Recent content by AlphaButch

Depends on what the chief complaint called in was.

HB 3556 becomes effective Sept 1, 2013. It has a lot of similar restrictions.

Our biggest issue and most frequent repairs needed are due to wear and tear to the cables and probes. A lot of this can be attributed to design (lack of specific cable storage area, covers that kink cables, etc). We don't even keep automatic NIBP cuffs attached anymore (they're put away to be...

Our pilot is already doing all of these. The didactic training takes approximately 3 months for Medic/RNs and 6-8 months for Medics (more for certain specialty trained units). Along with clinical time before being approved by the MD staff. First stage of the pilot (18 days) allowed us to...

Our EMTs get signed off on IVs after training. This allows for BLS transport of patient's who have IV access. It also speeds up scene times for those patients that may need access in the field (as they can do either the 12 lead placement or IV start while their partner does the other). The...

At my service. A refusal should be either an AMA refusal or simply a refusal, and most agencies run that every refusal is AMA. There are no ALS/BLS determination on our refusal or on the refusals signed/accepted by our NP, PA, MDs. A refusal is a refusal. Care provided (including...

Mega Mover is my personal preference. For hip fx, I bring in a scoop (even if it's just to move them to the stretcher).

Sending you a message now. I loved having these in the field and love seeing their return.

Our pilot program (a version of community paramedicine) has actually been met with alot of resistance from hospitals because of the reduction in ER admissions. Hopefully, once they've sorted out the reimbursement issues for ACOs, this resistance will change as continuity of care and...

Some are also set up so that the company bills the patient and/or insurance, then at the end of the year - they get reimbursed up to a contracted $ for transports done which were not paid by insurance/patient. Every contract is different.

IFT, and although I'm a direct competitor - they're a solid outfit down here from outside observation.

With only 100 calls a month, the hospital is definately losing money (and not at a trickle). Like others said, volunteers, private service or a taxpayer subsidized service will step in. The public input at a board meeting of a private hospital will mean next to nothing, numbers speak more...

Three physicians on board (One ER, one cardiac, one pediatric). Mostly involved with setting policy/protocol and heavily involved in our QA/QI. All of our transports are physician reviewed, so we know who is working due to the reasons our reports get kicked back or questioned. One's a...

Private service 911, inter facility and CCT as well. Our service does approximately 10-15 direct ICUs a week. Not as many cath labs as I'd expect considering our demographics (95% of our patients >60). Most are respiratory arrests and septic shocks.

We teach our providers to ask the important Why? question. Why are they a fall risk? Why do they need you to provide them oxygen? My grandpa had oxygen for awhile and he could work it himself. He'd probably curse someone out if they told him that he needed an ambulance.