Recent content by Clibby

You can't and not all programs are the same. The best way is to start by moving all training to educational institutions (colleges). Even a certificate program from a collage is going to be of a higher quality because the courses are taught to a standard. Currently there is no standard other...

That's the reason EMS grew out of fire departments. They have the funding and the influence. The problem is that its not always about patient care. Again I go back to the fact that you will not be able to significantly change the system until you attract better providers. Currently the good ones...

I agree with you Vent. I worked with a few medics who scared the hell out of me, and I'm a basic. The problem is that until EMS providers are paid more, EMS will not attract higher quality career providers, and until we attract more and better career providers the standards will not be able to...

That's why I corrected my wording to competitive as soon as I read my own words. Inevitably the doc is in charge of every patient, but I'm talking about if a patient is in cardiac or respiratory arrest. Who is making the call about the next move in an ambulance? The paramedic is, even if he is...

Why? Because a typical paramedic doesn't have a good enough education to treat patients without help effectively when they come out of medic school. Pre-hospital medicine is different than hospital medicine. Just look at nurses for instance. Part of pre-hospital medicine often involves rescue...

I'm not whining, my reason is that by the time I would finish medic school, I will hopefully be in medical school. I just don't understand the problem with basic's having a BGL test as a tool to assess whether to give the oral glucose they already are certified to give. I have worked for a...

Sure, the system needs to be revamped. (Not this thread) I still don't see how knowing A&P would change anything in relation to taking a BGL measurement. Knowing A&P doesn't change glucose levels, nor the need or lack of a need for oral glucose. This isn't really expanding the scope of an...

The line of reasoning is more along the lines of, if lay people can be taught how to do it, why can't we be taught how to do it if it provides a benefit and carries little risk to the patient? In the case of BGL monitoring, there is little downside, and only benefit. The only legitimate argument...

For starters, there is no need. If we need to ventilate, we have a BVM. If they need a ventilator, then there is a serious underlying problem that needs an evaluation by a physician. I really don't understand the relevance of that post.

Why couldn't you use it? MA is actually implementing BGL monitoring for basics via a state waiver. You have a patient that has an AMS and is a known diabetic. The patient is still alert and able to swallow. Protocol says give him oral glucose. But what if its high blood sugar? Yeah the...

But that article isn't correct. Parkinson's Disease is not caused by beta-amyloid plaques, it's caused by the deterioration of dopamine production cells in the brain. The associated dementia comes from an increase in alpha-amyloid fibrils resulting in the Lewy bodies that cause the dementia...

I've seen it taught in 7 steps. Some instructors separate AED from CPR, so the algorithm would look like this for just CPR: 1.Determine Unresponsive 2.Activate the Emergency Response System 3.Open Airway 4.Check breathing (Look, Listen, & Feel) 5.Give two breathes 6.Check Pulse 7.Give...

Oh, no.. at the time it wasn't funny at all. Our paramedic knew most of the personnel involved. From what we heard, correct me if I'm wrong, but everyone turned out alright. Looking back though, the irony just isn't reproduced everyday.

Mass just got one too, though I have never seen it.

I stand corrected. :)