crotchitymedic1986

Beiber, I am a little shocked by your statements, maybe you are playing devil's advocate ? But thank you for reiterrating what I said about your generation, you are more concerned with what YOU CAN DO TO A PATIENT, instead of for the patient.

Bieber, since when is leaving patients home to die a sign of clinical excellance ? Thats the problem with this generation, you are too concerned about the procedures and treatments you can do to a patient, versus good old fashion assessment. As long as you can do RSI or use a drill to IO someone, you think you have accomplished something. Be a patient advocate first, a paramedic practicum advocate second.

kiwi may i ask how many deaths due to your service's laziness is too many ?

that was directed at dwayne, not you Ruff

Skin is skin, its not about a surgical procedure or IV starts, its about what is most aseptic. Just because we have always done it that way, doesnt make it right. Doctors were allowed to smoke in the OR back in the 50's, but we dont do that anymore. You can call me an idiot all you want, but I promise you that at some point in your career you will see a change in alcohol prep use for IVs. If alcohol were the bomb, then there would be no need to use Betadine for surgical incisions, spinal taps, or central line placement.

First of all this has nothing to do with race. Second the employees were not asked to give up their job, they were asked to take a 12 hour shift versus a 24, yes that means a pay cut. They were offered a rotating schedule where they work 4 12 hour shifts one week, 3 the next, so they would get 48 hours one week, 36 the next. Those on 24's do not work a true 24, they have a "kelly day" the week of they have 3 24 hour shifts, so they work 48 hours per week, every week. Those who have another full-time job were asked to leave the 24s for those who did not have another full-time job (the work 48 on 24 off). So, it appears very few here (like the employees there) would give up their shift. Would you think that an across the board paycut for everyone would be more fair ?

http://www.ems1.com/ems-advocacy/articles/1007433-London-ambulance-to-cut-890-jobs/

The problem is that once you take care of that wound with dermabond, you are going to be liable for any infections that occur, because the patient will claim you did not clean it properly. You also have to realize that dermabond is basically glorified glue; it will bring the skin back together, but will leave a "scar", whereas with sutures the scars will be minimal. Probably doesnt matter for a cut on the hand or foot, but the face is a different story.

Dwayne, so quick to judge me. If alcohol is so good why don't we sterilize surgical instruments with it. Why don't we soak our laryngoscope blades or other soiled EMS equipment in it ? Put your money where your mouth is, the next time you work an arrest, I want you to clean that laryngoscope blade with an alcohol prep, let it dry, and then put it in your mouth --- betting that is not going to happen. Makes me wonder why surgeons use all that betadine in the OR, why not just hit that site with some alcohol preps ? Now if YOU had done more research rather than just accept the first article that popped up when you googled it, you will find that alcohol has a hard time killing lipophilic viruses (HIV, RSV, and Hepatitis- because of the virus'lipid shell, and alcohol also has a tough time with hydrophylic viruses (Poliovirus, Rhinovirus, and Hepatits A)because of it's protein shell. If you want to knock the dust bunnies and boogers off someone's hand, use alcohol. If you want to use an aseptic technique, use something else.

Well I was thinking about IFT services more than 911. I recently read a post on an internet site where someone who had just started a new service was frustrated that she spent tons of money to make sure her service was more professional and had better equipment than any of the competitors, but the local hospital still calls the grungy service that is unprofessional instead of hers. Was trying to give her some suggestions.

Good Luck, and nights are better, less supervisors.

Good question, as I am sure you know, alcohol has no cleaning properties other than being wet, so betadine is preferred.

You need to go to the Director of Nursing at that facility and explain what has happened. At the end of the day you have to realize that there is only so much you can do. Another avenue would be to call the "mental health crisis line" in your area (or whoever is the gatekeeper to such services) and explain the situation. Lastly, a visit to the hospital Risk Management Department or even the CEO may assist, sometimes leaders have a better view of liablity situations than the folks on the front line, and as impossible as it may seem, he may have been seen by different doctors who were not aware of the previous issues (even though you told a nurse). Also, I would make a note in your communications center about this patients recent activity so that he is transported every time. This is a lawsuit that is going to happen, would hate to see your company brought into it to, because someone got a refusal on him after 5 suicide attempts in 10 days).

I agree NY, but there must be something new to do besides being illegal, I wonder if we fail because we are all doing the same thing ? Can you prove that the money you spent on pads, pens, and other supplies has resulted in an increase in call volume ? The purpose of marketing is to increase market share, but I do not see many who are increasing share through regular methods.

