JPINFV
Gadfly
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So Orange County, CA has decided to start allowing paramedics to operate on private company, interfacility ambulance units. Prior to this point, the only paramedic provider allowed in the county was the fire departments running 911 calls. Private companies used EMT-Bs (EMT-I [one]), RNs, and RTs to meet the needs of interfacility transports, including transports going to the emergency room.
Now for people who aren't familiar with the screwed up California system, direct EMS system management is left to the "Local EMS Authority" which is either the county or a group of counties. There are three levels, EMT-I (one, EMT-B), EMT-II (two), and EMT-P. There is a list of expanded skills for EMT-B which must be approved by the state. Similarly, counties can only use EMT-IIs [known as "limited advanced life support"] if they absolutely can not provide paramedics and only after approval by the state.
Here is the current proposal:
http://ochealthinfo.com/docs/medical/ems/i...ort%20units.pdf
I can't, for the life of me, see how this is useful. The drug list is essentially limited to glucose, nitro, saline, albuterol, ASA, narcan, and EpiPen. No ACLS drugs. No pacing. Only combitubes. SAED monitor (not sure if they'll allow manual defib). Probably the best part is if the patient crashes, the medic has to request a 911 medic. Why even use a medic for this? Why even apply for a medic spot with these restrictions?
Call for comments memo:
http://ochealthinfo.com/docs/medical/ems/45dayreview.pdf
Now for people who aren't familiar with the screwed up California system, direct EMS system management is left to the "Local EMS Authority" which is either the county or a group of counties. There are three levels, EMT-I (one, EMT-B), EMT-II (two), and EMT-P. There is a list of expanded skills for EMT-B which must be approved by the state. Similarly, counties can only use EMT-IIs [known as "limited advanced life support"] if they absolutely can not provide paramedics and only after approval by the state.
Here is the current proposal:
http://ochealthinfo.com/docs/medical/ems/i...ort%20units.pdf
I can't, for the life of me, see how this is useful. The drug list is essentially limited to glucose, nitro, saline, albuterol, ASA, narcan, and EpiPen. No ACLS drugs. No pacing. Only combitubes. SAED monitor (not sure if they'll allow manual defib). Probably the best part is if the patient crashes, the medic has to request a 911 medic. Why even use a medic for this? Why even apply for a medic spot with these restrictions?
Call for comments memo:
http://ochealthinfo.com/docs/medical/ems/45dayreview.pdf