frustrating call

[VentMedic]

How do you deal with Dr's like this? Very frustrated as the kid was a family friend's son. He was also the nephew of a very EMS friendly Dr.

If this has not been someone you knew would you have written this post?

We hear judgemental remarks from all sorts of healthcare providers, including those in EMS, long before they see the patient. Does it make them less of a caregiver? Depends. If they actually carry out what they have spoken then yes. But, I find the healthcare providers do respond to their duties and perform as a professional regardless of what they had just vented. Everyone has a stress level that is met at different times. Some handle it better than others.

It is hard to pass judgement here because no one else on this forum knows this physician or the type of day he already had nor was there any information as to whether he followed through with his remarks.

[Richard B the EMT]

When brought to the hospital after collapsing in the house, my grandmother was almost blown off by the ER crew. The ER crew's behavior was lackadaisical, figuring it was just a dementia case of a 70+ year old woman. It wasn't until my brother in law, who worked the X-Ray department of that hospital, saw her, and advised the ER crew that this was emphatically NOT her normal behavior, that they took her condition seriously. It turned out to be related to Phlebitis, and the treatments cleared up the "dementia" in less than 48 hours.

[mstovall]

The ER this happened in is said to be the busiest ER in the state (the only major hospital in about an hour radius). The said dr. is routinely like this. I heard today that there is a lot of pressure from the top down on this one, but don't know if it is true.

Yes I am offended by the treatment. I don't care who you are, everyone deserves the best effort. Calling off CPR and then waiting for the agonal rhythms to terminate for 6 seconds to print off a strip is wrong. Talked to one of my friends with PD who is a medic and used to work with me and was told that the body was going to the state medical examiner's office due to several reasons.

I guess if progress wasn't being made (getting a PEA) from the asystole with ACLS, I wouldn't be so annoyed. I guess if the medics weren't so bothered, I wouldn't have been so bothered either. I know everyone has their time, but I just don't believe in helping that time come any quicker.

It was a bad day 4 codes including this one + 18 yo that was in ICU from MVA (her car vs semi), but dang if we can get them there with something, at least spend a few minutes actually listening to everyone, don't just say, "Nah, I'm not going to work this one."

Thanks for the responses, I don't know that I was really looking for responses, but more of a place to vent and see that others had to deal with the same crap that I was dealing with.

Sometimes sanity is just knowing that you are not the only one that sees this stuff.

Michael

[mobey]

I guess if progress wasn't being made (getting a PEA) from the asystole with ACLS, I wouldn't be so annoyed. I guess if the medics weren't so bothered, I wouldn't have been so bothered either. I know everyone has their time, but I just don't believe in helping that time come any quicker.

Michael

Depending on what had already been done and time down combined with the calibur of the gun, it may have been an appropriate call.

Just because you have ROSC does not mean the pt will be viable.

Many times I have seen a agonal rhythm return (low teens to twenties and very wide & irreg) only to dissapear again no matter how much atropine/antidysrhythmics you throw at it.

I can kind of see the Doc's point of not wanting to throw "the works" and all the staff at one non-viable patient who did not want to live anyway (since he seemed to label him suicidal). He possibly knew this patient had a history of suicide attempts an factored that in as well.

I know it may be frusterating, but sometimes there is more to it than meets the eye.

(or maybe he is just a prick :wink: )