat of this event in the future. The only 'problem' I have is that both the medic and the witness examined the packages, no one caught the difference between the words MORPHINE and VALIUM?

It's because of people like this, that we do what we do. Here's a clip that should have been prefaced with 'Hey y'all, watch this!' http://www.break.com/index/hit_me.html

I think that since the Paramedic started treating the patient, (in this case trying to control bleeding), even though he was off duty, the rules of HIPAA still apply. When contacted by the press, the medic in question should have simply stated that yes, he did take action, and that he did what had to be done to help insure the patients chances for survival. Whether or not he would 'do it again' is not a question. As far as going into treatments, a long winded story about what he did, what he found, the patients condition should have been avoided. HIPAA does not make conditions about patient confidentiality. Just because the press figured it out, responded to the scene and got the information...does NOT free the medic from the HIPAA guidelines (whether on duty or off)

In my humble opinion, the EMS uniform is no different than any Fire uniform, Police uniform ....or even a miltary uniform! Certain actions should be avoided like the plague, and near the top of the list is buying alcohol! The military stresses that you CANNOT wear any portion of the uniform while in civilian clothes. It's too readily identifyable, and does not bode well with the general public to see such actions. As for seeking out the 'EMS discounts', that is a GIFT granted to us by the business owners, not as a 'draw' to get us in their establishments more often! I personally feel that since the individual is not only bringing discredit to the profession, and in turn the PROFESSIONALS that are in the field, but as well as breaking the law....it should be our ethically bound responsibility to turn them over to the proper law enforcement agency, and should be stripped of their credentials for life!

By no means, am I excusing the patients responsibility to show some effort in getting the treatments for their conditions. But what I gathered from the case in point, the doctor should have made an effort to bring this to the patient's attention, and take steps to correct it. The fact that the patient in this case is asking for opinions, tells Me that they are concerned about this and has mentioned this as well... so they ARE taking an active role in this. Just My two cents worth.....

With a sustained B/P of 180/100, I would definately be asking some SERIOUS questions to the regular physician. You didn't mention how often the PA in this case has been seeing you, but there should have been some 'browsing' of the records by the PA to see what the past medical history looks like before seeing you. I would immediately be looking for another physician, and talking to the State Licensing Division that grants the privelidge to practice medicine in your state. (Would the Medical Control Board be a good place to start?) Either way, I'm in agreement that allowing this 'condition' to persist over 7 years should have sent up the red flags LONG before that length of time had passed. If I'm not mistaken, a sustained bp of 200/100 is noted, its called a hypertensive emergency, that requires IMMEDIATE intervention. You weren't that far from those numbers! I'm glad that you've gotten this situation addressed and are taking steps to control your hypertension.

AK, I look forward to reading your thread on this one. The main point I was trying to get at was this: EMS providers that actually are involved in the patient care (presumably they are billing for these services) are bound by HIPAA not to breech the patients confidentiality. By 'post hospital levels' I'm referring to the home care nurses, follow up services such as MRI's, etc. We walk a thin line in keeping the patients confidentiality intact, and still be able to sit around quarters and swap run stories. But if the Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers (who did not provide patient care, nor bill for such services) are not, then what (in this case) is to protect our unfortunate Joe Champion from the loose tongues of the other services? Just some food for thought.

Here's a scenario for any and all interested: A 42 year old man, (let's call him Joe Champion), is involved in a car wreck, requiring not only medical attention, but fire department involvement. (The jaws of life are needed to cut him from the vehicle). Neither the Law Enforcement Officers, nor the Fire Department personnel are involved in the treatment of the patient. (Law enforcement is there for traffic control and accident investigation, andthe Fire Department is there only to aid in patient extrication. The acutal extrication and treatment of Joe is left for the trained EMS personnel responding.) As EMS providers in the United States, we are bound by HIPAA regulations to protect the patients right to confidentiality. The healthcare proviers at the hospital level and post hospital levels are also bound by those same regulations. Now that I have outlined the situation (in very basic terms) , the following questions are submitted for your consideration and response. 1.) If the responding officers and fire department personnel are NOT trained (or certified) as Medical First Responders (or higher), should they be bound by the HIPAA regulations that protect the patients confidentiality? 2.) If the non medically trained personnel ARE held to the HIPAA requirements, should there be a 'statute of limitations? (For example, if they remember the name of Joe Champion 5, 10... years later), should they still be bound by a regulation that does not directly affect their job? 3.) Should HIPAA regulations be enforceable retroactively (For the situations that happened BEFORE becoming a healthcare professional)?

I heard this terrible loud noise, and looked out and saw martha jeans trailer come blowin over mine....I tell you it was sheer pandilerium!

Personally, having been born around the 24th week of gestation, I'm glad that they weren't considering this move in 1964. I was born at 4 pounds/5 ounces and had more than my share of difficulties. This was the first time that doctors 'lied' to my parents. I wasn't supposed to live past 5 years of age and even if I did, they didn't give me much of a fighting chance to survive. Now, at 42, I guess I pulled a fast one on the doctors! I personally think that if the fetus can survive outside the womb at that point in gestation, then the doctors should fully explain the possible effects of the situation, but not be quite so ready to just 'pull the plug' and stand back and hope the end comes quickly. Just my thoughts on the subject.

Its the same way in Michigan, Prime....We only have a duty to act while on the clock.... after that, its more of a ethics call, but no one is ethically bound to stop and render aid. By the way, the 'duty to stop' only applies if you're between calls.

Isn't it amazing how no matter how many compartments we have on our rigs, we always find a need for 'just one more compartment to store the extra stuf'?

Personally, even though the 'wads of cash' would come in REAL handy right about that time....I know that I would hear my father's voice in the back of my head saying something along the lines of, "I taught you better than that, boy! If it ain't yours, DONT TOUCH IT!' Even though knowing that my partner is too busy watching the road and not me, I would still have to live with my concience, (and more often than not, it't an unrelenting nag about morals!). I don't care how the pt came up with the money, that's not my job to worry about things like that. I don't care how the pt kept the money after getting his skull 'tenderized' by a baseball bat....my job is to deal with the pt, and provide the best medical attention that I can. My personal thought on going through a pts belongings (ie: pockets, handbags/billfolds, etc) is to ALWAYS have a witness present. I don't want to be in a postition to be accused of something I didn't do....or not to be able to 'prove' that I didn't do it. In short, I would have a witness present as I searched for identification, and in this case, turn the money over to law enforcement