Bus question

[Kiwiology]

Here it is most common for both Officers to drive and alternate calls.

It is thought that exposing the lower qualified Officer (particularly Technicians) to stable patients builds experience so if the patient is stable then the higher qualified Officer drives.

Sometimes, by mutual agreement of the crew (except where patient status dictates) they alternate one shift driving and one shift attending

Personally i think both crew members should drive; it is not fair to have somebody that never drives.

[systemet]

When I worked urban, higher call volume, we used to alternate days, drive one day, attend the next. If I worked with an EMT, I'd take any ALS calls on their attend day. I'd still attend all the calls on my regular attend day, even clearly BLS calls. I figured I was making more money, so I could do a couple more calls. If I worked with another medic, this wasn't an issue.

When I did rural, lower call volume stuff, we used to switch each call.

I think the difference was, when you're doing higher call volume stuff, it's nice to be able to "switch off" on the drive days. If you just alternate calls, you're doing enough that you don't really get to relax for any length of time.

[Kiwiology]

I'd take any ALS calls on their attend day

I'd still attend all the calls on my regular attend day, even clearly BLS calls

DIE WORDS DIE!

Oh dear that looks like some sort of stirring instrument in my hand

Hmm um, hey look over there while I run away .....

[systemet]

DIE WORDS DIE!

Oh dear that looks like some sort of stirring instrument in my hand

Hmm um, hey look over there while I run away .....

I think I understand where you're coming from. Perhaps I could word that better -- I would take the lead whenever interventions were required that were outside of their scope of practice, or when the patient's condition suggested that they would benefit from an assessment using skills or techniques that my EMT partner was unfamiliar with or less adept at.

Then we can avoid the whole quagmire of what makes a patient ALS versus BLS, and whether this is a meaningful distinction.

[Kiwiology]

You understand me well; shame you're not younger, hotter and female

[craig]

well to start with the only buses that i see have only one seat for the driver and up to 45 seats for passengers...however the AMBULANCE that i work in has two seats up front

here we take turn about each day, I drive day one, my partner treats (unless I have to carry out advanced interventions) and then we swap the next day. This goes on for the 8 or so days that we are rostered on for......

[Kiwiology]

you know i can finally sound cool and say i need a "bus on a rush" when im late for work and the first bus is full?

[Richard B the EMT]

Don't you mean "Put a rush on the 'bus'"?

lol

[Vorenus]

Around here, BLS drives if BLS/ALS; with ALS/ALS you change after a shift or whoever wants to drive.

[croaker260]

I prefere the KISS principle.

Stick your tonge out and he with the larger tongue , rides.

Opps, wrong KISS. I meant K.I.S.S.

In otherwords, figure it out with your partner. What ever works, ....works.

Nuff said.

There are clearly FAR MORE important things going on than playing "no, its MYYYYY TUUUURRRNN".

Edited February 14, 2012 by croaker260