paramedicmike

Pardon me. I'm not sure why I should respond to such rudeness from a snotty nosed little brat who thinks he owns the posting rights to a public message board, but I will.

And resort to name calling at the same time? All in result to a legitimate question? Who claimed to own posting rights to a message board? In fact, I asked you to further explain your purpose. Far from trying to prevent further posts.

Why SHOULD I forgive your cynicism.

Is this a question? Punctuation was taught in first grade.

Apparently the USA Today thought the content of the article was enlightening and important enough to include in their publication. Some folks may learn something from reading it.

Sure. They might learn how to write an article that can't hold a single thought for more than a paragraph or two at a time. College journalism classes teach aspiring reporters to write at a 7th grade level just so people can understand. It seems that this is just the perfect reading level for you.

Open your mind and consider the possible profound effect that a successful oxygen therapuetic would bring to the world of emergency medicine.

I have. However, until the study is released detailing results there is little to discuss. Speculate until the cows come home if you like. But that was my point. You're going on and on about what a great thing this is. But you've said nothing other than you've got these great articles on a study that's not completed. Back to my original question...what's the point?!

I think the article speaks for itself. I am not one to IMPOSE my views on other folks. I offered the article, take it or leave.

Sure you are! That's why you've posted over and over and over and over again on what a great thing this is! That's why you've said that this will herald unprecedented changes in the world of prehospital trauma care.

However, I tend not to rely on the Urban, tabloid media for my news. I tend towards more reputable news sources.

How about this. We all know you're terribly excited about a product that has not yet been proven to work. Since the study will soon be ending, why not just wait until the results are released? Then a discussion based on how great this product really is can be hashed out in all sorts of gory detail. That way, too, we'll be able to sit and actually look at hard evidence from this particular study to debate just how good or how bad this product was for the patients who received it.

Seems I remember something about the autopulse being the greatest thing to EMS since sliced bread, too. And that study was halted. Wait for solid results before spouting off.

And if you want to result to name calling in response to a legitimately posted question then go back to second grade. I'm sure you'll fit in quite nicely there.

-be safe.

So, as was questioned above, what's your point?

You'll forgive my cynicism, but are you on the payroll of the labs funding this study to keep it fresh in our minds? Because you keep posting but you've yet to say anything. Sure you can cite articles calling people guinea pigs. Sure you've been following this for however long. But you've not yet said anything.

So how much are they paying you?

-be safe.

Polyheme is part of a story in USA Today. Hank Williams Jr.'s daughter's rights were abused when a lifeflight crew unwittingly made her a guinea pig and infused her with that Polyheme stuff.

Are we to read this as sarcasm?

Google "business casual" and you will come up with examples of what is acceptable.

Do a search of these forums and you'll come up with more info on interviewing than you'll know what to do with.

Good luck!

-be safe.

Ah yes! Times like these I'm reminded of the immortal words of Ned's Atomic Dustbin when they sang, "Kill your television"

-be safe.

Yeah, sorry. Been on vacation for a few days. And the new job's going well! Thanks!

I think, though, I was clarifying my points while you were posting. That should explain the discrepancies between what is now visible and what was quoted.

As to time, I've been on some lengthy transports. I wasn't doing anything differently on those transports than what was being done in the hospital. So I'll echo the question, while I wasn't doing anything different from the hospital was my care less than definitive? I'd like to think no. Especially if it's in line with treatment that would be readily available in the ER.

But IMHO I think it goes back to the conception of medicine as a whole or the consideration of each step along the way. Consider it as a whole and there's no such thing as definitive care. Consider each step individually and respectively and I think you'll see that there is definitive care starting with the connection of the 911 call.

-be safe.

In that case what would be? We don't provide a final solution to a patient's problems. I can agree with that. But then what? We take the person to the ER. She winds up getting moved to the ICU. Then she's sent to step down or rehab. Finally she's discharged to home with follow up, in house nursing care.

There's nothing final in each step, yet each step works until it has reached a final point as defined by the location/specialty of the service. Yet each step "above" us is considered definitive care.

If you want to look at the whole broad picture with clear marked end points and solutions then no, EMS is not definitive care. But when considered in the big picture with each step not having anything more than a final endpoint before transferring the patient off to the next step in care then yes I think it could be.

