I’ve decided to add a new weekly bit of fun to my blog. I shall call it “Good News/Bad News”. As the world of EMS becomes more and more public, and the sensationalism of our society thrives off of EMS, I think that we are seeing more and more news about EMS. Sometimes it is good for our industry, and often times it isn’t. I will link to the stories, provided a little bit about them, and move on. 

This week, we’ll start with the “Bad”.

BAD NEWS:

Texas EMS Director May Lose Certificate

An Ambulance Director in Texas apparently thought the service he directed provided his wife with a free supply of Narcotics. He also didn’t think charting the usage of these drugs was much of a concern. Further–He lied about being a Felon on his application–which in my state is a deal breaker(and a felon in and of itself.)

Nebraska Firefighters Target Of Drug Investigation

Noticing a Pattern Here? The Union is backing Random Drug testing and I think thats great though. If you can save face this is the only way. That, and prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law. I’d just assume not being suspected by the public of stealing drugs and being doped up while doing treatment–and if that means I have to pee into a cup fine. I’d like it if my partners weren’t doped up either. God knows ambulance crashes happen enough as it is…

Villena woman killed in ambulance smash

“It seems that the ambulance flipped over after the driver veered off the main carriageway, and no other vehicles were involved.” What a shame. I won’t say anymore.

N.C. Patient Steals Ambulance, Leads Police Chase

While, not the “fault” of the EMS crew, the headline in itself gives that image of incompitence we just don’t need… Further, just one more reason to lock your damn doors when you are at the ED–or anywhere.

Massachusetts EMT Student Charged in Theft of Fire Gear

Not sure I’m even going to have room for the “good”. What is it with people in this business stealing shit. Whether it be gear, needles, or drugs–don’t do it. 

Cheating Suspected on Cleveland Paramedic Exam

This is an internal exam used to assess employees. None the less–disgusting. 

Students Claim Coercion in KKK Style Hazing Incident

If you haven’t read about this take the time. This story will not be going away anytime soon. Especially in the Northeast.

Vow to fix bullying in ambulance service

Yeah. Ok. Show me a service that doesn’t have a heavy portion of people that treat others like crap. That’s what happens when you work a high stress job, too many hours, and don’t get paid enough. (not that I condone this).

Ambulance supervisor agrees to repay county

Yay, another Supervisor who stole from his service. Congrats! 

D.C. Ambulance Crews Accused of Shirking Responsibility

Yeah… They were prob steal Narcs and shooting up, then selling the remaining gear. That seems to be a common theme this week…

Ok… Thats enough Bad News for one week… Lets try to dig up some Good.

GOOD NEWS:

Massachusetts Firefighters Send Ambulance to Afghanistan

Great news. Though some asshat is going to say that this is bad because they should be supporting themselves–remember-Afganistan is the war we SHOULD be fighting but can’t because we’re overs exerting our forces. 

Retiring Wisconsin Medic Takes Down Thief

For once a story were a medic does something other than steal, do drugs, crash his rig, or eat too much.

New Mexico High School Produces Career Ready EMTs

Good for them. Good for the public. Good all around. Schools are teaching kids things that might pan out to be worth something–finally.

Doctor tests ‘green’ EMS vehicle

If the general public realized how much fuel we burn every day they would flip out. Especially those of us in public service gigs.

Florida Paramedic Comes to Aid of Brother-in-Law

Giving up an organ always looks good. I don’t care who you are. 

There has to be more good news? Right? I couldn’t find any. If you have some please, please let me know!

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EE always cracks me up and her post about Red Lobster did it for me!

This should put the icing on the cake…

I’ve also decided to screw with people who google dumb things, see my next post.

Hypothetically speaking I should know what I’m doing. I should be “entry level competent” as National Registry loves to put it. I should know when Code 3 is appropriate, what drugs to use and when to use them–and the right dosages. I should know when to worry and when to take it easy. I should, right?

Well, I think I know most of that. Some things that challenge that–for one, we don’t have “protocols” in a technical sense… We have field books, you know, the informed published flip books. Our Medical Director is actually a great doctor, and a pretty big deal, but is only in itty bitty 2 days a week…

Further, even when I’m spot on, people question me. Nurses for one. We went to a Nursing Home today that like most, is pretty special. A 70 something female had fallen while trying to shift from her bed to her chair. She is the victim of a stroke approx 2 months ago and I’m sure the changes have been very hard for her. Her communication is completely limited to grunts and moans and right sided function is barely present. But she seems to manage and mustered up a smile for me later in the day.

The problem was she was more anxious than in pain. Prior to arrival the Doc had given 6mg of MS IM and the pain wasn’t too high, but the THOUGHT of pain was killing her. It hurt her more to see me come towards her than it did to touch her affected arm. So… I thought, maybe we should try to help this anxiety. My drug of choice for this situation is Versed, and though we had missed two lines on her, we could still go IM.

So, I prepped my gear and as I’m starting(while my partners concur that I am right) the nurse walks in, and starts ranting how this isn’t right. Now, I love nurses. ER nurses, floor nurses, peds nurses, they are all great. But Nursing home nurses, they just don’t get to see much, and get complacent. I asked what she thought I should do–which was nothing, and proceeded.

