mobey

I always have the radio on during "Stable transfers". In our units we have seperate volume control for the rear speakers.

Ok now for the basic version. Maintain in line spinal control while extricating. O2 nasal at a few litres. Strap to long backboard. Use soft restraints if necissary NaCl lock. head to closest hospital for possible sedation. Of course call for ALS if available. If poor mentation persists, and there is a delay in extrication, consider a chopper.

Well I can tell you that drinking water has approw 0.2-0.5 ppm of free chlorine (chlorine available to kill bacteria in your taps). Pool water is usually around 2.0 - 4.0 ppm. That said > 4ppm is considered toxic to humans. But I wonder about a neuro problem with this guy?

Air entry sounds? Abd distended? How about some vitals now that we are in the unit. BP, Pulse, SPO2, Temp, redo GCS, at my level I would like to use a non-visualized airway (king preferably) and throw the ETCO2 on it. What is the skin condition?

If you want to run a high 90's average in your PCP course, I would suggest taking APHY 189 through SIAST before starting PCP. I took it myself and the class dubbed me "Anatomy boy", believe me it helped alot, I cannot stress that enough. It is a distance course and costs less than a grand. Anyway, are you taking the course in Rosetown? Swift? Davidson? I took it through Rosetown, then I also did my ICP in Rosetown. BTW welcome to the site

Here is what you can expect from SIAST Very professional progressive school. Huge academic workload. Class of about 20 students When you start make sure you have no other drama in your life, this will consume you (and it should) From EMS you can expect: Hours of boredom interupted by periods of high stress! So are you taking a full time program? Where are you hoping to work when you finish? Have you considered taking an A&P course before PCP school?

Ya I once volleyed for a small town, I used to jump calls lots (just the good ones though). As far as "Buffing"....... I used to do it quite a bit before I was married. Wait maybe buffing means something different here then it does there

We do not use our chopper very often but in the 6 flights since I have been here we have had no indication that the patients would not have survived if they had gone by ground. On the ground however, our community will not pay the extra wage for ALS. Maybe it is due to the huge donations towards STARS (Alberta's air ambulance). As a result of this money leaving the community we are a BLS service that see's too many patients die because we cannot properly care for them at the BLS level. In our community helecoptors cost lives.... not save them. *Food for thought* If there were no helecoptors in your state, how many more ambulances could afford to be upgraded to ALS and/or increase thier fleet numbers?

This is always a tough situation. The problem is many of these Dr. office nurses haven't taken care of ABC's in many years. We have to expect very little from them since all they have done is guide thier patients to rooms and draw blood for the past 20 years. It's sad but true. The worst part is when you get these type of nurses in the ER, then things get interesting!

How so?

Government moving ambulance services under Alberta's health system New model reconciles governance and funding, integrate ground emergency services with health care providers Edmonton... In a move designed to improve patient care, accountability, and efficiency, government will transfer responsibility for ground ambulance services from municipalities to the new provincial health authority. The transition will take full effect April 1, 2009. “EMS practitioners are highly trained health care professionals providing front line care and saving lives,” said Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert. “They rightfully belong in the health care system as first responders to medical emergencies.” The decision is based on extensive study done recently by an MLA committee, departmental review, discovery projects, and review of those projects by an independent third party analyst. As well, over the past ten years a series of reports, consultations and discussions have taken place around the province on this topic. They have all generally reached the same conclusion - Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is health care, and therefore the governance and funding belong in the health system. “This is an excellent example of what I’ve spoken of before - some of these things have been studied to death, and it’s time to take decisive action,” Liepert said. “Ambulance service is health care and as such should be part of the health system. This just makes sense. We will increase funding and provide leadership to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.” In preparation for the formal transfer of operational roles and responsibilities, Alberta Health and Wellness has prepared transition materials as a principal guide for the new provincial health authority to move to a fully integrated ground EMS. Alberta is striving for a comprehensive, seamless, fully integrated health system. Repeatedly, previous research concluded and recommended that EMS should be structured and managed as an integral component of the health care system and that the services should be coordinated to be better able to address the geographic and demographic differences that exist throughout the rural and urban areas of the province. The new provincial health authority will have the flexibility to either provide services directly, or they may establish agreements with third party providers, but the ultimate responsibility lies within the health care system. Users of ambulance services will continue to pay a portion of the cost. When the transfer of services is complete, the province will cover 90 per cent of total costs, as opposed to 67 per cent covered today. Once ambulance governance has been transferred to the health system, for consistency purposes EMS practitioners will become an essential service. This move represents the latest action by government on a series of fundamental reforms outlined in a health action plan released last month. Earlier this month government announced a new governance model for the health system with the creation of the Alberta Health Services Board. -30- Backgrounder attached. May 29, 2008 Facts and statistics on ambulance services The present ambulance system in Alberta costs $190 million to which the province contributes $128 million. This year, Alberta Health and Wellness will provide additional one time funding of approximately $29 million to support transition activities. In 2009/2010 enhancements of $27 million will be introduced to increase levels of service with an additional $40 million to replace current municipal funding. Total system costs will be $217 million; which includes $19 million in patient revenue and $3 million from the Government of Canada. In addition, this year, municipalities will continue to receive $55 million to help offset any costs they incur to ensure services are provided to March 31, 2009. This is the fourth year they have received this grant funding, which was previously unavailable to the municipalities. More than 80 service providers supply ground ambulance services throughout Alberta. There are an average of about 260,000 trips per year, involving more than 500 ambulances and 3,000 emergency medical services practitioners. Background studies on responsibility for ambulance services Over the past ten years a series of reports, consultations and discussions have taken place around the province on the responsibility for ambulance services. They have all generally reached the same conclusion - Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is health care, and therefore the governance and funding belong in the health system. Previous research and reviews provided by the MLA Review of Ambulance Service Delivery (2003) and the Minister of Health and Wellness’ Ambulance Governance Advisory Council (2006) concluded that EMS should be more focussed on patient care, and that services should be coordinated to be better able to address the geographic and demographic differences that exist throughout the rural and urban areas of the province. Coupled with this research, the EMS Discovery Projects currently being managed by the Palliser and Peace Country Health Regions provide significant operational knowledge and understanding on how the transfer of services (including inter-professional links) could be achieved. These projects began in April 2005. -30- Media enquiries north of Red Deer may be directed to: Shannon Haggarty, Communications, Alberta Health and Wellness, 780-427-7164, or Media enquiries in Red Deer and south may be directed to: Howard May, Communications, Alberta Health and Wellness, 403-660-1870 Alberta Government | News Room | Ministries Listing | Health and Wellness Home Page | News Releases | Top of Page | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Send us your comments or questions Copyright(©) 2008 Government of Alberta

