I am being trained by a company, but I still need help.

[ThatEMTGuy]

The company that I'm training with has said some words that I never learned in my class, and I was wondering if anyone can help explain them to me for EMT's when we are on runs.
1) "Medical aids" (what are they?)
2) "Lift assist" (are those just calls where we ask for assistance with a heavy pt?)
3) "Holding the wall" (what exactly does that mean!?)
4) "Posting"
5) "CCT transport"
6) "SCT transport"
7) this one I couldn't tell what they where saying "still arm" or "still alarm" (help please?)
8) "ESRD" (The trainer used this to describe something with dialysis)

Now I know that maybe these terms maybe so easy for some, but I am a first time EMT. I don't really have much experience. So thanks for the help!

 

[luke_31]

The company that I'm training with has said some words that I never learned in my class, and I was wondering if anyone can help explain them to me for EMT's when we are on runs.
1) "Medical aids" (what are they?)

2) "Lift assist" (are those just calls where we ask for assistance with a heavy pt?) depends on the company but it could be that you are just responding as extra manpower to help move a patient
3) "Holding the wall" (what exactly does that mean!?) facility you are at is not ready for your patient yet and you are waiting for a bed to drop off your patient
4) "Posting" area where you will be waiting for your next call
5) "CCT transport" critical care transport typically a call with a nurse or higher riding and assuming patient care duties
6) "SCT transport" specialty care transport. Different places may refer to CCT calls as sct or it could be a respiratory therapist involved transfer
7) this one I couldn't tell what they where saying "still arm" or "still alarm" (help please?) it's still alarm, when you come upon an incident requiring medical assistance that you were not dispatched to
8) "ESRD" (The trainer used this to describe something with dialysis) stands for end-stage renal disease, it's what most dialysis patients have

Now I know that maybe these terms maybe so easy for some, but I am a first time EMT. I don't really have much experience. So thanks for the help!

You should not feel afraid to have asked your company for what the terms meant. All new EMTs don't know what all terms are and have to ask in order to learn them. They can't expect a new emt to know everything.

 

[ThatEMTGuy]

You should not feel afraid to have asked your company for what the terms meant. All new EMT's don't know what all terms are and have to ask in order to learn them. They can't expect a new emt to know everything.

Your right. I'll make a list and ask them in the morning. Thanks I just don't want to feel stupid, because the other trainees already have experience in previous companies.

 

[drl]

Here are my answers, coming from a non-911 EMT in CA:

1.- As far as I know, that just means a medical call (versus a trauma/extrication).
2.- When you're a lift assist, you're not teching the call (it's not "your" patient), you're just there to help move the patient onto/off the gurney and into/out of the ambulance. For larger patients, dispatch sends two crews; one crew will be the "lift assist."
3.- When you're waiting around in the ER with your patient when the ER doesn't have an available bed yet. The most useful thing you're doing is putting your back against the wall and "holding the wall" up, hence the term.
4.- When you get assigned by dispatch to a particular intersection/plaza/hospital/middle of nowhere where you stay on the radio in the rig and wait for a call.
5.- Critical care transport. In CA, usually means 2x EMTs + a CCT RN.
6.- Specialty care transport. My company doesn't use the term, but I suppose our NICU calls would technically be SCT's.
7.- Not sure.
8.- End-stage renal disease. Someone with ESRD will have non-functioning/insufficiently-functioning kidneys and will be getting dialysis.

Never be afraid to ask questions. That's the only way you'll learn. Better to ask questions now than when you're out of training and in front of a patient.

 

[Jim37F]

7) this one I couldn't tell what they where saying "still arm" or "still alarm" (help please?)

7.- Not sure.

Still alarm. Basically you happen across a situation that would normally be a 911 call without being dispatched to it.

For example your driving along and either witness a traffic collision, or come across the immediate aftermath of one and there's no police, fire, or EMS units on scene.

Or your in line at the supermarket/Starbucks/hot dog stand/wherever and somebody keels over with a seizure/anaphylaxis/acute chest pains or shortness of breath or trips and falls and suffers a musculoskeletal injury or laceration/etc etc etc

Or someone comes up to you and requests EMS help for a situation since they see you sitting there and figure it's better and faster than calling 911 on their phone (in my experience most civilians assume all ambulances are paramedic units that is that areas assigned first responder unit and you'll be the one responding to their 911 call whether or not you actually work for the local 911 provider or a dialysis taxi company)

 

[JPINFV]

The company that I'm training with has said some words that I never learned in my class, and I was wondering if anyone can help explain them to me for EMT's when we are on runs.
1) "Medical aids" (what are they?)
2) "Lift assist" (are those just calls where we ask for assistance with a heavy pt?)
3) "Holding the wall" (what exactly does that mean!?)
4) "Posting"
5) "CCT transport"
6) "SCT transport"
7) this one I couldn't tell what they where saying "still arm" or "still alarm" (help please?)
8) "ESRD" (The trainer used this to describe something with dialysis)

Now I know that maybe these terms maybe so easy for some, but I am a first time EMT. I don't really have much experience. So thanks for the help!

1. A call. You're providing aid to someone with a medical problem. Hence "medical aid."

2. Person fell down, you need to return person to bed.

3. Think of the ER like waiting in line for black Friday sales... except you get to buy more calls once the line moves.

4. Sitting at a street corner waiting for a medical aid so you can return to holding the wall.

5. Critical care transport.

6. Specialty care transport.

7. When some dude comes up to you while posting and asks for help. Alternatively when you witness something that requires your help. You need to let dispatch know what's going on.

8. End stage renal disease. It's when the kidneys decide that they're tired and quit their job. Unfortuantely your kidneys only have one job (well... ok, they have a few jobs, but for great glorious memes).

 

[drl]

Still alarm. Basically you happen across a situation that would normally be a 911 call without being dispatched to it.

Thanks for the great explanation. Had learned about what to do in that scenario, but hadn't known there was a term for it.

 

[Aprz]

I've heard #2 used in two different ways. On 911, I usually hear it used the way that the JPINFV said. On IFT, I usually hear it used the way drl used it.