joesph

Had a very similar case this spring pt denied making self harm threats and refused care LEO actually took her into custody after pt attempted to flee and became aggressive. Then after a mental health care counsel by phone they released pt and sent them on there merry way. In our area if LEO dosen't back up the protective custody we don't have a leg to stand on.

http://www.wfsb.com/health/20592120/detail.html

Thanks you to dustdevil I can see wording would be critical and I will check the legality in MT

So in discussion yesterday a idea was brought forth to sell ambulance insurance to help make the ambulance service solvent. The Idea is sell a policy to each adult (kids ride free)that is in our area for say 75 bucks and if they need the ambulance it is at no charge. If they don't buy it no problem they will be charged the standard rates and that's fine too. If we need to transfer to ALS ground or air that is covered as well if they rendezvous with us , if they come to the seen we will refund there 75 bucks. Know I know some people are so tight they would risk there lives by refusing ALS to save a buck and I am still trying to solve that one and people will call for the ambulance when they wouldn't before and I suppose that's OK too. The win for us is this could potential create funding to operate on a pay per run basic or even paid staff if everyone buys in. What do you guys think seen anything like it before?

I almost wish we had no lights and sirens anymore they are constantly being abused and honestly the public is getting desensitized to them.

I had a sinking feeling this thread would dredge up more lame fire vs ems cracks that plunge into swampy territory

A paramedic management job is opening in Flathead county the pay is good a the job will be challenging. contact the Montana job service or more specifically Kalispell Job service. wages run from 25 to 45 per hr depending on the person and you would be the head guy or gal in charge of EMS in flathead county answering to a advisory board

Whats right with a combined service?

Does your local bank plan on opening a McDonalds franchise in the lobby? Or will the local child care centre become a guns & ammo dealer?

That is how different EMS & fire are as professions. Why combine them. I am yet to hear 1 solid argument showing they are better combined.

When will people agknowledge that EMS is a profession of its own & as such be a seperate agency?

the direction I am proposing is fire and EMS to evolve into a all risk system lets park the agenda's of both entities and rewrite them to benefit the customer best.

So whats wrong with a combined agency? I keep hearing the same complaints but I can't believe that it is a insurmountable problem. Improve training, properly direct funding and find the right personnel that are committed to helping people and not hung up on titles or images and Shazam you have a cost affective all risk emergency response agency.

A state highway patrolman was cruising down a country road raising way to much dust. He spied a farmer out in the field knelt over a cow that was laying on its side in obvious distress. The patrolman runs up to see what happened when he sees the farmer pulling on some chains wrapped around two calves feet coming out of the cow. The patrolman kneels down in the muck and helps pull the calf out. The Farmer stimulated the calf to breath and thanks the patrolman."I don't know if I would have saved that calf if you hadn't come along". The patrolman wipes out his citation book and says "no problem sir and can you tell me how fast that calf was going when it hit that cow?"

It still surprises me that with what we see any of us could abuse drugs or alcohol. How many times have we seen the results of these bad decisions and yet we wade in blindly none the less. There is to many things to enjoy in this world to cloud any of it.

Sammy Kershaw: Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On

Who is going to win the superbowl this year?

me and my shadow

whats that dingily thing in the back of your throat?

(so answer that with a song)

why did the blonde get in a wreck? she got her foot caught in the stirring wheel trying to dim the lights.

A good article. For us it is such a different world it is good to see how other people do things. I can agree with both statements that time can be of the essence and tieing up to many recourse's on a call is not a good idea. It would seem a logical jump to position ambulances at the fire halls with EMT's stationed there. I assume this is being done elsewhere and am curious how it is working? I have seen in my area paramedic/firefighters grumble about pulling ambulance duty(the box) on certain days but I think if they looked into the funding problems they may realize that if not for EMS half of them wouldn't be there and all of them would get paid less.

red like Rudolf the red nosed reindeer (that's a food)

So is that the end of the scenario?

Call the FD to help with a bariatric pt?......

Scenario FAIL

Didn't plan it that way but we seem to have gotten focused on shall we say the gravity of the situation. but please lets get back to the medical.

8675309

Not really... we just need 2-6 relatively strong people to follow the ambulance to the scene, carry the bags, and occasionally help lift the bariatric patients. I don't see why that needs to be the Fire Department at all... but I suppose since there aren't a lot of actual Fires to fight... they need SOMETHING to do. I bet we could get some guys from the local gym to come out and help lift for a lot less money than a full-time fire department salary costs us... and they would be providing the same service... only they would probably do it better.

Ouch spank you my I have another

Maybe some selective run reviews. While acknowledging the good work that has been done point out the added benifits to the patents with ALS procedures, Start small and build on it. I have seen numerous times highly skilled people coming into a rural area and being shot down by starting with a statement like " back where I came from..". Watch out for that. Finally remember the art of diplomacy is telling someone to go to hell and having them look forward to the trip.

So aussie which do you fit into?

Respond to a incident do not react to it. This is what happens when training becomes tedious and responders get tunnel vision on getting to the call and forget about safety. Imagine if one of those vehicles had been a standard sized vehicle. With these driving habits what do you suppose there seat belt policies are?

69?

oh so we do need the fire department

how did we put on so much weight we were at 400 and suddenly we were at 620. Must be retaining water.

Anyone ever try a sked?

You respond to a 4 story apartment complex with you partner for a sick call. The patient is on the 4th floor (of course). You walk into the lobby and see to your left a 'out of order' sign on the elevator. So you hump your way to the 4th floor to find your patient. It is a 400 lbs female patient who is pale and sweaty. Pulse 42, resperations 12, blood pressure 103/54 o2 sats 95. Chief complaint is weakness and nausea. Oh yeah her is the fun part she is very limited in mobility. So know the question is what do you do and what equipment do you usually take with you and what are you going to have to go back to the bus for. This followed with how the hell are you going to get her down the stairs.