letmesleep

Professionalism starts with being the best patient advocate possible!

It isn't very easy being me. I know it may be hard to resist the urge to post Pt info, and the such on the internet, but we really must try to avoid it, don't you think? I saw the thread on here about people posing for pictures in their uniforms and putting them on the internet (MYSPACE, FACEBOOK), but a Pt's info? Story? Anything? Come on! We strive and struggle to be called professionals, but then we are going to defend this type of behavior? Really? We all have made mistakes, but I can guarantee you that I have never done anything like this to a Pt, not in the last year, not in the last 15 years. He made one mistake that we know of, but what a hell of a mistake! Last time I looked in to it, I believe that HIPPA law violations have fines in the six figure range, do they not? Does any one know the answer to that question? Are we not required to take classes annually in regards to HIPPA, and I am asking that question, we do here so I'm not real sure about that answer..........sounds kinda like a big deal to me, tho!

Obviously, my co-posters are very upset with your complaints in regards to dispatchers, but me? I totally agree with you on this issue. Dispatchers do take a special class every 6 months or so (agency dependent) to study the area they serve and find the most inconvenience ways to disturb YOU and all of US from our ever so important slumbers, and well deserved down times. They don't actually watch the GPS..........NO, they have driven the trails that WE blaze to develop an average time frame between all YOUR posts, so they know exactly when to turn YOU around. As far as getting off on time, and always getting set up for a late trip, well until WE join the ranks of the almighty dispatch agency there is just NO such thing as "on time" because that is actually where the real fun truly begins. Dispatchers get a huge christmas bonus every year based on how many times they can cost the company money in overtime for YOU. The more you get in overtime, the bigger the bonus check. Coffee and donuts will never sway these well organized thinkers of the airways either. They have catered services of any food or drink their hearts desire, at their command, provided by the company of course. Sarcasm, of course, dispatchers have a job to do just like you do. They don't usually have any time to say "hey, ambulancetramp is out there......let screw 'em". There are certain rules they follow that are typically referred to "run cards" (here in my area of the world). Doesn't matter what time it is or where your at. If they don't follow these rules they loose their jobs! Don't be a hater, learn about them and get to understand them better, you just might change your attitude about them.

I agree, but there is a huge difference between you giving out your info, and some so called medic taking it upon themselves to throw your information out there for the world to see. Last time I checked we (EMS) are supposed to protect our Pts, and that includes their privacy, family, yada, yada. This did not happen in this situation, this "medic" harmed his Pt, even if his thought process was to help, he harmed her.

AMR asked for it by hiring idiots! First of all I'm sure their are people here that work for or have worked for AMR. I'm NOT calling YOU an idiot so calm down, but remember it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. Any woes for AMR are just unwarranted as far as I am concerned. How does anybody NOT see the violation here? Looks like, for the most part, we see it, but how do those who don't, not see it? He posted enough info on his MYSPACE page for any one to find her, either by doing some homework as ambulancetramp noted (good call on the public record issue there), or just knowing the area. The fact that this Pt was made a victim all over again as noted by HellsBells (another excellent point) is absolutely "doing harm", which is what we are NOT supposed to be doing, eh? This Pt doesn't deserve for her tragedy to be broadcasted all over the internet for ANY reason. Who died and left the decision up to this guy to "help" her? Shouldn't his role in this situation end when he left her at the ED? This was a HUGE violation not only of her privacy, but of our oath to do NO HARM!

Common signs of Marfans Syndrome are Tall, Thin build, Elongated face, fingers, toes, forearms. I had a friend growing up who had a Large Lump (for lack of a better term right now) in his chest where his heart had grown faster than the chest wall had. From memory only, life expectancy wasn't very long approx 25 to 30 years old on average, although that has been many, many years ago, and my friend is approx 39 y/o now and still kicking. If I recall correctly Abe Lincoln also had Marfans syndrome.

d-stick?

nuff said......yeeeeee haaaaaaw!

I do believe that there is a release somewhere between the belt and the kite, but if I heard or read correctly things happened to fast here to pull the release. This gets me back to what I said before.......stupid people are job security! Kite surfing + Hurricane = stupid!

Even if they haven't, you have to admit that is was funny, eh?

zzyzx, I'm curious, and not looking to break you down AT ALL, just wondering. You have stated here before that you don't have anything more than 3 lead capability. Do you ever do 9 leads with your monitor? Again, just wondering!

Ok, I'll keep my eyes open for him tho........damn dogs!

Ruff, I do agree that it is A) a two way street, and I think we have both come together on that issue. I will also concede that IF all this or any other newbie is going to do is drive, then they can spend their time more wisely by going to school without bothering with this type of job for any other reason than a paycheck. Funny how we aren't usually to far off from each other in regards to our opinions, just takes us a page or two to get there......lol Again tho Ruff, where did your freaking dog go?

