Recent content by wcspa

EMS 20/20

This is true. Kaiser will active 911 for a LAFD response more often than not. It is not clear to me ultimately why this is because, as you noted, they are supposed to try for a private CCT transport first. There were rumors about why this was the case -- but I am not privy to the real underlying...

Yeah, well, I'm not necessarily making a case that their system is the most efficient. There is a lot I could say about the efficiencies and inefficiencies in that system and the positives and negatives of different staffing patterns, etc. That being said, I think having EMS captains is on the...

Tigger got it right. EMS captain is for paperwork, compliance issues. The engine is for manpower and someone to drive the ALS rescue as the standard is for two paramedics to be in the back with a critical care patient.

I do not think you could have done anything different that would have made a meaningful difference in outcome. Given the rapidity of the decline for the patient, I sincerely doubt you beginning pacing would have altered their trajectory. The patient was having a massive myocardial infarction...

The LAFD does routinely (usually several times a day) do IFTs from ER to ER and characterizes them as IFTs in the dispatch code. The hospital systems in Los Angeles, especially Kaiser, will call 911 to facilitate time sensitive transfers such as STEMIs, walk-in traumas, and patients requiring...

Just got my results too. Passed.

Right, of course. As a medic you're not looking at images very often in most clinical settings. So, first off, as I recall almost all, if not all, of the imaging had some associated clinical information or context associated with it on the exam. So in cases where you get a CXR, US, or CT and it...

LAFD has no power gurneys.

I am probably not the best person to ask on recommendations for studying because I'm a PA and so much of the purely medical aspects including labs, imaging, pathophysiology, etc. were pretty easy for me. I just had to brush up on some of the normal parameters for hemodynamic monitoring (which is...

...and I just saw the updated last two posts here. Yes, Ashley Roy was the person who helped me as well.

Took the Beta CCP-C examination last week. I had the same issue with the eligibility number. When I had called Prometric originally, they were of no help and recommended I contact IBSC. I called IBSC and within about 20 minutes they were able to handle the problem and reissue me a new...

https://www.naemt.org/education/gems

No, not at all. You are misunderstanding my position. I'm commenting on the OP case in question, viz. a patient who experienced dyspnea with presyncopal symptoms. That requires a 12-lead. Your examples of minor extremity trauma, low-mechanism MVA, and nose pain -- of course there is no...

Sure, for cases where he declines, tells you to screw yourself, or walks away. For other cases, a modicum of effort can and should be expended. "Hey man, I know you're feeling better now but how about we just check some vitals on you?" 9/10 times the above will work. If it doesn't -- document...