You know it's funny you never hear a doctor calling down another doctor. And for the most part you rarely hear a nurse call down another nurse. But holy $hit do EMS personell cut eachother down. From my experience it is very sad the amount of backstabbing, judging, and down right rudeness that goes on in this buisness. Then to turn on those of higher education :roll: I have never been treated poorly by an ER doc. however I NEVER give attitude towards nurses, doctors, Paramedics or anyone else in health care. Yes i have seen doctors be very short and direct with me and other staff under high stress situations, but I respond with a calm tone and in the end thank the MD for the opportunity to learn something and all is forgiven. If you repeatedly have problems with MD's and nursing staff check your own attitude.

You may very well be correct Dwayne. The instructor just finished up his Phd in adult education.

What specifically is the problem? Matching the name with the block? Seeing the block in the strip? Or understanding why you see what you see?

Ya I was just being dramatic :oops:

They just got thier accreditation reinstated. I have mixed feelings on the actual canoe trip - but the rest of the course solidifies my decision. When you go for your interview I think you will understand.

I see you're point, I seem to have missled ya'll to believe this is a team building school. Well the curriculum is there and challenging, If you can't pull your weight you will fail. I agree with the above statement. I also know how many jobs I have left because people do not get along or work "together". Yes I often too work "Around" people, but I try not to make a habit of it, makes for a long career.

As far as curriculum goes, it is top notch. I know quite a few medics whom have completed it, and they are in mostly supervisory positions. Not that that means much, but with the NOCP's the school can't really half arse teach, not at the ALS level. I can say their students have no problem getting practicum placements and they have a high pass rate at the provincial exam level. They are also CMA accredited. As far as the team stuff goes: You know that one medic, that real prick who dosen't work well with anyone? That jerk who when your on shift with him, you find yourself in a pissy mood and not really being the best caregiver you can be because your so miserable? Ya, he would fail this school! The team stuff is only half the attraction for me, it is very focused on shaping health care professionals, that is what I am really excited about. P.S. If you don't know that one medic I am talking about, be careful it may be you *This post is not directed at anyone*

C'mon you gotta explain.

Well in myopinion if youcannot make the transition from EMR or joe-public, to ACP through an all in one course, you should not be in this buisness. That is like saying "You must become an LPN before taking RN."

U of A, hosted at Augustana in Camrose.

How is not requiring PCP as a prerequisite a step back from national standards??

Just had to share this school's curriculum with ya'll Full 2 year program through a major University. The school's primary focus is "Professionalism through teamwork" In the first week of school we go on a 3 day canoe trip (with some rapids), as we learn introduction to paramedicine. We also meet with a former NHL player to set personal fitness goals for the 2 year period, and yes if those goals are not met it will affect our final mark. The "understudy" of this trip is to learn comradery, and work together with the theory we will apply it to our workplaces in the future. Our instructor is hellbent on getting rid of the following closed minded ways of thinking in EMS, such as: "We eat our young" "Antecdote based EMS" "Paragod syndrome" Anyway throughout the years we will be playing hockey, swimming, foot racing, and doing research projects together. After the pre-entrance exam there was a one on one interview where questions were asked like: "What do you do for fun", "What kind of books do you read", "How will your wife deal with the extra stress?" etc etc. I asked him at the end of the interview if he wanted my credentials (I have a few extra). He replied "No, You are still young enough to teach, but you too old to change your attitude, if you have a good attitude I will teach you what you need to know to be a Paramedic." "Remember" he reinforced "We are shaping health care professionals at this school, not just Paramedics". Anyway it sounds awesome and i should hear back next week.

*All in favor* I

Hey man, I don't care what they say, I have seen them save lives!! *End quote from every 40 yr old EMT in Canada"