tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505990433916682663.post4233113818489870776..comments2024-03-13T02:04:31.476-04:00Comments on Paramedicine 101: Professionalism: What We SayAdam Thompson, EMT-Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18107359165856983910noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505990433916682663.post-72476054533422340762010-01-21T01:59:59.953-05:002010-01-21T01:59:59.953-05:00Ah, the socialized medicine argument. At EMSVillag...Ah, the socialized medicine argument. At EMSVillage, ALL of the Canadians and others across both ponds swear by their national health plans and rebuke our propaganda against them. They still seem to be working there without a single industrialized country thinking of dismantling them, though many realized they have to cut back as too many people take advantage of the system. In the UK, they triage their calls at 911 and EMS can act as gatekeepers. Up North, the Canadians are just now realizing they need a similar triaging system, especially when they have ambulance crews waiting, no lie, up to 6 hours in an ED waiting to hand off their patient. They also don't have EMTALA laws.<br />Medicaid is jamming us up because of lack of adequate compensation and the medicaid clients abusing the system. <br />I think the whole system needs revamped, but, we will not see that happen. At least not for a long time until the healthcare infrastructure starts to break down more.<br />Why are we discussing this here? Sorry about that.Shaggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10687847155700323439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505990433916682663.post-70976712806268169842010-01-20T13:20:44.411-05:002010-01-20T13:20:44.411-05:00Shaggy I would agree except we believe in evidence...Shaggy I would agree except we believe in evidence right? Socialized healthcare has been tried. You don't have to travel far to see the strain it puts on a system. Boston has some of the longest wait times in ERs in the country. I have transported Canadians that say the purchase their own insurance because they are likely to be seen faster than with the public option provided by the Canadian government. <br /><br />Imagine a country with only Medicaid. I don't want to express my opinion too much on the topic, because politics bring out the worst in people. I have researched places that have socialized healthcare. What has been tried just doesn't look good.Adam Thompson, EMT-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18107359165856983910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505990433916682663.post-68401167024107635832010-01-20T00:25:39.341-05:002010-01-20T00:25:39.341-05:00I actually believe if we had a national health ins...I actually believe if we had a national health insurance, we could in fact, decrease our transports. How or why? We would be paid regardless of transport or not. I mean, if we treat and release, or prevent a patient from increasing healthcare costs by not taking them to the hospital for something not warranted, there would be a reward. The governing bodies who would regulate the insurance would rather pay us NOT to transport as it would be in their best interest. I also think that with a national plan, there would be more triaging of services, and this could begin with calls to 911.<br />We may not have to wait for healthcare reform to do that. If the economy does not improve, and EMS agencies need to make cuts, there will be less crews to take calls, and 911 centers will be forced to triage their calls a little more. That's just my take on it.<br />I am in favor of loosening our reigns, and we have to be the ones to force change. That could be by taking the initiative and educating patients and giving alternatives to transport, even if it takes a call to their PCP, cardiologist, or local hospital ortho clinic to make an outpatient appointment. You would be surprised how much influence you can make in stetting change.Shaggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10687847155700323439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505990433916682663.post-35204788977255637812010-01-17T23:17:37.334-05:002010-01-17T23:17:37.334-05:00Well Shaggy,
I believe we absolutely offer medica...Well Shaggy,<br /><br />I believe we absolutely offer medical advise. It may not be to the extent of what we could offer if they loosened the chains, but it is advise. <br /><br />I understand, believe me do I understand, how taxing the EMS abusers may be. Just try not to sweat it. If you get frustrated, you increase stress. if you laugh it off and have a good time running the needless calls, you increase longevity. I believe there are more needless calls to come with less retribution. A public option for healthcare is inevitable, and it will increase our call volume. Whether you are for or against socialized healthcare doesn't matter. We are bound to be busier. We are bound to be busier running calls on more people that would have driven themselves to a clinic in the past. The fear of the bill (whether they paid it in the past or not), will be gone. So I say again, don't sweat these calls. <br /><br />Being busy is a good thing. I bet there are some realtors, construction workers, and investors out there that wished they were busy. Yea, no one signs up to run the unimportant calls, but that's the gig Shaggy, you know that. And every once in a while, we get that unique chance to truly help someone. <br /><br />I know my glass seems half full. I am an optimist. It is the only way to get through this job with a smile. It is too easy to complain. Consider it a challenge.Adam Thompson, EMT-Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18107359165856983910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4505990433916682663.post-20249225027591168832010-01-17T22:57:28.083-05:002010-01-17T22:57:28.083-05:00Very good. Sometimes I have to remind myself of th...Very good. Sometimes I have to remind myself of these things as I have let my empathy fade, as you put it. Sometimes it is easy to understand how EMS providers get to this point, expecially when you are doing about 8-10 calls in a 12 hour shift, and many of them you just want to slap someone. But if you put it in perspective you are a healthcare provider and they are calling you because they cannot, for whatever reason, get medical advice from anyone else, then it should make you feel more compassionate, and more important. The problem, Adam, is many EMS folks see themselves simply as high teck glorified EMERGENCY ambulance attendants and drivers. Not only that, they have been beat down into believing that enough to tell people they cannot offer advise, only they are there to TRANSPORT people who NEED EMS. We believe that we are not educated, trained, or qualified to give obvious advise, instructions or referrals. Are we abused? Yes, many times, and I think we should take the time to educate people. The frustration is where people intentionally abuse the system, are aware you know it, and just don't care. I am still grappling with how to handle these folks.Shaggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10687847155700323439noreply@blogger.com