It strikes me funny that the Chiefs are so against this change, makes me wonder if they are the type that don't bother to clean an IV site prior to sticking just because it isn't worth their effort or time. The good thing about this for US medics is that pay should increase, slowly I'm sure, but still increase. If the medic mills close because of lack of accreditation there will be a shortage making those of us out there more valuable. As much as I can't stand the NREMT, they are making a great decision by heading down this path.

There is NO guarantees in LIFE. It is going to be up to the individual to make the most out of their own experiences. If the OP chooses to go in to this transfer truck, and NOT preform their duties as a medical provider by doing an "on going" assessment on every Pt taken back and forth from the NH, then they aren't worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. It is VERY VERY easy to fall in to that rut as discussed on the previous page, but one has to make a choice in the back of that truck to either do the right thing or be a lazy EMT and sit there on the bench with a thumb in the a**. I will restate that I am all for continuing to go to school and getting the medic training if that is what is desired, but working at this service can be beneficial AS LONG AS THE OP CHOOSES TO LET IT. I do feel that this can be a valuable way for this newbie and others to practice basic skills learned about in their "extensive" (lol) EMT training to carry them through medic class. I also precept new EMTs and medics (students), and I will take the time to teach and show one of them to obtain a complete set of VS if they struggle, thats part of precepting, teaching. If a medic student comes to me with some knowledge and/or experience as far as VS are concerned then we can focus on something else like, i don't know, advanced airway management, IV technique, scene management, medications. My point is this, continue with your education! If your wanting to be a medic, then keep going, but take this job (with a transfer service) and use it to your benefit. Practice on your Pts so you don't waste time during your medic clinicals learning how to take a BP or measure a pupil or any basic skill involved in a basic Pt assessment. I don't foresee the OP making a life decision off of ONE single third person ride. First time on a truck, first time picking up G-ma for a trans, first time smelling the inside of a NH. The OP was probably to excited about being there to even hear what the preceptor was telling them what they needed to know in order to work there.

I think I have watched his lecture on YOUTUBE (if it is the same guy). I would agree with AK, there is no religous overtone or woe is me attitude involved. I will read this book as well, I am quite sure that it will be just as inspiring as his lecture........

I don't give a s**t if this is a TRUE violation of the HIPPA laws or not, string him up by his balls, and let every rape victim in his city/ venue/ district torture this guy till he drops. Who in there right mind does this crap? where do these people come from? This is just as bad as those s**tbricks that are sitting in jail for sexually assaulting their Pts in the ambulance (different but the same). If he will post this type of info on the internet, what would stop him from posting info about kids that have been abused as well? Is this a HIPPA issue? Yes I do believe it is based on the clarification written by zilla. He knocked down all boundaries when he went "on-line" to post his "public education" blog. Where was the COMMON SENSE? Use your head folks (those who are thinking about or have done similar things on MYSPACE), keep Pt privacy where it belongs......in the truck!!!!!! DUMBASSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

I do agree with most of what Ruff is saying as far as getting your medic right away, but with that I feel as though any basic getting a start while that is going on is better served. I don't think that any kind of time frame is necessary, but getting a feel for how those basic skills (assessment, VS, face to face contact) fit in to an ambulance (of any kind) is the true point I'm trying to make. If all that is going to happen in the OP's new job adventure is driving then, yes, do something more constructive with your time if medic is in your future. Obviously the more road time a medic student has under their belt, is going to better their school experience, but I also believe that an EMT that is planning to continue to medic school should focus on medic school FIRST. If they have an opportunity to work on the street at all, I say do it, but make it a hell of a learning tool. Ruff wrote "I've worked a transfer service, I know what it's like to run transfer after transfer day after day. Of the hundreds of transfers I did in my one year of transfer work I think I used my skills that I was taught in emt school 10-15 times. The rest of the time it was take one set of vitals, sit back and enjoy the ride to Grandma's nursing home. So to say you are going to get experience when doing transfers I don't buy it. Unless you are transferring really sick people from hospital to hospital which should require a medic anyway the only thing that an EMT is really going to be doing is driving. What kind of experience is that." Ruff, heres what I don't buy, can you honestly say that a "brand new" EMT is not going to be able to hone their different skills by doing basic NH to hospital transfers? I know that you have precepted students before, yes? How many times have you had a medic student come ride with you who had no clue how to take a BP? count resp? any of those basic skills that we feel they should possess at that point in their education? It happens, how about those that can take a BP, but not going down the road? Don't take this wrong, I'm just asking you to think about how nice it would have been for that one student to have done some transfers, and practiced those skills.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. We have been at 10 digits for about 5 or 6 years now. It's a pain in the a** at first but you will get used to it pretty quick. The bad thing here is the fact that we have two area codes to deal with so you find yourself always asking if its 636 or 314 any time you get a number. Like i said tho, you do get used to it!

this dumb American is wondering if you all now have a 10 digit or are you up to a 13 digit phone number now? just trying to figure it out, thanks!

