I'm all business when I'm providing pt care, these are merely observations through experience. I treat every pt like family, and I always maintain a high index of suspicion. You've never laughed about a call with your partner afterwards? Please. About 70-80% of 911 calls, by my estimate, aren't appropriate for ambulance txp. It won't, however, stop me from acting professionally toward the pt, no matter what the reason for the call is.
Urban v. Suburban
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I'm all business when I'm providing pt care, these are merely observations through experience. I treat every pt like family, and I always maintain a high index of suspicion. You've never laughed about a call with your partner afterwards? Please. About 70-80% of 911 calls, by my estimate, aren't appropriate for ambulance txp. It won't, however, stop me from acting professionally toward the pt, no matter what the reason for the call is.
One good thing about Charleston County EMS is that you have stations from the urban ghetto continuum al the way to God's Country rural, all in the same county.
The thing that is disturbing about open EMS forums, and there are many, is that when the public wants to find out more about EMTs and Paramedics, these threads may pop up in their search. The reason they are searching is they may have heard that those in EMS complain others don't understand who or what they do. Or, they might be doing some research for an upcoming tax reform bill. Imagine what some will think when they read some of the comments that have been made about patients. Elderly people now love to surf the internet and some have been appalled to be called lizards and BS calls on some forums. Yes some elderly people are great to talk to and will sometimes talk about being such a bother after reading how worthless they are now that they are in the nursing homes and don't deserve an ambulance. Most probably would prefer to have their independence and take a cab instead of having you called.
I also can only see a great lack of understanding coming from some who may perceive themselves as medical professionals laughing at cirrhosis and sickle cell anemia. I do know both are miserable diseases and hopefully you won't ever see a child suffering from sickle cell anemia with a crisis or on a ventilator from one of the complications such as Acute Chest Syndrome. But of course, if you think the disease is a joke, you may miss it.
There are many in EMS who have not had a formal medical terminology course and butcher many names of the anatomy or diseases. Some don't know that patients may be speaking correctly but it is those in EMS who do not know or understand the language of medicine well enough.
Ferrous liver?
There are many conditions of the liver which is why college level A&P and pathophysiology should be required at least prior to Paramedic school. If the patient, or you, can not correctly pronounce the term, you may know what it is by the description.
I also can only see a great lack of understanding coming from some who may perceive themselves as medical professionals laughing at cirrhosis and sickle cell anemia. I do know both are miserable diseases and hopefully you won't ever see a child suffering from sickle cell anemia with a crisis or on a ventilator from one of the complications such as Acute Chest Syndrome. But of course, if you think the disease is a joke, you may miss it.
There are many in EMS who have not had a formal medical terminology course and butcher many names of the anatomy or diseases. Some don't know that patients may be speaking correctly but it is those in EMS who do not know or understand the language of medicine well enough.
Ferrous liver?
There are many conditions of the liver which is why college level A&P and pathophysiology should be required at least prior to Paramedic school. If the patient, or you, can not correctly pronounce the term, you may know what it is by the description.
I never said these diseases were a joke(OK, maybe the ay ay ay, but it is really funny to watch). We were discussing common mispronunciations of common medical conditions. Come on, why would a doctor prescribe someone peanut butter balls? If I, or a family member had a serious disease such as diabetes, I'd at least know what it's called. I'm sure that the doctor doesn't refer to it as "the sugars". That's something made up by the pt. Actually, I try to educate pts and their families whenever I have the opportunity. I've never spoken ill of the elderly, either. When I mentioned that 70-80% of calls are nonsense, I was referring to pts that would be better served by seeing their PCP, as the situation is not really "emergent". I actually feel remorse for those sentenced to a skilled nursing facility. I know what goes on there when no one's around to witness. It's also sad that elderly on fixed incomes need to rotate meds as they can't afford all of them on a monthly basis. I may strongly disagree with the importance of the call, but my pt will get 100% from me regardless. I realized that EMS is mainly customer service, and that most transports are really glorified taxi rides. I'm at peace with that. It won't stop me from joking about it from time to time. People are too sensitive nowadays, in this soft PC world we live in. People need to grow thicker skin. What we discussed in previous posts was quite benign. If the public only knew what we really said to each other after some calls.
I wish that there was an EMS version of the show COPS. That would be hilarious. The typical EMS documentary only shows bits and pieces of serious calls, not the real EMS. An uncensored documentary on HBO or something would really be an eye opener for the public. It would be next to impossible with the current HIPAA policy, though.
reaper
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I would hate to see the disgraces they would decide to film!
djmedic913
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Discovery Health used to have show called "Paramedics" which was the EMS equivalent of COPS. They had some actually good calls. there is also the show "True stories of the ER" which has shown good cases and some ridiculous ones as well.
