oneilljb

VentMedic I am not sure how the 5-word phrase “my position as a firefighter” summarizes my attitude toward this topic or board. Perhaps I should have said “current job classification” or maybe “assignment” instead of “position.” For the record, I am still a paramedic and will continue to be a paramedic regardless of my job classification. As a child, I always had a list of things I wanted to be when I grow up. Paramedic still shares a tie with firefighter for first place if I ever get there. Regarding Bobby Kramer, I attempted to say, in a way not to appear to be a brown-noser, that I know him to be an excellent EMT. When we collaborated for a time, he made it a point to not only be adept in his skill level, but also familiar with the paramedic skills and protocols so he could more effectively assist the paramedics with which he worked. He and I are no longer on the same shift or even in the same district, but all reports indicate he will provide quick and competent patient care to any that requires it and will provide all the support needed, both as a supervisor and coworker, to the paramedics in his charge. Again, he is perfectly capable of defending himself, but I do not wish to allow any statement I make to be used unfairly against him or anyone else. Separately, could you provide a link to the information regarding accreditation? I am familiar with the existence of the education agenda of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but not a deadline established by the National Registry. A deadline indicates a plan with specific requirements and I would love to read the plan. I must say thank you for the positive nod you provided regarding my post. Dustdevil I seem to remember discussion of some dispute regarding Seattle’s save data, but am unsure of the details. If you have access to the data, would you share a source so I may review it and more intelligently discuss the point? I will be willing to discuss the “vitriol” in another thread, of your choosing, because I think that discussion would detract from the original topic. Before we “step-outside,” as it were, I should state that I am in no way naive enough to believe that peer bashing is unique to one particular group. With your experience, as evidenced by your Myspace link and your photo album, I presume you share that belief. I also say thank you for your compliment (I think). Kiwimedic You have a valid point that I can see from both sides. When I have time, I will expand my thoughts on your post and perhaps shed some light on why I do not expect it to be as bas as you propose. Would you also provide a link to the story you referred to regarding the pharmacology exam. I must complete a research project for my degree and your statement may translate into an interesting hypothesis. Spenac Thanks, I may parrticipate for a while, but I make no promises.

I did not intend to compare my department with the Seattle Fire Department nor with Medic One. My intent was to use them as an example of a fire-based system of service provision and paramedic education that has been a success. I am clear that few, if any, can claim to be on par or superior to Medic One. My apologies to Dr. Cobb and his followers if I offended with unmeant presumption.

I debated wading into this fray. I resisted because on my last visiting of this site, nearly a year ago, I decided the unnecessary vitriol cast upon fire service based EMS providers would never allow me to participate in intelligent discourse here and that my position as a firefighter would cause me to be looked upon as a “half-breed,” as unclean and unworthy of holding a countering opinion to any I read previously. In this case, after a friend told me about the chatter found here… Well, as my saintly great grandmother often said about me when I was a pup, "Sometimes the boy just cain’t hep hisself." I have worked on both sides of this fence. I am no stranger to volunteer, hospital, private or fire based EMS systems. I have worked here in Memphis, as a Paramedic when the woeful “Unit Man” was lucky if he ever got back to the fire station to eat; or, if he did make it back for a few minutes, it was only to find no meal left for him. I worked here when our 20 ambulances, each featuring two paramedics, were unable to handle the city's call load on any given day and would swap crews in the street after the 7 AM shift change on the way from one call to the next without turning off the red lights, much less the engine. I worked here when I was lucky if I only made 20 calls instead of the average 24 during my 24 hour shift. I am sure many of you reading can relate and continue to suffer similar conditions with resplendent dedication to your craft. I tell you those days are here no more in the Bluff City. In the last 7 years, the Memphis Fire Department has increased the number of ambulances from 20 (with an additional 3 peak hour units) to 33. The number of ALS equipped companies has gone from a daily minimum of 13 to 34. It is written into policy that with every new fire station in every newly annexed area, a new ALS fire company and ambulance will be staffed. Because of the number of new hires and the requirement that all new firefighters become paramedics, we will be able to provide ALS with 100% of our companies in a few short years. We have participated in, or are participating in, a number of clinical trials and studies, including pre-hospital 12 lead EKG studies, prehospital use of CPAP in respiratory emergencies, and adult intraosious infusion using powered IO needle introducers. I no longer pull tours on ambulances and often wish I still could. The desire to promote, to better provide for my family, and to gain a position where I can have positive influence on those around me has led me on a different path. To those who question whether my or any fire department can provide a quality educational experience, I can say that: A) You should familiarize yourself with the Seattle Fire Department's Medic One program. Without a doubt, our paramedic education program cadre is more than qualified to teach the curriculum. Preceptors will be required to not only antend the intial qualification program, they will be expected to meet extra continuing education requirements above those in already in place, and have or obtain ACLS, PALS, and BTLS instructor ratings (none of which were required of me when I precepted students from any of the local college based programs). Instructors will be required to meet the minimums set forth by the state to be paramedic instructors. In fact, most of the instructors selected already hold bachelor's degrees or higher and a couple of them are RN's with extensive ER and critical care experience. All of them have extensive teaching experience in our previously existing training program or from other agencies and institutions. Our medical director is the former medical director for the TN Department of Health EMS Division, a past chairman of the Mid-Soputh EMS Council, and is the medical director for every EMS provider in the county (private AND fire based). Additionally, he is the Medical Team Manager for our FEMA US&R Task Force and a Medical Manager for a FEMA US&R Incident Support Team. He is well respected and often sought out by many other EMS agencies. To say our program staff will be well qualified would be to horribly understate the fact. I can also say that the TN Department of Health EMS Division did not want us to have this program. They wanted us to stop teaching EMT. Fortunately, a couple of state legislators disagreed and helped changed the law so we could have a chance. The state EMS division still is not excited about this venture, so the Program Director and Program Coordinator both spent the last 18 months developing our curriculum and getting it approved. The $275,000 budget mentioned in the article covers the first class and does not touch, by a third, the money spent developing and equipping the program during the approval process. Money spent on our new SimMan alone brought a tear to the eye of the city finance officer, but it was a small percentage of the money we invested before we knew if we could even start the program. This first class will be scrutinized to the minutia by the state (in the hopes of many on the board) so they can say this was a failed experiment and terminate our accreditation. Our instructors know that and they will not fail. Regarding the aforementioned vitriol, the discussion of "fire monkeys and paragods"... Because I have been in the back of an ambulance and shared more than one class room with the now derided Lt. Kramer, I know that, not only, does he not really need me to defend him, but also that he is intelligent to his detriment and that he is well versed in the ways of EMS. Rest assured that he can hold his own on any EMS call and will not hesitate to wade neck deep into blood, guts, hair, teeth, and eyeballs. If he and I disagree on a point, while I may want to tell him to pound sand, he has earned my respect well enough for me to listen, without prejudice, to his point and ponder its meaning without immaturely attacking his intellect and before providing a considered response. If any of the rest of you has a poor relationship with the co-responding emergency service provider or its members, then that is unfortunate and I am glad to say that I no longer endure that problem here on the Memphis Fire Department. This dispersion of vileness upon those you do not know, organizations with which you are not familiar, and schools of thought you are not witness too, however, is not only narrow minded, but also, in a way, a form of bigotry. I really hope those guilty can show enough professionalism and humanity to overcome this unfortunate character flaw. Feel free to cast aspersions my way. I am a big boy and I think I can take it. If I do not respond, however, please do not take offense. Simply look inside yourself and ask “Who do I really hate?”