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Draft Titles

Part of my continual writers block is overcoming the starting point. I have always been a “title first” kind of writer. I come up with an idea based on some title or thought. From there I work.

Here are some of the Draft Titles sitting in my “posts to be completed” pile:

  • The Losing Game
  • Turn The Wheel
  • Ummmm…..
  • Dialogue
  • Complacency Killed the Cat… Err… Patient…

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Facebook Fan Page

Take a minute and head over to facebook.com and become a fan of medicTHREE’s facebook fan page. Thanks!

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Life…

Is what happens when you’re making plans. So the saying goes, anyways. First I’d like to apologize for the lack of EMS posts lately. The combination of life, my dorky techy self playing with my new Droid, and everything else, I haven’t really found a lot of steam for new posts.

I’m trying though. I’m really trying to find my identity in EMS, life and all that jazz. I love my job, but the pay just isn’t there. I’m not running away anytime soon, but my wife and I are throwing around some ideas about my professional future.  There are a few solid options and it’ll take some real thought before we move forward.

Asher is going in for an MRI on Thursday morning relating to what I believe is a superficial Gluteal Fold. Basically just a little fold on his bottom that is literally non existent, but worth getting check out.

Hope to get back with you all again soon. How is life in YOUR neck of the woods?

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Test post

From my brand new Motorola Droid running android 2.0! Loving it!

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You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding.

OMG.

Wow.

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I am Sam: EMS 2.0

When I should have been sleeping Thursday night, I was watching “I am Sam” on TBS. I actually tried to walk away from it a few times, but I guess I’m a sap for that kind of thing. Well, not really, but whatever. This post IS a little bit rambling and a lot scattered. Mostly because I’m a LOT emotional about it. I’m sick of watching “EMS Professionals” treat patients with complete disregard for the most basic of human needs.
backtop_iamsam
It got me thinking about the countless parenting lessons the Main Character “Sam” offers us. As a mentally handicapped dad with an IQ around 70, the struggles WE all face on a daily basis are compounded–yet somehow he does it better than most parents could imagine. So… Because it is what I do, I TWEETED it. Next @EMS2Foundation asked me a simple question, that made my mind spin out of control.

do you think there’s any good lessons from “I am Sam” for EMS personnel?

Obviously I am Sam is full of Life lessons in general, but I think that the overwhelming theme is about compassion and understanding. I’m not sure what it was about this question that really got me going, but it did. I actually got frustrated trying to write this post–not because I can’t find the words or ideas, but because the basic concept–one we ignore all too often–is so easy. It is almost easier to follow this concept than what most of us do, but yet we still continue on.

What is this concept? Treat our patients with Respect, Integrity, and Compassion. The EMS Blogosphere is abuzz with EMS 2.0 discussion. Seems as though every one of my fellow bloggers has written an EMS 2.0 post–so I guess I HAD to follow.

For those of you who are living under a rock in West Texas, EMS 2.0 is:

EMS 2.0 is the global effort to reform prehospital emergency care. We are an open community that includes members of the general public, medical professionals, and policy makers. All of us are committed to reforming prehospital emergency care world wide.

Personally, I think it should start on a much more basic level.

Respect. Integrity. Compassion.

Respect.
It seems to me that medics have this God Superiority Complex that justifies the way they treat others–Our patients are scumbags, bums, drunks, and thugs. Our patients DESERVE what they got. Our patients don’t deserve good care. Our patients don’t deserve critical thinking. Why should I respect someone who doesn’t respect me?

Sure, we see a lot of bad eggs. Part of why we see them is the nature of BEING a Bad Egg. Bad Eggs do stupid shit. Bad Eggs make bad decisions. But…. Bad Eggs are still people. Do we expect the bad eggs to magically un-rot if we treat them like crap? Right…. Don’t get me wrong–I am not suggesting you coddle drunks and seekers. I AM suggesting that you don’t disrespect them. I AM asking that you don’t maliciously maltreat them. I AM asking that you give your patients a chance–now when they take that chance and piss it away by swinging at you, that is a new discussion.