By the time we had made it to the ER at itty bitty(only 4 blocks…) the nurse had called our Medical Director and complained. Fortunately, the MD said that not only is that what he would have done, but he would have given more than the 3 that I gave. I don’t want to be pissing off nurses here. But I don’t want to have them tell me how to do my job. The versed improved the condition of the patient greatly. Best of all, she won’t remember big chunks of what had to be traumatic for her.

I get it, I’m new, we come in and we’re stepping on their toes, cause they can’t handle this–neither can we–we are just their to take them to a definitives care facility. I wasn’t rude. I wasn’t cocky–more likely I was nervous.

So later when we had to take the patient back to the home my partner brings me aside and takes me to the nurses station. He says, hey–We’re really sorry that it seemed like we were stepping on your toes, its just our PROTOCOLS allow us to do a lot of things that sometimes you can’t do. We just wanted to help make her a little more comfortable since she was moving from the nice padding you’d put in place to a hard scoop stretcher.

She smiled, said don’t sweat it, and walked away. Maybe this is the part that scares me most–how to mend relationships–especially in an atmosphere where angering one person might make your stay miserable. I guess it’s time to learn some tact in situations like this.

Since Monday at 0600 I’ve ran two calls. One Arrest as mentioned below and one transfer.

The transfer was much more of a “comfort care” transfer as my 11 year old patient was beyond combative and her likely head injury didn’t help! She wouldn’t answer any questions, wouldn’t let me touch her, and the Doc told us that we shouldn’t expect any more… I tried, but alas ended up following his wisdom and just went with the flow.

Nothing too exciting as of yet… Got cable today which is a lifesaver! Anyways… it’s nap time here… I suspect a transport sometime this afternoon so might as well get some rest while I can!

Expect more tales from a small town soon!

So my journey in Rural EMS has begun. I got to spend some time driving the truck, did drug checks and what not just to get familiar with the truck. Blah Blah Blah.

Then it happened. Inevitably I had to have my first call. I didn’t expect anything too exciting, but wow… I was wrong. I’m pretty damn tired and need to get some sleep so I won’t go into tons of details, but I’ll give the low down.

Called to local clinic/hospital/er(one bed) STAT. No other details. Arrive to full arrest, end up with walking, talking, living the dream man. After a routine, 45 minute transport to the “Heart Hospital” we were all set and done.  Wow.  On call till Friday at 0600 and then 4 day weekend here we come!

OH! And I get cable on Wednesday… You have no idea how exciting that is…

Life in a small town is different. Very, very different. I’m not saying our previous residence was huge, but at over 100k, it was very different from the 2500 people that surround us now. Sure, we’re 30 miles away from our former abode, but still…. 30 miles gets a lot farther away when you’re stuck on call for 7 days straight…

So as I go into my first real day of work as a medic… I’m faced with many things.

1. Everyone knew I moved to town within 24 hours. I have met the police chief, sheriff, several officers and deputies, the fire chief, and numerous other “city figures”.
2. When you’re new in a small town… you get funny looks. We go to the grocery store, or the dollar store, or anywhere… and people know we aren’t from around here. This is a psuedo-rez town so in many places, we stick out… bad.
3. Gas stations are cool places to hang out. Seriously, we live next to the busiest station in town, and it is ALWAYS busy. WTF?
4. I will never get the pleasure of gracing the local drinking establishments. As a “public servant” in a small town… I have to act all professional and crap. Yay.
5. Casinos are stupid. That is what makes this a “rez town”. We have a casino. They needed a “rez’ to build the casino and thus we have a reservation about the size of 4 city blocks. It doesn’t even show up on a map. Seriously. We went out to the Casino with my rents to enjoy the all you can eat buffet and it was good, but in 1.5 minutes we blew 4.5 dollars. Penny slots are more my style…
6. EMS in a small town is nothing like EMS in a large city. Code 3 is a rare happening out here.

More to follow. Bed time. Call starts at 0600.

1. Fatherhood. I’m terrified of it. All I want is to be a good father. I want to be there, support them, and help build them into good people… but how the hell do I do that?
2. Being a good husband. My wife is my life. She is my best friend. She truly completes me. I would do anything for her. I would run into a burning building, step in front of a bullet. But all I care about is her happiness and I’m terrified of letting her down. I don’t know…
3. Running my first call as a full fledged medic. Yup. I’ve spent the last year learning everything school could teach me, but I still feel un-prepared. I feel like I’m going to walk into this clueless in just under 30 hours… Talk about trial by fire…
4. Being in control. All through my internship, despite being the “team leader” I always had a preceptor to fall back on… Now, I’m in control. First responders are going to be looking at me to make decisions and that scares the bejesus out of me.
5. Small town life. The change… is not going to be easy. At all. The simplest things get so much harder–and easier.
6. Life on call. Things are going to change so much now. No spur of the moment trips out of town. All of the sudden planning is something we have to do. We don’t plan well.

That’s just the tip of the ice burg. Anyways–hope you all had a good weekend. I’ll get back to you after my first day or two…

Yup… Not Happy “4th of July”. Happy Independence Day. I think it is important that we remember that today is the anniversary of the beginning of a great struggle to make this country what it is. PS… Don’t forget the French….

To follow: Things I’ve learned in a small town…