cosgrojo

Well, I know it is not the KED or the Scoop stretcher... cuz no-one ever uses them! My money is on the door catcher in the top-middle of the rear door that I smash my head or back on about one-third of the times I get in or out of the ambulance.

Mobey- I take no offense to your reply... but will add that if the term is both a universally accepted medical term, and legally accepted on HIPPA covered documents, then it is certainly "appropriate" to use it in EMS documentation. I believe that in my original post I expressed my own reticence at the word... but that has more to do with my own value judgments. I often find that the people afflicted with these issues and families that are deeply involved react far less violently to these words than I do when I hear them. The "R" word has not been thrown out for years. Maybe in the place of the all-encompassing term you refer to it as... but as a specific definition for specific diagnoses, it is still around my friend. There are a hundred different labels that kids these days fall under in special Ed. Kids get labeled different things for issues with speech, behavior (aggressive, passive, delayed etc.), Math ability, language ability, physical development, emotional development, and a whole lot more. MR is still used to identify specific children who do not show any one deficiency, and therefore cannot be sub-categorized. The "R" word may cause consternation in your politically correct mind-set, mobey, but it is used all the time in clinical environments and is an important term for school systems and mental health facilities not only to figure out treatment and development plans for the students, but is important to get the funding they require from the State.

It has happened before. I've noticed it in a few other threads. May be user error, but it would be a weird error to make... I'm thinking it has to be some sort of glitch in the system.

Again... if Dx not known, a generic term I like to use is "developmental disorder." It is a pretty far reaching and all encompassing term, and combined with a thorough assessment, will suffice in most cases. My wife is a Special Education teacher and assures me that it is legal and appropriate to use "MR" in your documentation to denote "Mental Retardation." I have used it once or twice... but I prefer "developmental disorder."

In the 16th century 1.25 million Europeans were captured by Barbary pirates and sold as slaves to North African plantation owners... That's right... Blacks using whites as slavery... I am from European descent Crotchity... I want my reparations now. Africans were much less "captured" as slaves to bring to America as they were "sold". It is called the "slave trade" for a reason. The chiefs of the individual clans and communities of Africa SOLD their brothers and sisters to "whitey" for slaves. If you want to blame someone for slavery and racism, blame your own ancestors for not allowing its' own people to be free, and then selling their own people to the white people. And since you can't tell me definitively whether one of your ancestors wasn't one of the people enslaving the white Europeans... that means you should forfeit your right to complain about it. I am not your slave and you are not mine... isn't that enough? Slaves have existed throughout all cultures on this planet... While awful and regrettable, it has happened to Whites, Blacks, Asians, Indians, Arabs et al. More often than not it is one race enslaving their own race and/or country men. Why is it that the African AMERICANS are the ones that are constantly screaming about reparations, and banging the drum the loudest? Crotch- your ancestors were enslaving themselves and each other long before my ancestors came along. And because they were already good at enslaving themselves, they made easy trading partners for when "whitey" came a knockin'. If you want proper perspective on who to blame, do the research. Slavery didn't start with Roots... it is far more encompassing, and involves all "civilized" nations in our worlds history. In order to move beyond it toward equal footing, people need to stop using racism and slavery as a crutch and start viewing each other as people. So I have a solution Crotchity... I'll forgive your ancestors from enslaving my ancestors, if you forgive mine from enslaving yours... Deal?

Here's to hoping he just stopped off for a couple pints and is watching a futbol game on the tele!

Searched the rIish times website and came up with no such incidents. Checked the Obits for the last week... no match. Did it happen in the states or in Ireland?

In order for discrimination to exist there needs to be intent. Are you saying that the test makers intentionally put the "wine goblet" question on the test because they know that you specifically do not know what a wine goblet is? You not having the experience of ever coming across a wine goblet may be unfortunate and disparate... but not discriminatory. I took the citizenship exam for the UK on the internet the other day and got 6 out of 24 correct... failing the exam. If I studied the material and boned up on UK government and society, I believe I could pass it. I do not think that the UK is discriminating against me though. If African Americans choose to prepare themselves for these tests, they should have as much of a chance as anyone else. We all know people who have passed tests that we are frightened to see on the road, but I do not believe that the test was in any way geared to allow those people to pass. Intentionally changing the tests to accomplish exactly that for minorities is unfair to everyone... especially minorities. There are so many reasons why incompetent people end up as supervisors and managers, and it is incredibly short sighted and naive to blame it all on racism. I believe that racism exists in some form in just about all walks of society... but racism just does not affect just blacks. I am a White guy who has been with the same service for 11 years. I have been a chair car driver, EMT, dispatcher (very short lived), auditor, have been trusted to run stations while supervisors and managers are away, I have a BS in Business Administration, I present myself with intelligence and respect, have an impeccable reputation as a partner and a provider... but have never been promoted. In fact when going for positions against people with far less impressive resumes, I have always come in last. None of my competitors have been of ethnic background... all whiteys like myself. People in positions of power are prejudiced about many things, not just race... and it is those peoples personal prejudice that is causing the good candidate being held down.