I think that if we treat patients with respect, the image of EMS will only get better. Often we have this public persona that we are lazy, dirty drunks–much like the patients we hate–yet we don’t do anything to improve this image. It is OUR responsibility to ACT professional, and Respecting our patients is the foundation of that.

In the Movie, Sam doesn’t shove anyone down. As a matter of fact, it is striking how much he tries to NOT disrespect anyone. Our patients deserve to have a care provider with this dedication–yet often they end up with far less.

Integrity.

adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

I think the easiest way for EMS professionals to honor the integrity of our patients and act with integrity ourselves is to Follow the EMT Oath. What you say? We have an Oath? Yup, and while we might not put our hands on a bible or be sworn in like some public servants, we are still obligated to uphold this Oath.

Be it pledged as an Emergency Medical Technician, I will honor the physical and judicial laws of God and man. I will follow that regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of patients and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, nor shall I suggest any such counsel.

Into whatever homes I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of only the sick and injured, never revealing what I see or hear in the lives of men unless required by law.

I shall also share my medical knowledge with those who may benefit from what I have learned. I will serve unselfishly and continuously in order to help make a better world for all mankind.

While I continue to keep this oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life, and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times. Should I trespass or violate this oath, may the reverse be my lot.

So help me God.

A big part of Integrity is Pride in one self, pride in your profession, and pride in what you do. If you are missing one of these parts, maybe this profession isn’t for you. Maybe someone a little more disconnected is your cup of tea. These aren’t optional parts of doing our jobs the RIGHT way. If we can’t act with honor, why bother?

Compassion.
Likely the most underused tool in our “kits”. To do this job for a long time you almost have to disconnect from your patients. The things we see and do are hard on the strongest of hearts, let alone one who allows them to eat you up. What that doesn’t mean is that we should disregard the significance of the moment for our patients. Our patients are in pain, dying, sick, or injured and it is our job to assess, treat, and transport them to the next level of definitive care.

DSCF2108 Young and Elderly handsAssess, TREAT, and transport. Treating our patients doesn’t have to involve and IV, medications or the LifePak 12. It could simply mean providing a compassionate ear to calm them down. More often than not, my patients don’t need any “medical” care, yet few people outside of medicine are prepared to offer them what they need. They need someone who has “seen it all” and able to reassure them, comfort them, and be honest with them.

BE HONEST. Compassion doesn’t mean making false promises. You should all know better than to go all TRAUMA on me and yell at your patients for dying or promising they’re gonna live. If they’re gonna die, you don’t have to say “Look, you’re dying”, but you NEED to make them aware(obviously if lucid) of the severity of the event. You MUST be compassionate and part of that is being honest. Tell them what they NEED to know. Tell them in a way you’d expect me to tell your mother.

Sure, EMS 2.0 is about a lot more than all of this “simple” crap, but what point is there in wasting the effort to improve the rest of EMS if we aren’t doing the bare minimum for our patients. The smartest, best groomed medics can still disregard the simple basics of patient care.

In the end of the day, if you aren’t treating your patients the way you’d expect me to treat your 85 year old mother, step back and ask yourself WHY? Then fix it.

If you haven’t seen I am Sam, you should. Sure, it’s sappy and silly, but honestly there is little excuse for us to not all live with the same Love and Care for others that Sam does for his daughter Lilly. Either we decide to do our jobs with Honor, Respect, Integrity and Compassion, or we’ve decided to insult our patients AND our colleagues. What point is there in improving the rest of EMS if we can’t address the most important part?

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Recovery

I’m alive(sorry…)!. I’m now 3 days post op(just about to the minute) and I’m surviving. It is definately a challenge. I left the hospital on Wednesday morning after a good report from the doctor. Initially he was concerned as my vitals were all over the place. My first BP in recovery was 170/110, and my pulse ranged from 60 to 130. I am not the type to run 60 OR 130, so this was a bit troubling. Fortunately, I was drugged enough to not care. Once pain settled and a few fluid boluses went through, my pulse stabilized and my BP came down to a little higher than normal, but acceptible 138/84. I was on a morphine PCA pump during my stay and burned through about 60 mg of MS during 14 hours. Not terrible, not great. Mostly I was trying to get sleep, which didn’t happen during my entire stay.

