Is EMS Medicine or Public Safety or both

Is EMS

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fortsmithman

fortsmithman

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What is your opinion
 
Both, definitely. the ones that write commendation letters to your agency aren't typically the ones in dire straits, but the ones who needed a lift assist at 0300, or the interfacility trip from the hosp. to rehab, NH, residence, or whatever. The money phrase, in the back, after everything is squared away, is "what can we do to make you more comfortable?". Most of the time, be it 911 of IFT, it's overwhelmingly customer service. If one can be at peace with that, they will likely have a long and fufilling career in the prehospital arena.
 
Personally, I practice medicine under the guidance of my medical director. No part of my practice involves public service.
 
I put both because my service will be doing bicycle rodeos and giving presentations to the local school on what to do in an emergency. So in my view my service is both.
 
Flight-LP said:
Personally, I practice medicine under the guidance of my medical director. No part of my practice involves public service.
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Ground txp is another beast entirely.
 
Ground ambulance and air ambulance are indeed 2 different forms of EMS. In air the medics I know don't assist police in getting persons who refuse medical assistance into the police vehicle. Air ambulance don't have to carry hose to assist FD. Members from my service do.
 
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I am with Flight. I provide medicine in conjunction with my medical director. I do not preform any public safety activities and will continue not to do so.
 
Public service isn't limited to public functions. Public service becomes evident on most of our calls. If not, we would present as cold, unfeeling robots who could care less about whether we shut the pt's lights off, calling the pt's family to let them know what's up, putting their furniture back after moving the pt because they will be too weak to do it themselves, speaking with family during a critical event, handing out blank forms for the pt to provide demographics/PMHx, meds, etc for the next time, showing up at the residence at 0dark30 to place grandma back in bed since she's too weak to do it herself, with a pleasant attitude and a smile on our face, etc.
 
daedalus said:
I am with Flight. I provide medicine in conjunction with my medical director. I do not preform any public safety activities and will continue not to do so.
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You're "with flight" As an EMT-B(medic student)? I thought you had to be either a flight medic or a flight RN?
 
The ones that usually describes EMS as Public Safety are the ones that does not know what public safety really consists of. What portion of or formal training of true "safety" courses did you ever attend? Where does EMS have any authority in regulation of safety or even provide safety to anyone?

The question was Public Safety NOT Public Service which are total different things!

Again, showing ignorance of not even knowing the difference. Providing a service and public safety having nothing in common. Everyone involved in medicine provides a service in some form or another. Public Safety such road construction, Law & Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Fire Service are unique that they not only provide but have the duty to regulate and study, develop programs to reduce injuries and mortality by their functions and roles regarding the public and promotion of safety.

We are medical nothing more. We are a extended branch of medicine alike Public Health, Home Health and even Hospice. Unfortunately, we just have not developed fully yet because we still have to have discussions such as this.

R/r 911
 
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46Young said:
You're "with flight" As an EMT-B(medic student)? I thought you had to be either a flight medic or a flight RN?
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I said I am with Flight, as in the emtlife forum member Flight-LP. He posted before me and was right on with what I was thinking.
 
46Young said:
Public service isn't limited to public functions. Public service becomes evident on most of our calls. If not, we would present as cold, unfeeling robots who could care less about whether we shut the pt's lights off, calling the pt's family to let them know what's up, putting their furniture back after moving the pt because they will be too weak to do it themselves, speaking with family during a critical event, handing out blank forms for the pt to provide demographics/PMHx, meds, etc for the next time, showing up at the residence at 0dark30 to place grandma back in bed since she's too weak to do it herself, with a pleasant attitude and a smile on our face, etc.
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So wouldn't in-patient nursing be considered public safety by using those examples?
nurses/other hospital staff call family members, set up transportation means, educate patients on healthy living, community education about diabetes AIDS obesity heart disease, smoking/alcohol/drug cessation, social work, set up follow ups, hand out discharge medication lists and instructions...all with a smile because social medicine is all the rage

I voted medicine only
 
I think in either 2004 or 2005 the Government of Canada declared that EMS is a public safety occupation.
 
ridryder911 said:
we are medical nothing more. We are a extended branch of medicine alike public health, home health and even hospice. Unfortunately, we just have not developed fully yet because we still have to have discussions such as this.

R/r 911
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+ 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 points
 
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EMS is both. EMS play's a large role in injury prevention through community programs such as safety advocacy in school's, car seat safety check programs, seat belt campaigns, handing out free bicycle helmets, and the list goes on. As an EMS provider when I am working, I feel I have a responsibility to radio in when I see a small child on infant riding in a vehicle on the lap of an irresponsible parent... of which I have done before. How is this not public safety?
 
Direct from Wikipedia for those who have independent perceptions and assumptions........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_safety

"Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters (natural or man-made)."

"Emergency Medical Services ** Are often included in public safety, but while EMS is an emergency service, it is medical service that is part of the greater health care system, despite the superficial trappings shared with Police and the Fire Service."


Again, NOT public safety, public service perhaps. The closest coorelation I see is the car seat service, but even that is usually provided by individuals other than an on duty crew (i.e. someone else PR'ing).
 
Flight-LP said:
Direct from Wikipedia for those who have independent perceptions and assumptions........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_safety

"Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters (natural or man-made)."

"Emergency Medical Services ** Are often included in public safety, but while EMS is an emergency service, it is medical service that is part of the greater health care system, despite the superficial trappings shared with Police and the Fire Service."


Again, NOT public safety, public service perhaps. The closest coorelation I see is the car seat service, but even that is usually provided by individuals other than an on duty crew (i.e. someone else PR'ing).
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As I previously posted EMS was declared a public safety occupation by the Government of Canada in either 2004 or 2005 after lobbying by the Paramedics Association of Canada. So I guess here in Canada we are public safety. Is it not some legislators belief in the USA that EMS is public safety as there are laws making it a crime to obstruct EMS personnel. If the legislators were to believe that EMS is not public safety would they repeal said laws. Is it an offence to obstruct Physicians and nurses in the performance of their duties I think not. Remember that offence has to clearly state obstructing a physician or physician assistant or nurse in the performance of their duties. The Paramedics Association of Canada lobbied for this for the same retirement and tax benefits of other public safety personnel. Just a note air traffic control is also a public safety occupation.
 
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