Why the hate on dialysis runs?

dialysis runs generally blow, theyre monotonous, con homes suck, and the patients are often lifeless shells, but they are also our bread and butter. Without them, most EMS workers would not be getting a paycheck...where I am, pay rate for 911 runs is about 28%(which is considered decent), then consider that BLS is all pre-scheduled and approved by insurance, so while medicare/medicaid may not pay the full amount, they are still getting payed almost 100% of the time....

It you read the chart you might find that the many of these patients may have been some EMS crew's "save". No everyone walks out of the hospital and throws you a party after you save their life or screw up in the field. See if you can find out how many were botched intubations or given the wrong meds and might have had a chance of full recovery if something had not gone very wrong. Yeah it sucks to be in a nursing home but I doubt if any of these patients had a choice. Most are in less than desirable places because they can not afford more. I doubt if any of these patients planned on being a dialysis patient either. So cut these patients a little slack. Even if they made bad lifestyle choices they still deserve respect and care.
 
I enjoy riding with most of out dialysis patients. Alot of them are very nice people, however some of them treat you like you're the scum of the earth.
Working for a company that does nothing but dialysis, discharges, IFT's, and Dr. Appts.....dialysis gets a little old after 6 years in the private industry.
 
It you read the chart you might find that the many of these patients may have been some EMS crew's "save". No everyone walks out of the hospital and throws you a party after you save their life or screw up in the field. See if you can find out how many were botched intubations or given the wrong meds and might have had a chance of full recovery if something had not gone very wrong. Yeah it sucks to be in a nursing home but I doubt if any of these patients had a choice. Most are in less than desirable places because they can not afford more. I doubt if any of these patients planned on being a dialysis patient either. So cut these patients a little slack. Even if they made bad lifestyle choices they still deserve respect and care.

Pretty sure he wasn't insulting his patient's lifestyle choices. Just the fact that he had to transport armless/legless/on a vent Mrs. Rothsteinowitzpaletzkissingerberg to dialysis just so their family can reap the rewards of their prolonged and lifeless existense. (Financial rewards)
 
Pretty sure he wasn't insulting his patient's lifestyle choices. Just the fact that he had to transport armless/legless/on a vent Mrs. Rothsteinowitzpaletzkissingerberg to dialysis just so their family can reap the rewards of their prolonged and lifeless existense. (Financial rewards)

Your description here is exactly what I was referring to. Several in EMS involved in transporting dialysis patients assume all dialysis patients are like you describe and that the families are collecting the money from some pension or welfare. Did you know that many of the patients are young and have renal disease due to cardiac arrest, diabetes and trauma? Their benefits barely cover the basic care and only if a family member gives up their job to become a full time care giver for a small monthly check is any money collected. Even for the patient you described you probably have no idea what decisions this person made for their care. The are many people who require alot of care and most of us might not "right now" think we want to live that way. But, if you have something or someone to live for you might want to stick around no matter how bad the situation. You need to not judge people by your own attitudes or personal feelings especially if you don't have all the details of this person's life.
 
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