My first memory in recovery was being able to burp. This is a godsend. I’m honestly not sure how people who can’t burp survive this surgery. The bloating that I’m feeling now is insane. As this surgery has progressed over the last 15 years, they have made the “wrap” looser and looser. Ideally it should prevent reflux and regurgitation, while not restricting swallowing and the like. Hopefully that is what we have done here. Obviously at only 3 days post op the swelling is high and it is hard to judge, but I AM reflux free so far. I haven’t been 3 days sans reflux in years.

Once my intestines get moving a bit more, I imagine things will be much happier in M3 land. Hoping to return to work on monday. Sorry for the rushed post, but will keep you updated!

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Again

Again

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The iphone commercial you'll never see

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Don't play me.

Head over to Happy Medic Head Quarters to see just what is wrong with our healthcare system. God I hate this crap.

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Wibiya Toolbar

Got my Wibiya invite. It is the toolbar below. I love it. Let me know what you think.

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Can't sleep. Must eat.

Grilled cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan on white.
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Gonna be a long shift…

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Insipration.




Ninja Medic
inspired me to show off my “art”. These are acrylic on canvas. Top and bottom are 4 feet wide. Middle is 2 feet.

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SO….

Got about a million things going out… But… I have a new idea…

SO it isn’t NEW, per se… but….

Thinking of doing a medblogger round robin. Each of us would host a guest post(once a week, month, something…). I haven’t ironed out details, but if you would be interested email me at medichthree@gmail.com

I figure it would be a way for some of us to hit up a new crowd. Not that we don’t all get the same 5 people over and over.

that is all

kthxbye.

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Observation while buying formula

Has anyone noticed walmart greeters are more "security" than greeter, as of late? My grandma couldn't run me down in a Buick, let alone on foot.
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Wtf

Michael Jackson died today. Steve Jobs received a liver transplant this weekend.

I blame trooper Daniel Martin
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The nightmare bank

Deep inside us all there is a storage bank of things unspoken. The little boy who didn't make it, the young mother who lost the fight with a semi.

Deep inside we bury them. We pray they won't surface. Despite everything, they find light and bring us back. Sure, we get cold. We get leathery and calloused. We fight.

But we lose. A new file in the nightmare bank only helps to dredge up old, all but forgotten images to display them in the projector that is our minds.

The fight goes on.

God speed.
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Fuzzy math

6 months, 44 calls.

16 hours, 11 calls

How can they even pretend to have kept up their skills??
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My FTO…

Gave me a key chain… For the biggest funeral home in town…. FML…

I made fried pickles for the wife tonight. Nom nom good!
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LODD

Here is information just submitted on a Line of Duty Death:

About the deceased:

Title:EMT
Name:Dale Long
Age:48
Date of Death:June 15, 2009
Date of Funeral:TBA
Cause of Death:Ambulance involved motor vehicle accident

About the deceased's EMS Agency:

Agency:Bennington Rescue Squad
Agency City:Bennington
Agency State:VT

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new theme?

what do you think?

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my new project

My new project is simple. To make anti-vaccine nut jobs lives’ a living hell.

This week, we shall take a look at http://vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/

Written by Barbara Loe Fisher, the Co-founder & President of the National Vaccine Information Center.

Yay. She moderates her comments, so I have made a new idea. Leave a comment there. Then email it to me(with the post you added it to) and we will post them up here weekly.

email me at medicthree@gmail.com with your comments. Let em have it!

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You have got to be joshing me…

Night shift. 3 calls. All at the same facility.

1st, fall. Code 1. Skin tear
2nd, diabetic. Amp of D50 and a ride for the hell of it.
3rd, fall. Omg.

Note to self… Not where I'd put my loved ones…. And that is the Good nursing home!
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Never. Never. Never.

 

 

Today WILL change forever. Wish me luck. Promise, I’ll give you more details soon… ish….

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