buckeyedoc

Rid, I totally agree. Working in the ER as a medic, I see a broad spectrum of EMS agencies. Some are great and present the case in great detail and others don't have a clue. Oh, by the way, one doesn't mean your volunteer and the other paid. I've seen good and bad from both. There has been many times that a squad shows up and I'm the only one to check them in. I expect the same report that you would give a nurse or doctor. On another note, yesterday, we had a little old lady w/ RLQ abd. pain. v/s as follows "B/P-120/60, P-80, RR-14, Temp.-98.6, SpO2-97% RA". I am lucky that I have a basic as a partner who I trust. When he gets a v/s, I trust it. He did his thing and got "B/P-82/40 P-122, R-24, Temp-101.7, Sp02-90%. They had textbook v/s and they weren't even close. I think that nursing homes (and hospitals for that matter) rely WAY too much on technology. Those little writst automatic b/p cuffs aren't very accurate. It's a shame that people don't know how to take a manual B/P anymore.

It's a good thing you brought this up. We filed paperwork on a nursing home with the state last night. The clinical manager of an ER happened to be in the hospital at the time and she helped us. We had a run the other day to a facility for an 89 yof c/o N/V X's 2 days. We walked in and the LPN simply walked away. No report, no paperwork...nothing. I was pissed. As he was walking away, he said he gave her 25mg Phenergan. We found her paperwork sitting on the nurse's station, but no nurse to be found. We get her in the bus and start doing our assessment. I put the monitor on her and she was nasty blotches on her stomach and chest. Sure enough, I look at her paperwork and she's allergic to Phenergan. I gave her some Benadryl and the problem was resolved. We get her to the hospital and gave report and the doc happened to be there when we gave report. He is a good friend of my wife and me. He walked out and was on the phone to the nursing home within seconds. He didn't care who heard him, he laid into this nurse. When we went back last shift, he had been fired and an investigation begun. Being in private EMS, we deal mostly with nursing homes. I've seen the good and the horrible. I would say there is only about 2% of nursing homes that I've seen that I would put anyone I know in for care. The staffing sucks and the staff is incompetent. I've spent the better part of today doing some research as to what qualifications nursing homes have in the state.

I'll go to bed now. Maybe my brain will kick back on when I wake up.

I did. I wish my nurse looked like that, but was that directed to me or the wanker in TX? I'm lost. Call it sleep deprivation from my 24 yesterday.

You must be a little stir fry, because your message makes no sense to me at all.

I've seen worse cars. A guy I work with has twice as many lights than this guy. Then again, my buddy is a dealer and his vehicle is a demo. It's ok to have that many lights. He does run volley with a dept with high traffic volume enroute to his station. This guy in TX is a total KD. You would think if this guy has enough money go buy a Volvo, he'd have enough money to buy a real Jotto desk and not run down to the local Home Depot to piece together that piece of crap laptop stand.

I have received a PM regarding our decision for vehicles. We have put all plans on hold due to politics. Apparantly, a few of the voting members of the board of trustees have financial connections to the 2 hospitals I mentioned earlier. They of course would not even hear the plans. The EMA is still interested in what we pitched to them, but are understandably apprehensive. We are still in communication with the county a couple times a month. I attend the trustee meetings just to show them that I'm not going away....in a good way of course. The trustees terms are ending soon and I'll meet with the board and re-pitch the plan. We'll see what happens.

That's the one paramedicmike and emtfan. I've looked through the last couple of JEMS magazines and didn't see it. I'll keep looking. Thanks.

I don't think they are concentrating on medical emergencies. They are focusing on defense of the aircraft. They are taking into account that emergency personnel are apt to thinking on their feet in the face of a crisis. I would be the first to help whatever the case may be. I don't carry my drug bag around with me, so being a paramedic would be useless. I'm fully aware of that. However, the airlines would prefer to have someone with some form of medical training (other than what they get) lead the way. They would be more inclined to let a paramedic assess a medical situation over John Q. Public.

I am trying to find an article that I found in JEMS magazine about documentation and scopes of practice. I've searched their site and couldn't find it. Does anyone have that article somewhere or other info on this topic. What I am looking for is information/articles on EMT's documenting medic skills and etc. I've searched google and there really isn't much out there that I could find. Ok, I'll ask your input. Do the medics here have the EMT's document an ALS intervention on the run report? If so, why? If not, why? I don't let anyone write on my PCR anything at all. I've been involved in a court case. The investigators were ANAL about who documented what on the PCR and why. After that, I do not even let someone write the date on the PCR if I'm going to be doing patient care. If it is a BLS run and my partner rides it in, I do not write anything on the PCR. The less I or they have to testify about, the better.

What do y'all think about this? Volunteer for Safe Skies Article I like the idea.

I could not agree more. I've used to work as a CISD counselor and chaplain. CISD is a bit (and I mean a little) more effective with emergency workers because we accept death and dying more than the lay public. Oh, by the way, everytime we teach a CPR class, we give them the figures about saves (or the lack thereof) with CPR. We tell them that the outcome is grim and not to expect miracles.

There is a guy here in Ohio who has the personalized plate "WTF OVR". I like it.

My advice to you would be to go to the local squads in the area. I'm not sure how they work down there. Pick their brains a bit. Get some personal insight from the men/women who are already practicing. Keep something in mind, though. You will get positive and negative responses. Take each of them with a grain of salt. Just my $0.02. Best of luck. Doc

I've been thrown into the bulkhead many times. Many bumps and bruises, but never anything serious. My old partner was working an extra shift and was in the back of the squad. The unit he was running in had a handrail that was secured to the end of the bench seat. The driver slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a driver who ran a red light. The road they were on was a 50 mph road and they were not running lights/sirens. He was thrown into the hand rail and broke his collarbone. Fortunately, a local cop witnessed the whole thing and cited the other driver. He was also responsible for Andy's medical bills (well his insurance was).

My wife had the Palm. There used to be more medical software out there for Palm, but that has changed. Now it is available for all operating systems. My wife's Palm died and we bought a iPaq. So far it has been great and I haven't had any issues finding software for it. I used to have a Dell Axim and it was a piece of crap. In my humble opinion, I like the iPaq.

I have a new iPaq and have Epocrates as well. My wife also uses it in the ER. If you have the money, a good PDA and good software is your best bet.

Our 11 month old has eczema and was prescribed Atarex and Benadryl. We use the Atarex during the day d/t it not making him drowsy. We use Benadryl mostly for his food allergies.

Our shift change used to be 0800. They changed it to 0700 without any warning. They sent out a page saying that effective immediately, the shift would change. That really screwed up everyone's schedules.

Funny, but not twice. Page

Hey, leave me alone. I needed the money. What can I say? I'm not proud of it. :crybaby:

Ok, being new, I'll let this slide. :? I would read this first (Check this out) and then post. This will save a lot of trouble in the future. Oh, btw, welcome to the City. There is a wealth of information here. Make sure that you've exhausted your search (here and at Google) before asking a very broad question. Chances are, it's been answered before. Doc

For the love of all that is holy, use the search button. Here Oh, here again

Ok, I'm sending you the bill for my therapy and my hand soap bill.