EMS world vs JEMS

[Jambi]

I am all for EMS advancing but I am not sure how professional journals are holding us back because of a few advertisements and bland writing.

Don't the the "J" in JEMS fool you. JEMS is not a Journal.

JEMS and EMSWorld are considered Trade Magazines.

 

[JakeEMTP]

I agree with you that the writing could be better, or perhaps an ALS specific one could be published. I do not think they are that bad though.

The US has too many inbetween levels to be all ALS or all BLS. EMS is also not always a fulltime career with some who hold titles in other areas of health care who are also reading their journals or in their primary career such as the FD or whatever career with EMS as a volunteer.

But then, EMS is not lacking for good journals to go beyond what is offered in JEMS or EMS. There are many more besides EMS Insider. Sometimes the opinions, letters, ads and fluff stories are needed.

JEMS has changed over the years and the cost of publishing has led to increased ads.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Don't the the "J" in JEMS fool you. JEMS is not a Journal.

JEMS and EMSWorld are considered Trade Magazines.

This! This! A million times this!!!

 

[Brandon O]

Both are good trade magazines and yield an effective "pulse" on the zeitgeist of the business. It's neither the fastest nor the deepest such look, but it's filtered or mediated in a way that can be useful.

Many of the columnists and regular contributors, such as Thom **** and Kelly Grayson, are also among the better writers in this field. This is usually not the only place to find their work, but that doesn't invalidate it.

For what it's worth, most of the articles are usually available for free (well, ad supported) via the respective websites.

Conflict disclosure: I have written for and received pay from both publications.

 

[sir.shocksalot]

I am going to break from my usual and respectfully disagree with Smash and Vene. I think a large part of the irritation and disdain (which I share) for JEMS is the "J" in front. As Jambi mentioned it is certainly not a journal and it draws much ire by claiming to be one. That being said there are actually pretty decent articles in there from time to time. I just read an article on therapeutic hypothermia that was both well written and informative. It also shares news about what's going on in the EMS world, job postings, EMS related political news, and up and coming EMS related medical stuff (usually far later than peer-reviewed journals but still there). Also, if you are having a hurp-durp day and want to look at pretty pictures of ambulances, uniforms, or EMS equipment JEMS will absolutely let you do that.

With all that in mind I would still recommend not purchasing a subscription. JEMS and EMS Insider are both trade journals for light reading and your money is better spent on a peer reviewed journal, like one of those mentioned in this thread, where you are more likely to learn something. If NAEMT lets you get EMS Insider for free then that's your best bet. while I usually don't recommend giving money to such a worthless organization, if you wear 5.11 stuff NAEMT gives you a huge discount that will pay you back if you buy at least one pear of pants a year or a couple of shirts.

In summary: don't pay money for the magazines, if you can get your place of employment to buy them then I don't think they are a bad read or big IQ black holes. I would rather someone read JEMS than nothing at all, at least then you might not be stuck in the dark ages of EMS like many of our "colleagues" in the US.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

So in closing, other than these "trade magazine's" which I do admit to being guilty of enjoying, can anyone summarize some other "professional journals" for EMS that are not written exclusively for M.D.'s?

 

[Veneficus]

I don't think they are a bad read or big IQ black holes. I would rather someone read JEMS than nothing at all, at least then you might not be stuck in the dark ages of EMS like many of our "colleagues" in the US.

This is quite possibly the only redeeming quality.