Ruff, first of all where is the damn dog? Secondly, let me agree with the statements that Ruff threw out there. If your planning on going to medic school, then by all means get off your a** and go. Working in the field at the same time is going to be a benefit to you, and help you put those basic skills to work for you. Is it rocket science? NO, but you do need to practice those skills at some time and somewhat master them before using those oh so important advanced skills. "when in doubt refer back to your basics" Don't stop your education to "get your feet wet", but working on a basic transfer truck could be a nice learning tool for any "newbie" out there if they USE it so they can get a feel for how those basic skills actually work instead of just reading about them. I think I wrote this once already today, but EDUCATE, TRAIN, EDUCATE, EDUCATE, TRAIN, EDUCATE. Just so I'm clear to all that education is the most important thing here....... Thanks for calling me out on this Ruff.

I'm not sure how this is going to go over with everybody, but I'm going to throw it out there any how. Being that MEDICINE is full of free-thinking, educated, type A personalities.......what are the different stages of our careers (EMS, NURSING, MD/OD, ect)? We have had discussion about generational gaps, but what about the stages? I personally have been through the "I got this, nothing can stop me" portion, and some burnout. We all say at the beginning of our lives in medicine that "it won't happen to me", but it does, and even if you try to deny it, someone will point it out to you. As I see it (speaking as a medic), we start out with our new License in hand ready to take on the world, and scared to death that people are going to rely on us to fix any problem they may have. After about 2 years you get in to this phase where you have been flawless, and you think "I got this" as the comfort begins to set in. You relax your daily practices, because You know your truck and were everything is, then BAM.........you make a mistake! You learn from this mistake and vow to be better because you realize that your NOT infallible. You use this and your other experience to teach newbies, and try to tell them that it can happen to you. After about 10 years you get in to the "I can teach everybody this job" era, and you bring to the table tons of knowledge (book and street). You enjoy this era, but need something else, and ask yourself "can I do this forever, or should I try to move forward?". Then you hit the 13 to 18 year range, and the burnout starts getting you (this is of course if it hasn't killed you in the first 5 years of your career). You get up everyday, come in to work, go through the motions, maybe see a few Pts and can hardly remember what was wrong with them after the call was done. The negativity that you bring to work with you day in and day out is unbearable to your co-workers. Then one day you wake up and realize that this has happened, and your dead set on changing it by getting a new career or going back to school and educating yourself till your blue in the face........... I'm not real sure what comes next, and hopefully we will hear from those who are there now. I do realize that the wording me be different with everybody reading this, but how far of do you think it is? what kind of wording would be more universal? How do you RNs see it? MD/ODs? RTs? Hey newbies, how can you prevent any of this from happening to you? Is it possible? I have described personal experience with personal observation from throughout my 15 years on the job, and even if the wording isn't what you want to hear (read), what have you seen? Am I way out in left field with this?

The problem with this question is that there is NO real answer. Does it come down to your comfort or the Pt's needs? Both! Where you decide to slam the tube is going to depend on the situation of every call. If you have the drama, you may need to move, if you are secure, you may have the time, BUT this Pt needs to get more definitive care than can be given in the street, and WE (all of us) know this. Were you (the OP) wrong in your decision? I'll have to say no based on your post, but keep in mind to that your doing a clinical so take the advice of your preceptor in to consideration as well. If they had had an issue with your decision they should have pushed you to change it, but since they didn't, you made the right one. Sounds like it was stressful enough, and you got the tube any ways, GOOD JOB! As far as the education vs. experience argument. Are you kidding me with this? EDUCATE, TRAIN, EDUCATE, EDUCATE, TRAIN, EDUCATE! What is the question?

I'm going to answer this post with my own "Personal Opinion", and no true facts that can be researched necessarily. I think it is a great idea for you to get your feet wet with this company. To often you see people coming out of EMT schooling and jumping right on in to medic class with NO prior experience. I am not going to sit here and say that it CAN'T be done, but getting your feet a little wet, I feel, is going to elevate you and your education. Education and experience together works because you can actually see how things work as you learn. The thing is tho, don't be one of those loosers that start off there shift by "pre-writting" PCRs. If you want, date them, put your truck number in them, but I can't stand those who write out a PCR before they have even seen a Pt just because they "only" do transfers, and you'll find them out there! Take this job serious, yes it is only transfers, but this type of job for a newbie can really help you hone your basic skills if you let it. Learn how to question your Pts by doing it, Learn how to take complete VS both sitting still and rolling down the road by doing it, Learn to comfort a Pt in the back of your truck by holding a hand or talking to them by doing it. Don't be one of those lazy people who are just putting in time for a check until something better comes along. Do the job 100%, and look for that "glam" job! The bad habits you develop at this company will follow you throughout the rest of your career..............

My internist referred me to a female urologist. I saw her yesterday and she is gorgeous. She's beautiful and unbelievably sexy. She told me that I have to stop masturbating. I asked her why and she said, 'Because I'm trying to examine you...'