Just because you feel like you are in an unfortunate situation, does not negate reality. Many people rise above their perceived limitations to get hard things done. Going to a quality school even though it is more inconvenient would fit into that category. When you go to a lesser school you know what you are getting into... if not... as you said, you can not get into a good school anyway.

My wife does not believe me when I try to tell her that Scrubs is a much better actual representation of life in a hospital than ER... but it's true!

A very small percentage of Culinary school graduates actually go on to realize their dream of working in the culinary field... but I don't hear you railing against sub-standard restaurant fare. Most people with, gasp, "traditional" educations do not actually go into their chosen field of study (with far more than the paltry 120 hours of study)... why should EMS be any different? Only a little bit of this is actual opportunity. As an instructor and an FTO, I've seen many students and freshly minted EMT's come and go without making an impact or staying with the career. Usually because they either find out that it is not like they saw on television, or they are shocked at the dismal pay. There are actually more opportunities to practice your craft in a 911 setting as a Basic, then to use a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. EMS is no different from the rest of the industries in the world... you get what you put into it. If you want to do it... you can do it... the question is, do you?

Personally... I agree with you in much of what you say. I was simply trying to add another element to it. Unfortunately like all subjects that are of a touchy nature (Race, religion etc.), the truth is a combination of many different viewpoints. I agree with your testing/interview procedure, and believe there are areas that actually do it that way, I think that maybe many places don't do it this way because of the cost involved of the various interviews and tests. I hate the fact that relatives of people on the Fire department get green-lighted into positions before more qualified individuals... but if the roles were reversed, do you think the minority would do it different? Doubt it... nepotism is a human trait that spans all races and creeds.

That is a silly argument... My degree at ITT tech won't get me the job over your degree at MIT... I should have chosen a better school that is recognized by employers and society alike. Students need to make informed decisions about their education, and should know the possible ramifications of their choices.

That's not very fun, just didn't want someone from Texas telling a kid from Boston what to expect in Boston... What's fun is designing a Peanut Butter, Banana, and raspberry cheesecake... Yum... Which I did this weekend BTW...

Actually, BLS is allowed on 911 trucks in Boston... and Massachusetts in general has many communities that have BLS primary response, with ALS intercept service if needed. Lawrence, Lowell and others are BLS on the ambulance, and paramedics in an SUV. So there are actually a lot of systems to get "exciting" experience if one so desires... at least here in Mass. Whether that is a system that you would prescribe to (something tells me you wouldn't), is a whole other matter. Boston being a hub in the Medical world has many clinics and out-patient buildings that have contracts with other services outside of Boston EMS. These offices call their privately contracted services for emergency responses, so even if you don't work for Boston EMS... there is experience to be had in the Boston system. I still can not argue the pay... it is horridly small, and doing it part-time will not allow you to work on it enough to be good at it... but what does it matter anyway? Basics are worthless and an affront to EMS professionals everywhere.

He's right about the pay... But the rest is only true if you make it that way. It may be boring to Dust and a number of experienced people on this Web site, but to someone in insurance sales, it might be overwhelmingly exciting. It is only demeaning if you allow yourself to be influenced by cranky old retired people, and degrading only if you are easily swayed by the opinions and bluster of those trying to degrade you. Your age will not be a factor. 30 y/o is not ancient in EMS... it is a little late to start as a Basic, but many have done it before. If you are interested in making the medical profession your new career path... EMS is not the way to financial freedom, but it can be rewarding. In Boston you can either work for any number of transfer services, or do 911 for outlying communities. 911 in the city is done by Boston EMS. You have to live in the city, and be ready to work when they need you, and you also have to earn your stripes there. Even experienced medics have to work as basics for a year in their system before they allow you to practice, and the pay is not equivalent to what they require of you. You wouldn't be able to afford a studio apartment in the city on the pay that you are started at even at the paramedic level. I'm not trying to tell you not to do it... but make sure that you are making an informed decision for yourself and your family (presuming you have one). And EMS has a weird way of ruining relationships... if you get into it, be prepared for the fact that your perspective of life will shift, possibly changing your feelings about life and those around you... consequently changing how others feel about you. Good luck.

Who told you it was free? You pay for it... if you pass they will reimburse you with $150 checks a month for the next 12 years, until you are even. Or they will just tell you we don't have any documentation actually proving that you were in the class. By the time you come up with the evidence, the instructor of the program as well as the current managers at AMR will have had 2 generations of turnover, and they won't believe you. But yeah... it's great. But maybe that's just how AMR North-East works.

