I don't like war stories as a rule. Mostly because they involve me frustratedly listening to some sessional instructor at uni talk about how he did this and that and it was this big..he swears. Also I don't have many of my own on account of being a student and all, but I do like to tell this one to anyone who will listen.
Got a job late in the day on placement. It had been a pretty big day, a young girl had suicided to start the day, followed by another arrest, a stabbing and an AMI. This job would mean that we would be significantly late getting home. The medics didn't utter a single foul word. 20 minute response time. Old woman, fallen over, not injured. No transport required, could have gone home then and there, especially given the day we'd had.
The medics took the time to sit down, make a cup of tea, and talk with the women to understand why she fell. It became apparent that she had tripped over the mat...so we moved it for her. She also had some oedematous legs that she had seen the doctor about, but that had been troubling her walking lately but could not get into see the doctor again for a long while. So the medic rings the doctor and gets the appointment moved up significantly, and writes a note explaining the situation. A council case worker then arrives and the medic explains the situation, and they agree that the woman needs a walker (walking frame). So they ring the relevant council body and organise for a walker to be delivered. We finish our cup of tea and leave a much happier old woman at home, well past the end of the shift.
I've been lucky enough to see all the flashy stuff in my short time on placements, but I think that this was the best piece of paramedic practice I've ever seen. I like to use it as an example of how I believe we can do more than just run people into the ED and of the kinds of paths that truly advocating for the patient can take.
Don't mean to get all serious, return to the hilarious stories