Is anyone doing anything creative, or are you still just passing out donuts and pizza at the local nursing homes ?

No you just validated my point, in the right is always right scenario, it is wrong for someone to break in your house for any reason. Just because he is hungry does not give him/her the right to steal. There are food kitchens, support agencies, part-time jobs, and several other ways an individual can get food without stealing. As far as unmotivated, what if the difference in motivation is purely greed. What if you have a single female employee who has been a great employee for 8 years, and does not work a parttime or other fulltime job because she has a disabled child at home, and the 10 year employee who got the shift works two jobs because he has to pay alimony to the exwives he cheated on, or just needs the extra money to support an extravigant lifestyle ?

No hellsbells, that is the problem, RIGHT IS ALWAYS RIGHT, it is we who choose to not do the right thing for a variety of reasons. I also disagree with your stance on management, I believe they were trying to do the right thing when they realized they were hamstrung by an ancient policy. I believe the right thing would have been for those who had other fulltime jobs to step down, so that the rest of these folks could still draw a full salary.

So you owe nothing to your work family ? Realizing that a multi-thousand dollar pay cut to someone who only has one job to rely on, whereas it will hurt you less since you have another job, you do not think stepping aside and helping your coworker is the honorable thing to do ? Or to ask the question another way: I have heard of offices (non EMS) where the workers were given a choice: a) either everyone takes a paycut of "x" amount, or we lay off "x" number of fulltime employees. In the EMS world, what choice would we make ? P.S. tried to edit 3 times, the above smiley face is supposed to be "" cant get it to delete.

I am not sure who said it, but the above quote is true, and it is why there are many 18 year old adults in the world, as well as many 50 year old children. Nothing defines you more "than what YOU DO". So are you doing the right thing when no one is looking ? A friend of mine just told me about the selfish children he works with. He works for a service who recently had to cut some 24 hour shifts due to budget concerns. The county has a "policy" that seniority rules in this scenario, so remaining 24s were awarded solely on date of hire. Management asked that employees who had a second full-time job, to opt for the 12 hour shifts and leave the 24s for those who this job was their sole employment. Not one of those people did so, so many employees whose sole EMS job was at that county just took a huge paycut, due to the selfishness of others. What would you do in the same situation ?

"Great topic CM ! You are pretty smart for a chick !!" Dwayne I suggest you start apologizing profusely; I know you didnt mean it, but that quote is going to cost you big time in your "popularity score", or does that only work when black people say something controversial ? Guess we shall see. If your score does not drop by atleast 10, then we know the truth.

Dont worry CM, the EMS Gods always take care of these type of problems: You dodge a BS call you are closer to, you are guaranteed to get the next nasty call. Get a little too full of yourself, the Gods give you a call that shows you what you do not know. Get a little too complacent or jaded, the Gods will give you a call that straightens you back out.

http://www.ems1.com/ems-management/articles/765102-SC-firefighter-paramedic-fired-over-Facebook-video-post/

I think we did this topic before, but here goes anyway. Would you please share your quick and easy recipes for the fire/ems station. Here is one of my favorites, will feed 4 as priced, just add another can of meat for 2 more people. Canned Pot Roast: Need 1 can of canned roast beef per every 2 people. Cost $2.50 per can ($5.00) Bag of potatoes. Cost 2.50-5.00 depending on 3, 5 or 10lb bag. Cooking Oil. Cost $3.00 Bag of Brown and Serve Rolls or whatever bread you like. Cost $2-4.00 Directions: Heat up oil, cut up potatoes into cubes, and deep fry until done, remove, drain, dump grease from pan or get new pan. Heat up the canned roast beef in the skillet, just dump can of meat in skillet, with all juices. May need to break up meat with fork (comes in big chunks). Once beef is bubbling and done, mix in potatoes. Serve with Rolls. Sticks to your ribs, is cheap, and tastes like a pot roast you baked all day.

No I am pretty sure it is the moral police deciding what is best for us ?

Do whichever seems best to you. There are plenty of people who will diss doing the "zero to hero" program, but I do not see a problem with it. There are very few jobs where you do half the training, go work, and then come back to complete the program. Yes you will be green, but everyone is when they start. Get school over with before you get married and have kids. The one reason I would say you should work awhile is just to make sure you like the job, before you invest in Paramedic school, and then determine you dont really like it.