The blood sugar being in the 220's is not very worrisome... as others have pointed out, everyone is different, so note it. Is the Patient having any chest pain? Any back pain? Any pain in her arms? Anything that might give further evidence toward some sort of cardiac compromise? Her presentation is one that generally ends up being cardiac or cerebral in nature. Headache? Any hemi-paresis or weakening of one side of body? Facial droop, PEARLA, arm drift, slurred speech, CSM's positive and equal? What is the pt's temperature, is she diaphoretic? I know it is hot in the kitchen... has she had a cold lately? Dehydration or sepsis possible. Med list... has she mistakingly taken too much of a particular drug? Does she have a hx of taking recreational drugs? Abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision? Any obvious signs of trauma? You have a middle aged female presenting with Altered Mental Status from unknown etiology, most likely cardiac in nature... even if it is not cardiac... ALS should be called. A solid BLS assessment like one outlined above will, however, start the medics out on the right path and give them some valuable information that will help get the patient the best care possible.

Let us think outside the box for a minute on this issue... Is the lack of minorities in EMS and Fire because of discrimination, and unfair testing standards based on educational opportunities? Or is the lack of minorities in EMS and Fire a product of lack of interest in the field in comparison to those of a more WASP-y nature? What I'm getting at is that more White guys are into Fire/EMS, than minorities are. My Daddy was a fireman, my grand-daddy was a fireman, my great-great-grand-daddy was a fireman... and so on. Fire and EMS are a sensational career choice for most Caucasian males, whereas minorities don't really have a history of it and those who are interested have to go out of their way to find out about it. Personally... I'm a white guy... and I didn't know what an EMT was until I got to college and had some class mates who were in the field and got interested. So it is possible that if you are not entrenched in the industry to begin with you have less likelihood of getting involved. Is that opportunity... or happenstance? You can decide for yourself. Is the industries of Fire and EMS really that attractive of a job? Are we attracting the the type of applicants that will propel us into professionalism? No, and this is with a built in marketing machine of generations of pappy's and grand-pappy's. Only a small percentage of white guys that get into the field actually show any aptitude for administration and management... so why would that be any different for minorities that choose to go after a career of low pay, painful back, and general misery? Are we as an industry attracting the best of the minority classes? Absolutely not... in fact I would contend that the minorities with any sense at all would stay away from this field. Same goes for white guys... If you were truly smart, you'd have left by now. So I don't buy the testing standards being an issue. I can find you a white guy from a completely white neighborhood that would fail the test just as bad as the black guy from the block. Just because you want to do something and be something, doesn't always mean you have what it takes to do it. I always wanted to be a pro-golfer... but since I am a bad golfer, I'm not making the tour. Should I sue the PGA because I am a bad golfer, or just live with the fact that I do not have the capacity to play on the tour? There are some people's dream to become an EMT of Firefighter is just as preposterous as mine is to be a professional golfer. Have I ever had a Black supervisor? Nope, never had a black partner either... I've only seen about 4 black EMT's in my life. I've seen considerably more black people than that though. I understand that I live in an area of the country that does not have a large contingent of minorities, but of the amount we have... not a lot of participation in the fire/EMS industry. So are we racist, or are black people just not interested? Quality should win out, and we are not helping the cause of minorities by promoting members of their race who are not qualified to do the job. Because you will then have the real racists come out of the wood-works who will say, "Look at that incompetent black guy," instead of, "look at that incompetent supervisor."

Despite being a BLS provider myself, I was aware of what the PACU was... partly because I've woken up there once, and having done my fair share of transfer work at hospitals, am familiar with those departments. I've also done 911 calls there. In fact just last night we went to an out-patient day surgery clinic to pick up a patient having complications s/p endoscopy procedure and brought them to the ER at the local hospital.

I once saw a paper weight that had a quote on it... and it is the reason I involved your name on that list spenac... "You are not useless, we can always use you as an example of what not to do."

Well don't I feel right stoopid. That seems pretty obvious now that you point it out.

PACU - Post Anesthesia Care Unit

I don't think that people are saying that these EMT's shouldn't be involved in these awareness courses... just that it shouldn't be rolled into the actual EMT program taking away from their medical learning that they need to do. It is hard enough to get students to pay attention to A&P and Pathophys... and then you go and jingle a set of shiny keys in front of their eyes?! That can't work well. Personally I have a problem with the instructors preening for the cameras and trying to pump up their program for future students, and future money, and not taking the job of EMT seriously enough to teach them the stuff they need to know for the bare minimum of adequacy.

http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/co...t/full/97/3/718 chbare- you are one frighteningly in-the-know individual... after reading this very long article of technical medical charts and 80 years of speculation and theories and science, I had to scrape my brain off of the keyboard, and untangle the knot that it was twisted in... but on the bright side, I just spontaneously figured out how to solve a Rubik's cube. Thank you for ruining the last 25 minutes of my life.