EMS Office Hours

The salty dog, the medic everyone calls Doc. What does it take to have longevity in EMS? What changes for that provider who has ten, twenty or more years in the industry? EMS professionals who keep doing the job year after year have a vested interest in the future of the industry. At least they should have. Have you been in EMS for over 10 years? What keeps you going, what are your hopes and do you try and pass your experience and goals to the younger generation? Join us and share your thoughts, goals and how you have seen EMS change over the years.

Patient assessment in EMS is pointed to as the key ingredient with our patient contacts. Yet how much time is really spent on this in class? Things like the importance of reassessment, differential diagnosis and treatments. We seem to have this pride of ABCDE, DCAP, BTLS and knowing it, sticking to primary and secondary surveys. But what about really knowing what we are looking for and identifying true emergencies instead of fitting patients into protocols? Join us for this episode, share your patient assessment tips and tell us your indoctrination into "patient assessment". Donate for the 10-13 at http://goo.gl/aQq8c  

In this final installment on communication and interaction with various elements in EMS. We will discuss the ED. You know -nurses, techs, doctors. How does communication with these fellow healthcare providers help us in patient care? Does our interaction with the ED end up reflecting on the EMS profession? Come listen in and share your experiences and tips on better communication with your favorite nurse or Doc.  

EMS seems to be always trying to find an identity. New guidelines on certification levels are out and some things have been removed, added etc. Wouldn't it be easier and make more sense to just do away with all these levels and make one primary level to build upon. One that actually helps patients and is a serious part of the health care process? Want to know what Jim and Josh think? Come join in and find out. We would love to know what you think as well. Bring your emotions, this one could get bumpy.

What makes an EMS professional? It is your uniform, education or attitude? Is it defined by your skills or your last exam score? What about paid vs. volunteer? Can there be a definite answer or is it all perception? How do you describe what an EMS Professional is?

It's a common complaint right? EMS doesn't get paid enough. Arguments on education, training levels, license vs. certification. All trying to justify higher pay or why we don't deserve it. Yet, where is the incentive if we don't get paid just a little extra for some things we do now that seem to get lumped into our job descriptions. Join us for this discussion and share your experiences.

Part three in this series talks about communicating with EMS management. Have you ever felt like management isn't listening? The QA/QI guy is out to get you? Your supervisor just doesn't seem to remember she was on the ambulance once. Join us for this episode and maybe get some insight to the back rooms of management and what goes on behind that door. Why you should care and how you can be a part of it.

You respond to a cardiac arrest patient. The family or caretaker hands you a Do Not Resuscitate Order. OK, no brainer on what to do right? Well, maybe not. While the DNR is meant to allow EMS providers to do just that. There are situations that just aren't explained in a DNR order. Does the family know them? Like all things EMS this isn't so cut and dry. Join us for this episode, bring your story and let us know how your state or region handles the DNR order.

One almost staple in EMS is nitroglycerin. Whatever system you work in it is in the protocols. Mostly in ALS guidelines, but you also are seeing it many BLS protocols as well. This episode will talk about this drug it's common uses, not so common uses, dangers and benefits. Join us with how your protocols use this therapy, how you have used it and some positive or negative experiences you have had with this protocol choice.

With a recent article and some fall out on a medic and drug administration error. I thought would be a good opportunity to discuss this topic. What should happen if a drug error is made? Should the penalty be the same regardless of the drug, patient or outcome? Have you ever given the wrong drug or dosage? Join in and give your opinion on this and the article below. http://www.ems1.com/pharmacology/articles/1123523-Tenn-paramedic-demoted-after-drug-mistake/

OK, the argument on pre hospital intubation has been going on for some time now. Should we or shouldn't we. How do we train, remain competent and prove that we can do it, successfully every  time. Is that 100% success rate a realistic number? Join us for this episode and bring your honesty. I don't want to hear "I've never missed a tube". It happens. But what have you done to improve your success? What can be done as an industry to improve and prove our success?

Join us for this special EMS Office Hours. Remembering 9/11. We want to open the lines and the chat room to you. There will be over 50 lines open to come share your thoughts. Call in with your 9/11 story, your memories, experiences and thoughts. So many EMS providers will never have their stories told. So many need to be told. Join us.

So, you have your HAZMAT training, your tactical training or maybe some cool high angle rescue training. Now what? How many EMS systems and providers utilize EMS for these tasks as a primary response entity? Wouldn't awareness or perhaps a step above awareness for these types of courses be better and open the training up to a larger EMS audience? Education and training is great, but shouldn't we focus more on the "Medical" in EMS and leave this rescue stuff to Fire or Police? Come and be honest in this episode. Have you taken a course like this? Have you used it on a scene?

In a recent EMS1.com article it was asked if trauma patients really need that second IV line. Large bore catheter or not, should we be following this often wrtten trauma patient rule or should we be treating the patient according to our assessment? The answer seems obvious. So, why is this even an issue? Go read the article and then stop in during this episode to discuss and give your latest bilat IV story. Read the article here. http://www.ems1.com/research-reviews/articles/1087455-Prove-it-Trauma-patients-need-two-IV-lines/  

Does responding lights and sirens to every call really make a difference? Should the response method be left up to the EMS crew? What about liabilty and expectations? Join in this episode to let us know what your response policy is, how and if you follow it and what to think about considering liability issues.