Kinda been in EMS awhile and need advice

[futuremedic]

thanks for all the advice helps. Just to clarify the dept is now full time paid 911 but yet is still volunteer for transfers yet you get an $1.25US allowance for just being signed up for transfers then if you get called to do a transfer you get $9 plus that $1.25 an hour. And saturdays are paid on call. Pretty much the problem is remembering what questions to ask and how to ask them. So I am trying to think of different ways to ask them so that I don't leave anything out. Some people can just rattle of the questions different then the sample and OPQRST and makes sense to them and they don't leave anything. So I was wondering how everyone else asks the questions. But that notepad is a good Idea I will try.

EMT-Basic

Illinois

[AZCEP]

Ask the mnemonic questions in a manner that make sense to you.

For example:

Do you ask someone, "What was the Onset of your problem?"

--Probably not. It's just unnatural. Something like, "When did this start?" "What were you doing when it started?" "Have you ever had this before?" might make it easier to gather the information.

For the AMPLE questions:

Ask things like, "Do you have any medical problems?" Good open ended question, that some can and some can't answer. If they run into problems, suggest a few "Heart, lungs, kidneys, etc."

After asking those, "Do you take any medicines?" or "Are you allergic to any medicines?"

If you make the questions feel like work, they are much harder to remember. Just work them into a regular conversation, and they will come more easily.

[snowmassive]

I actually carry a small and inexpensive digital recorder in my shirt pocket. It helps a bunch when writing the report later.

[EchoDBravo]

that somehow sounds like a bad idea. do you tell the patient they are being recorded?

[Just Plain Ruff]

Yeah a digital recorder is in my opinion a bad idea. did you check with your department as to their rules on recording things? If you think of it this way, if you record a call then that should become part of the medical record. There are rules as to when that stuff can be erased. It's my understanding that a medical record remains open for the lifetime of a patient and some amount of years past their death.

If the patient comes back and says that you recorded them and there is a legal issue surrounding your care, the patient's lawyer can ask for that tape. If you said you erased that tape then suspicion falls on you to prove that you didn't erase the tape because of what the plaintiff alleges and you fall under suspicion.

I would suggest not taping things in the future or buying a lot of extra tapes.

Talk to your company about this or you may find yourself on the wrong end of a subpoena.

[Richard B the EMT]

I show my age, again.

When the AEDs first came out, they had tape recorders to record everything on the scene after the AED would be activated.

I don't recall any of the many departments and agencies using the units that didn't remove the tapes from them within a week.

[Dustdevil]

Those are still an option in the Philips, at least. I have heard a lot of the recordings and they can be hilarious. I remember one from Scotland where I couldn't understand a word they were saying because of the thick accents. All I understood was some woman who kept yelling "STOOND BOCK!!!" before each shock.

The reason people have trouble with these assessments is because EMT school TRAINS you to memorise and recite mnemonics instead of EDUCATING you to actually understand the reasons and goals of your assessment, as well as the human body itself. Consequently, it doesn't really matter if they ask all the right questions because they are basically just going through the motions to hear themselves speak anyhow. They don't know what to do with the info they get from the questions. My advice is to concentrate on understanding the disease processes, understanding WHY you want to know the answers to your questions, and what you are going to do with that information. Understanding is the key to memorisation.

[BushyFromOz]

I show my age, again.

When the AEDs first came out, they had tape recorders to record everything on the scene after the AED would be activated.

I don't recall any of the many departments and agencies using the units that didn't remove the tapes from them within a week.

Sounds like Lifepak 300's

[futuremedic]

Well all since my last post all is better. I have been remembering more since I have been riding as much as I can. There have been a couple down falls. 1. Is my probation was extended one month. Cause when you start out you are on probation for 6 months. Which dont bother me but now I am having issues with one of the guys on the service. unfortunately he is a board member. He is the only one on the service I have any problems with. I am having issues with him cause it seems like he is trying to find my weakest problems then throwing them in my face. When he does this he waits til there is other people around. And it seems like he is trying to make me look bad which is fine with me Im not there to make friends Im there to do something I want to do. But if I make friends then cool but doesn't bother me. I think he looks for my weakest parts and says something because he can tell I get upset and it bothers me. Now I don't know what to do but Im almost to the point where I want to throw in the towel and say forget it. But being an EMT means the world to me but I don't know what to do. Plus I have to ride a shift with him and his partner before the next board meeting. Which I was told I would probably be brought in on. Any advice would be appreciated. thanks again

EMT Basic

Illinois

[medic82942003]

I have been in the same boat, I was with the partner from hell several months. First know your stuff, study, study, study.

Then every time he says something to you, just agree-do what it takes to get through probation. I have worked over the years with lots of know it alls. Sooner or later he will make a mistake-then he will be the one at the receiving end of

criticism.