Sometimes we tend to get down on our dispatchers.

• They give us wrong information.
• They completely miss the nature of the chief complaint.
• They miss the radio transmissions from us
• They just don’t UNDERSTAND US!

Or MAYBE, we don’t take the time to understand them.  We all know how hard it is to assess some patients.  They keep changing their answers, there is a language barrier, or the patient is just plain uncooperative.  Imagine now struggling to get some of that same information from a patient — over the phone.

Are you kidding me ?!?

I found this article over at EMS responder detailing a 911 call recording that demonstrates just how frustrating this is for our call center takers.  Actor George Clooney and a date were involved in a motorcyle accident, which is why this call has gotten so much attention, even though the caller didn’t know at the time of the celebrity status of the patients.   The call went on for over 4 minutes while the dispatcher struggled with the caller to get the necessary information about the incident.

The long and the short of the story is this — the next time you get frustrated with your contact on the radio, remember that they have challenges in their jobs as well.  And don’t forget to say thanks!

blubrry.com

When you look for new ways to get the training out to the remote areas of your EMS coverage you have to think outside of the box.  Iowa trainers did just that.  They purchased a used RV and turned it into a mobile EMS command center and training simulator to take to remote locations around the state.  Check out the article here for more on this innovative approach.
——————————

I report on this and other EMS news in the most recent episode of the MedicCast News at the Podcaster News Network.

Jamie

the Podmedic

Welcome to Episode 85

The MedicCast is a proud member of the Blubrry Podcast Network.

Right click to download this episode or click the little arrow to listen here.

A podcast for EMT’s, Paramedics, and other medical providers of all kinds.

Fill out our New Survey!

—————————-

MedicCast Listener Deals at GoDaddy.com –

Code BLU27 gets you 10% off your order at checkout
Code POD27 gets you 10% off any web hosting order at checkout
Try them out and get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com!

———————————

Link of the Week: FieldMedics the Magazine

———————————

News:

Free Wills to Alabama Responders

Ejected Teens Missed at Accident

Mp3 Recorder with Auscultation

American Life Expectancy Up

———————————–

Tip/Trick of the Week — Rule of Outcomes

Rick Russotti’s Mitigation Journal Podcast

———————————–

Next Week’s Episode 86 will feature an interview with Dr. Mike of the PediaCast podcast

———————————–

Visit the MedicCast Forums

———————————–

Thanks for Supporting the MedicCast!

Rate the podcast at iTunes or at EMS Village or Vote at Podcast Alley

Visit the MedicCast Store!

Get the New MedicCast Newsletter — Sign up now — it’s free!

Other Podcasts: MedicCast News, MedicCast Live, and Headliner News Roundup

Contact Me!
Call the Voice Mail Line — (941) 306-3342

send me a note at podmedic@mac.com

————————————————

Podsafe Music from the Podsafe Music Network with the Matthew Ebel

His song — Lost My Way — if you like the song, let Matthew know and you can check out his other songs now availble using the iTunes button below:

————————————–

Until next time, Scene safety, BSI!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

blubrry.com

This article on a 900 pound patient caught my eye recently. The fire department had to cut open a wall and use a forklift to remove the man from his apartment.  He had not been out of it since 2003.  What would your plan of action be when presented with such a large patient to transport?  Does your agency have a plan or agreements in place with contractors, health assistance groups, or trucking companies?  Maybe you should check this out before this happens to you!
——————————

I report on this and other EMS news in the most recent episode of the MedicCast News at the Podcaster News Network.

Jamie

the Podmedic

Here’s a press release about a regional conference on education a segment of a patient population about their unique health risks and how they can improve their longevity. This is something that we all can work on doing with our patients. We don’t have to be preachy about health and fitness but we can ask questions about how often they have seen their doctors and encourage them to follow up on recent concerns with them sooner rather than later.

————————-

Riverside, Calif. (PRWEB) July 22, 2007 — Information is an important weapon in the battle to increase the life expectancy of African Americans, says Phyllis Clark, founder and president of the Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference. The free Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference offers speakers, information booths and interactive sessions aimed at improving the overall health and well being of the African American community.

“The more African Americans know about our lifestyles, diets and bodies, the easier it is to fight diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer,” Clark said. “Changing your diet, exercising and going to the doctor regularly is cheaper than treating diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease which are costly and even life threatening.”

According to a San Bernardino County Department of Health report, African Americans in San Bernardino County die 13 years younger than whites. Many African American lives are shortened by illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer. The Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference features speakers who bring a wealth of knowledge from the medical, emotional health and financial worlds. The sessions include info on a variety of topics for lifelong health awareness.

