"Natural Medicine" that could conflict with pt. care?

[LucidResq]

And pretty much the first thing anyone asks me when they find out I'm going into emergency medicine is, "So do you get to stick needles into people's hearts?!"

I've heard that in some areas paramedics used to be able to do pericardiocentesis. Maybe this is what they're referring to.

 

[VentMedic]

I've heard that in some areas paramedics used to be able to do pericardiocentesis. Maybe this is what they're referring to.

We also did intracardiac epi, subclavian central lines, pericardiocentesis and chest tubes. The intracardiac epi is definitely out but central lines, pericardiocentesis and chest tubes can still be done by Paramedics in Specialty, Flight or very rural EMS systems where they might be of benefit. Ada County is one example and you can check out their protocols online for these procedures. Are these invasive procedures warranted for every EMS agency...NO, but there are exceptions.

 

[bstone]

I firmly believe that anyone practicing any sort of healthcare should be regulated and licensed. This includes hebalists, chinese medicine pactitioners, etc. It's fine to practice these things, but you just have to not be a nut and get real training.

I have head of cases of a Cystal Healer tying to "heal" a pt's broken tib/fib with crystals. Yeah...didn't work.

 

[Kookaburra]

I've heard that in some areas paramedics used to be able to do pericardiocentesis. Maybe this is what they're referring to.

No, they're asking about Pulp Fiction. Because they always follow it up with, "You know, like in Pulp Fiction"?

 

[triemal04]

Eugene or Forest Grove? If it's Forest Grove, beware the mid-wives and the birthing center...bad, bad juju.

 

[Kookaburra]

Ha ha, how'd you know?

It's Eugene. (Well, for me I'm out east of Springfield, so there's a combination of hillbillies and hippies.)