And your posted definition is a bit narrow. There are other definitions and meanings to consider.

-be safe.

We even did away with the pins. I don't know why. But there you have it.

Otherwise, I have to agree with what Rid posted.

Fiznat, to answer your question, I look at it as an expansion of experience that I just wouldn't get in a ground job. I still work the ground. But there are things and patients and challenges offered in my flight job that I just don't get on the ground. Not to sound too altruistic but there is a certain satisfaction in that (well, that and the chicks dig a guy in a flight suit and helmet ).

And Noahmedic's response on the supply and demand aspect apply, too.

-be safe.

Yep, Im trippin... :shock: :shock: :shock:

Oh G-r-oo-vy!...

R/r 911

And...I'm going to go for one more...cuz that's how I roll.... 8

Maybe we can keep this going all year...!

R/r 911

I dont get to deviate from mine. Thats all im saying, I dont always agree with it. But that is how it goes in my area.

To borrow a line from Dust, if that's how it goes in your area then your area sucks. Remind me not to get sick if I visit.

What bothers me more is that you just seem to throw up your hands and accept such mediocrity. Why aren't you working to change this? Why are you so resistant to the idea of change? Especially when it can be an improvement to what already exists?

Dust and Rid are right on with their assessments. I also think they're right on with their ideas for change. And either way you look at it, change in the form of increased education and guidelines (as opposed to strict 'follow these protocols or else') is on it's way. It may take some time. But we should be getting used to the idea.

-be safe.

That's great you know what "incompetent" looks like. Too bad you don't know what the spell check looks like.

Education might not completely remove incompetence. But by having increased educational requirements the rate of acceptance into educational programs of people who don't need to be doing this job will decrease dramatically. With that you'll see not only more rounded providers but providers who are dedicated to learning, providing care at the highest possible level and are skilled in their job.

Funny. It seems that the people who argue most against education are the ones who are afraid that they'll lose their jobs if educational standards are implemented. Or they're ones who wouldn't have gotten the job to begin with. College/university education is not bad. And if you're afraid of it you should reconsider where you are and where you're headed.

-be safe.

How the hell did I miss this?

I think he's just going to add yet another service/theater ribbon to his uniform.

Good luck, Bro. Be safe. If you need *anything*, or your unit needs *anything* (e.g. mail, care packages, sunscreen whatever) let us know. I'm quite sure we could put together quite a bit for you and your unit...just gotta give us an address once you get it.

God speed!

-be safe.

Go back and watch some of those episodes of "Emergency" again. Some of your observations about what happened in the show aren't as astute as they could be.

Have you done any of your own research on this topic? Like on the origins of battlefield medical care and how it evolved into what we have today? Like on some of the influential papers written on the topic (something about death and disability being a neglected disease...that's a hint)? Less than five minutes on Google turned up several screens worth of information.

Or are you looking for a first hand perspective from some of the vets who lived and worked in this time?

I understand you're still a student. However, having done some research will help you when you come to the table with questions. Try that first and then we can help with other questions that may either be left unanswered by or as a result of your research.

Good luck!

-be safe.

You sure you're from Weymouth? You can't even spell your Commonwealth's name correctly! All that with a spell check feature conveniently provided by admin.

As for getting the job, it depends on the company now. Did they give you a date by which you should hear something?

-be safe.

Do a search on this site about why the NAEMT is so worthless and you will find more info than you probably care to read. If nothing else, though, you'll get the answer to your question.

Good luck.

-be safe.

What do you think? Thought I'd stir the pot a little on this Monday.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-0...aramedics_x.htm

-be safe.

Looking back at my initial post questioning infection rates, I didn't intend for it to sound like I was badmouthing RNs. I can see how it would come across that way. I hope, despite my poor language skills at this late hour, noone took it that way.

I understand that hospitals have policies regarding certain things. I was just wondering if they had info I hadn't come across yet.

Thanks for the info!

-be safe.

The question of infection from prehospital IVs has come up a couple times in this thread.

Are there numbers to support an increased infection rate from prehospital IVs at your hospitals? Or is it simply a perceived threat?