There are also free screenings for HIV/AIDS, prostate cancer and blood sugar levels, Clark said. The free Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference is also organized by a committee, which includes staff members from Riverside County Public Health Department, the American Cancer Society, the Southern California Witness Project, a breast cancer awareness group, Inland Agency, and many volunteers.

Welcome to Episode 84

The MedicCast is a proud member of the Blubrry Podcast Network.

Right click to download this episode or click the little arrow to listen here.

This week’s episode is the recorded conversation of the MedicCast Live from this past week. 20 Listeners participated by listening live, calling in to participate, or typing in the chat room. The topic was Making Tough Triage Decisions.

Here are some links to check out related to our discussion of tough triage decisions:

Rick Russotti’s link to the Disaster Life Support Class

Dr Anna Pou Story from New Orleans

Mangano Nursing Home Story

—————————–

START Triage Links:

Maryland Triage Training Links page (including power points, pdf files, log sheets, and instructor materials)

Article on START Triage training for civilians and non-EMS personnel

Wikipedia on Triage (including some history and background on triage)

—————————–

Thanks to Listener Tim who is an instructor and EMS educator for contributing his expertise to the show.

Also, MedicCast Live regular guests (I couldn’t do the show without them!)

• Rick Russotti of the Mitigation Journal Podcast (www.mitigationjournal.com)
• Eric Augustus of the EMS Haiku blog (www.emshaiku.blog-city.com)
• Chris Black of lilblackweb.com

—————————-

MedicCast Listener Deals at GoDaddy.com –

Code BLU27 gets you 10% off your order at checkout
Code POD27 gets you 10% off any web hosting order at checkout
Try them out and get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com!

———————————

Link of the Week: October’s MedicCast Live!, Thurday 10/11/07 at 10 PM ET

Note the change for October’s episode to the Thursday night due to a conflict with class scheduling.

Register for a free Talkshoe account and login to listen, chat, or phone-in Live!

———————————

Fill out our New Survey!

———————————–

Visit the MedicCast Forums

———————————–

Thanks for Supporting the MedicCast!

Rate the podcast at iTunes or at EMS Village or Vote at Podcast Alley

Visit the MedicCast Store!

Get the New MedicCast Newsletter — Sign up now — it’s free!

Other Podcasts: MedicCast News, MedicCast Live, and Headliner News Roundup

Contact Me!
Call the Voice Mail Line — (941) 306-3342

send me a note at podmedic@mac.com

————————————–

Until next time, Scene safety, BSI!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

blubrry.com

Many of us remember the stress surrounding our time in the field working on patients for the first time during clinical time.  We quickly realized that we didn’t spend enough time practicing while in the classroom.  One Texas school is trying to make up for some of that anxiety.  They have purchased ambulance simulators for their EMT program.  The units are sized like the back of an ambulance and are equipped to monitor and record the actions of the student for review later.  Check out the article here.
——————————

I report on this and other EMS news in the most recent episode of the MedicCast News at the Podcaster News Network.

Jamie

the Podmedic

Last night’s episode of the MedicCast Live! went really well. We had discussion with many participants both in the chat room and calling in live. I will be putting the show in the podcast feed in place of this weekend’s show so look for it to show up in your download box on Sunday night or Monday morning.

If you just cannot wait — you can go directly to the Talkshoe.com page to download or listen to the recording right away.

Also just fyi:

I will be using the MedicCast Live! as the next episode in the regular podcast feed. This is in an effort to gain back some extra study time on the weekend (once per month) that I usually use for podcast production. So you’ll still get the show every week and one of those weeks every month will feature the MedicCast Live!

———–

Jamie

Talkshoe announced the availability of their “ShoePhone” call in service. It is a voice over IP telephone that lets you call in to the show using your computer and a USB headset microphone. This should now be available for everyone. Just make sure you update your Talkshoe software.

Best of all — IT’S FREE!

Great news and even easier for you to call in to the show! Talk to you tonight!

Jamie

Tonight is the night! The MedicCast Live is hosting a discussion on:

Making Tough Triage Decisions: Liabilities Surrounding Larger Scale Incidents.

The phone and chat lines will be open for your comments and questions. So head on over to Talkshoe.com and check out the show.

When: Tuesday 9/11/07 @ 2200 (10 PM) ET

Where: Talkshoe.com

How: Register for free

1. Download and install the free client software (Windows or Mac)
2. Visit Talkshoe.com and click on the “Live Now” button at the top of the screen
3. Select the MedicCast Live! tonight at 10 PM ET
4. Listen live, chat live or –
5. Call in LIVE!
6. Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
7. Talkcast ID: 18174
8. Enter your Talkshoe Pin number

I am looking forward to talking with you all tonight on the talkcast!

If you can’t make it, don’t worry. I will be posting this podcast on the main MedicCast RSS feed this weekend.

Jamie

the Podmedic

� Previous Entries