EMS Office Hours

We love the first show of the month since it lets us talk about a bunch of topics and open the floor to the listeners so any topic is fair game. Join us this month for another fun show where we will talk about recent EMS news, hot forum topics and EMS FaceBook trends. Plus for December, we will be giving away a gift each show. But in order to claim the gift you have to listen and get the special code referenced. Then just wait until Wednesday at 9am EST to post the code and your comments on the blog at EMSOfficeHours.com The first listener to post the code mentioned on the blog gets the gift.

Is it Emergency Medical Services or Mental Services? I'm not sure about where you work but by me, psychiatric calls are just as abundant as chest pain calls and MVC's. Pretty much the one call you can count on every shift. Now I feel confident I can handle the chest pain call or the MVC but I have to be honest. I'm not so sure on the psychiatric patient call. I mean unless they overdosed or attempted to harm themselves in another way, I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with these patients other than be constantly alert for my own safety. Which by the way is a challenge I don't really feature having to conquer. This week we talk about transporting the psychiatric patient, why EMS is saddled with this often "expensive taxi ride" that stresses providers and the system resources. Join us with your comments and spirited debate. ====================================== Master every patient contact with the "Art of Patient Rapport" webinar. Get details here.  

I'm sure you have heard of gallows humor. You hear it in various professions and EMS is no different. Some use it as a coping mechanism, others as a way to bond and express frustration about the job with their peers. Is there a line that can get crossed? Does it make you an uncaring provider of you use it? Join us as we talk abou this during the show along with any other topics that may come up.

You're an EMS provider. You've listened to your instructor, supervisor, FTO and anyone else who can give you that insight into the world of EMS right? But did they ever tell you about certain things you will see, be asked to use or be prepared to act on? At what point does it become your resposibility to know about these surprises? Join us for this episode and share some of your experiences that you just were not prepared for or wished your EMS instructor had spent a little more time on. 

Join us for this episode as we discuss the recent Hurricane Sandy, Come chat live or call in with your Sandy experiences and how we are looking ahead to the challenges facing us as EMS providers.

Join us for some EMS World Expo pre-show conversations, EMS news, pay differences and some chick named Sandy.

You love EMS right? The great schedule, high pay, low stress. But what if you coudln't do it anymore? What would you do? Do you have any plans or ideas on how you would survive or even fill that need to help others? Injuries, age and burnout can be factors that force you to stop working in EMS. So this week we talk about fall back plans, options and ways to extend your EMS life.

This is a monthly favorite. Join us as we discuss hot topics on the web and the blogosphere. Or bring your own topic. Anything goes and you never know who is going to show up. This time around plan on discussing when to slap a patient and why a blanket isn't good for anyone.

I think we can all agree that EMS is a tough job. Patients, family members, nurses, docs, police, fire, the UPS guy. All the things that can make our jobs easier or harder, depending on many variables. Add to that what seems to be an often toxic work environment, its no wonder it gets to be a kill or be killed theme out there. Every man and woman for themselves. So in this episode, we ask why are our work environments so toxic? What underlines the causes and what are some key things we can do as individuals and as a group to make things better? Join us and bring your examples of both good and bad workplace vibes.  

You see them all over. The polls asking your opinion on various topics facing EMS. Formal ones on sites like JEMS and EMSWorld as well as impromtu questions on any number of Facebook pages and EMS Blogs. So, what do the responses tell us about ourselves? About EMS as a profession? Does anybody care or even pay attention? Join us for this episode and bring your latest survey findings.

You may have seen in any number of EMS articles, blogs, facebook posts etc the ongoing and sometimes heated debates on the benefits/dangers of EMS providers carrying guns, concealed or otherwise. We have talked about this before on the show, but thought it would a good idea to give it another look and discuss the recent VA EMS where the ban is being removed to carry on the ambulance. One point is that the decision should be left to the EMS agency not the state. What do you think? Come join us and bring a friend. http://www.examiner.com/article/virginia-moves-to-allow-ambulance-crews-to-carry-guns  

Paramedics and EMT's seem to be in a constant mode of some type of training. Continuing education, recertifying, skills updates and more. Now to me this is a good thing. I dont think we ever know it all. So is there a time when we have enough training? When we can be deemed competent and trusted to treat the wide variety of patients we encounter? What about when someone doesnt get it, makes the same mistakes over and over. Is it time then to stop training and start thinking of another way? Join us for this episode and give your thoughts by calling in or chatting live.

Time again for another monthly Rapid Fire episode where we will discuss popular EMS articles and topics in the news, on the blogs and general webosphere. Anything goes on these episodes so be sure to join in bring a topic and contribute to the episode.

New titles and changes in EMS levels present some challenges to EMS. Some states are leaving certain level names as is, some are adding another level. These changes also present a challenge to the volunteers in EMS and funding available. Shouldn't every state adopt what the National Curriculum has presented? Is this a death knoll to the volunteer system or a chance for them to embrace and meet the changes that look to improve the EMS profession? Join us for this session an give your point of view on the EMS transitions.

This week we revisit a bit the idea of Zebra Hunting in EMS. Do you see more paramedics needing to do interventions than others? Do they have more patients who need saving or are they over reacting or hunting for something that isn't there? Join us for this episode and give your opinion. Chat with us live on Twitter as well during the show we are @emssafe What a second, don't know what Zebra Hunting is? You'll have to drop in to find out.