If there are, in fact, increased numbers of infection that can be definitively attributed to field start IVs, is anything being done to address this with local providers in an effort to decrease the numbers? Or is it simply something else for the RNs to bitch about?

It would seem that something as serious as this should be addressed sooner rather than later. I realize that, given the environment in which many of our patients are found, infection is a real concern. But if it's that big a deal that you're seeing legitimate problems I'd be curious to hear what is being done to change infection control methods in the field.

-be safe.

So if someone comes into a service and I have to be hard on him because he's an idiot that automatically makes me a paragod?

Not trying to be argumentative.

I'll also disagree with the notion that they're not idiots. Any new person is an idiot until proven otherwise. Just because they've gone through two years of college and managed to BS their way through an interview doesn't mean anything other than they can successfully BS their way through an interview.

I've done six years of college and some people still say I'm an idiot.

-be safe.

If the person in question, knows what s/he is doing, acts appropriately, isn't an arrogant know it all, doesn't cop an attitude, is confident in his/her skills, asks appropriate questions, admits to not knowing something then asks so as not to have to revist the issue later then fine.

If the person in question has one or none of the above qualities/traits then they deserve everything they get.

Yes, be fair. Don't pick on the person just to pick. Don't get personal and don't attack a person on that level. But it is our responsibility as the senior staff to make sure the newbie is up to snuff. This isn't a game and it's not a hobby. We have just enough in our toybox to cause some serious damage (if we don't wind up killing someone). And if that person fvcks up then not only is it his/her tail on the line, but the partner and the organization. It's our job to get this person into shape if s/he's not there already.

I've seen it before. In fact, it's going on right now at my full time gig. People want to hand hold a new hire who's a pathological liar and an extremely bad medic. Do you want someone like this showing up to take care of you or your family? I live in my local and damned if I'm going to let this bonehead take care of me.

Be fair but be hard if needed. Weed them out. The EMT mills don't do anything to prepare people. That's up to us.

And if people don't like it, well, then don't work in the industry.

-be safe.

Techmedic:

An update on some of the info you posted. I just received my Maine license in the mail. The whole process took about 5 months (no fault of Maine EMS, though. Some of the paperwork needed to go through my current office of EMS and they're just incompetent). It did cost me $65 for the paperwork shuffle and application fees and blah blah blah. Other than that it was fairly painless.

Massachusetts has some goofy thing re: practicals. It has something to do based on where you took your initial test. If there were practicals involved and your state of origin signs off on it I don't think you need to do the practicals regardless of how long ago you took them. At least I didn't have to take them. And the computer based exam wasn't too bad. My card doesn't say "license" on it, though...only "certification number..." What did I miss?

I went for Maine as I applied for a few jobs up there and could see myself living there. I did the Mass process only because of a girl. The subsequent search for employment in Mass made me realize that the Commonwealth of Mass is really f**ked up when it comes to EMS. As such, I really have no desire to work there.

Just some observations.

-be safe.

PA is the same. NR is the state's paramedic exam. Pass that and you don't need to maintain it. However, PA is goofy in the sense that once you're certified it's a lifetime certification. To stay active you need 18 hours of con-ed a year and the sign off from your medical command physician. If you decide you want to take a year or 12 off all you have to do to come back is take 18 hours of con-ed, get hired and convince the MCP to sign off on you working.

Maryland requires NR for initial certification then passing the state protocol test for state licensure. So long as you maintain your NR you maintain your state license (yes, MD licenses their paramedics. Maine does, too.)

I keep my NR for a couple reasons. I'm not staying in one place yet. It has made some reciprocity issues easier (not much...but a little). And I worked too damn hard to just let it lapse.

-be safe.

So what do people think of this as a potential solution? Not that I think it'll get very far but just for S&G...

Maryland requires NR for both their I and P level providers. Once you've successfully completed the test at your respective level, you take a state test on the statewide protocols. Pass that and you're good to practice anywhere in the state. To continue working you maintain your registry cert and complete protocol updates as they are made.

I realize that not all states operate on a statewide protocol system. (I think they should but that's another issue altogether.) Would a program like this keep the states happy in that they still have their politically corrupt hands in the pot while maintaining some level national standards?

Just thinking out loud...well...sort of.

-be safe.

Well said Lithium (and Dust to have it recapped here).

-be safe