Trip - RKNY36

I think I must have been one of the lucky ones. I was able to let my head take care of the patient and my heart take care of the person at the same time. In the field wasn't my issue. Most of my transports, in the beginning, were interfacility and minor medical conditions and it became like talking to my grandmother/grandfather. When I started getting to where the flotsam hit the fan, my mouth was already caring for the person as my head and hands cared for the patient. After the trauma calls was when it would get to me. Luckily, I work a night shift with some great people. I actually don't feel that I would be able to cope as well.

There's also the aspect of did the patient want to be transported by EMS? If the pt wanted to be transported by his/her family, the most we can do is convey our concerns and possible outcomes then ultimately respect their wishes, regardless of PHx, CC and such. I guess, in my case, it would be determined on a case by case basis and, if I felt strongly enough, would get Law Enforcement involved. Otherwise...........

I actually lucked out with the company I work for. I am an EMT-D in NY and an EMT in PA and we do a lot of inter-facility transfers as well as code 3 calls. I usually work with the same three people, 2 are AEMT-CC (Critical Care) and one paramedic. All three of them has corrected hospital staff before I was able to. Each pointing out that I was a trained EMT and not "just a driver". Of course, they let me have it when I first started and was joking about being just the driver, I learned quick. For as trained as the hospital staff is? Not as quick...