Unfortunately, the public watches TV and has seen Emergency and ER and think everything is life threatening. I have had patients crawl out of a car because they thought it was going explode. Hollywood has to be the most dangerous place to drive since in almost all movies vehicles blow up soooo easily.
djmedic913
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Thank you for responding to that
djmedic913
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why is EMS a service? out of the 3 emergency services we are the only ones worried at customer service. the police DEPARTMENT and fire DEPARTMENT don't seem to worry about this. How come we are not equal with them.
Is it wrong to restrain a patient in order to administer care because they are a danger to themselves or others do to a head injury, or a million other reasons. But restraining patients is sooo not good customer service.
Why is EMS treated like the lesser entity?
reaper
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It is not a lessor entity. We are not the same as LEO or FD. We are a medical service, not public safety. The public is paying for your medical service, so they are your customers. What does restraining a pt have to do with customer service? We normally only restrain a pt for their own welfare, that is thinking about what is best for the pt!
I think you may not have an understanding of customer service.
If you call PD for a potentially dangerous situation and they keep you safe, they have performed a service.
If PD escorts a funeral procession in a professional manner, they have performed a customer service.
If PD blocks traffic for your safe maneuvering, they have performed a customer service.
The "bad guy" is not their customer although that person it entitled to some basic rights. The public is their customer.
If the FD arrives quickly and does their professional best to put out your house fire, they have done a customer service.
If the FD pulls you and your pets out of the fire, they have done a customer service.
If the FD contains a hazmat situation, they have performed a service to the public in that area.
Many of the things both the FD and the PD do are in the order of public service without direct people contact. Often when people are involved, it becomes more public relations. This is where EMS often feels left out because the PR departments of the FD and the PD usually excel at thier job.
If a FD also does EMS, as many do, the FF/Paramedics must also be concerned with custumor care as it relates to the patient.
EMS stands for Emergency Medical Services. Too many in EMS often forget that fact and often just identify as "public safety" and give medicine or patient care very little thought even though that is to be part of their job description. In other healthcare professions, customer service as it relates to patient care is almost a whole course in itself. Those that work for health care facilities such as hospitals with get 2 - 3 days of "customer service" orientation at hire and then updates periodically. Actually, some hospitals put their employees through more hours of training for customer service than the average EMT program is in length. EMS has not put that much emphasis on customer service or professional development of communication skills. However, private ambulance services are now seeing the need for good customer service and professional communication skills as facility contracts can be very competitiive with NHs and hospitals now becoming very concerned about who they contract with to transport their patients.
firecoins
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VentMedic;150858 However said:
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mycrofft
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Even in my setting it is true.
When you act as a calm and maybe calmly good-humored with the patients and public, you stand a better chance of working professionally, and a lessened chance you aill be sued or beefed due to making the pt angry. Even if/when you goof, if you are a pro, folks are much more tolerant.
When you act as a calm and maybe calmly good-humored with the patients and public, you stand a better chance of working professionally, and a lessened chance you aill be sued or beefed due to making the pt angry. Even if/when you goof, if you are a pro, folks are much more tolerant.
Hal9000
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I get to work in all three settings, and I much prefer rural. The types of calls and the places we go are amazing. I've been up "roads" that are more like abandoned goat trails than anything else, for a rollover off a cliff with the patient ejected into a creek during a downpour. Then there are the crazy wrecks, the funny elderly patients living out in the woods with some of the best vegetable gardens, etc...
But I like the outdoors anyhow, so I'm very biased.
But I like the outdoors anyhow, so I'm very biased.
TraumaJunkie
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The main difference i have noticed after working in both an Urban and Suburban setting. There are more stairs to climb in an urban setting with less of a chance of finding an elevator.
Other than the obvious differences, no matter where you go you will still get the same BS. Abuse of the system.
Other than the obvious differences, no matter where you go you will still get the same BS. Abuse of the system.
Over here, suppression pieces can be toned out for a public service call. this can include picking grandma off of the floor and being brought back to bed, hacking away at a fallen tree to clear the sidewalk, assisting a citizen with their malfunctioning sprinkler head, clearing a flooded basement, etc. I don't have a good answer as to why EMS is treated like a lesser entity, other than our services being taken for granted, like we're a cab company. The majority of the public could care less about EMS until one of their own are in distress. This is evidenced by the way motorists behave towards a lit up cabulance. These are the same people who complain "what took you so long?".
BLSBoy
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Urban all the way. Makes the tour go by that much faster.
reaper
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You guys give tours. That must suck!