WorkinTheStreets

My guess on having the work done in the FDNY shop is a quality control issue...Only one place to point a finger at when there is a problem. As a licensed HAM, we have restrictions against working on "Commercial" systems under the terms of our FCC license.

Most all of the ones I pick up are in Section 8 housing...no job/medicaid/blah, blah, blah.... I don't fault them on that. The disease sucks. I try to review with them some of the things that would help them, like only take the prescribed dosage of meds, not more so you don't run out at the end of the month and stay hydrated. I think medicaid only refills prescriptions once a month. Some are in too much pain to listen, some are surprised I have so much info on the subject. I avoid Deep Fried Twinkies because I'm afraid it would be like that first shot of H.... I think some one in Public Housing Administration School is teaching folks to put the biggest people in the system on the top floors

Our system usually runs Sickle Cell Crisis as BLS jobs. I generally see the same patients for the same reason...no money to buy meds. I read up on the pathophysiology of the infliction and spoke with several higher level medical providers to better understand the issue. Based on the physiological conditions of the red blood cells during crisis, there is not much to be done on a BLS unit. What I did get a lot of positive feedback on was the use of high flow oxygen. Most patients have told me that while it does not relieve the problem, it does take the edge off the pain slightly. And on the main topic, people know they we never say no and they take advantage of that. We transport some people like clockwork...You can always tell a new ER nurse because of their reaction to some of the folks that we bring in. We have elected people into positions who are willing to give away the store in an effort to remain in office...When we stop doing that, we will solve some of the problems. Medicaid co-pays or limits would be a start.....