Comments on: Patients Define Their Emergencies

By: The EMT Spot » What Is An EMS Non-Conformist?

The EMT Spot » What Is An EMS Non-Conformist? — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:09:30 +0000

[...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...]

By: The EMT Spot » The May 2010 Handover Blog Carnival

The EMT Spot » The May 2010 Handover Blog Carnival — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:34:14 +0000

[...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...]

By: The EMT Spot » How Being Burnt Out Can Ignite A Rebirth.

The EMT Spot » How Being Burnt Out Can Ignite A Rebirth. — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:50:41 +0000

[...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:54:39 +0000

Steve, you couldn’t be more right. I was really lucky in that my instructor told me & the rest of the class how EMS really was. Not only do you need to know your skills backwards, forwards, & upside down–you have to be part psychiatrist—not that all patients telling you their life story want advice, in fact, most just want an empathetic ear. Giving advice is a touchy subject & not always appropriate. Listening is your best bet. When people decide they want to join EMS, if they don’t already know or they’re not told, they think it’s going to be just like t.v.—one adrenaline pumping—mindbending—hair raising—H O L Y C R A P!!!!! call after another. Some get really disappointed when they find out it’s really not like that & feel it’s a waste of their time & skills to answer a call similar to the call in Steve’s article. Steve–what you wrote is so true & I also agree that ” patients define their emergencies.” Who are we to decide what’s an emergency & what’s not? Our job is to just show up–no matter what. As far as what Jimmy wrote, I’ll go with EPIC.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:28:03 +0000

I couldn’t agree with you more – as a nurse in a nursing home setting, the greatest “emergencies” are not the medical so much as the need to feel useful, to still matter in life, and to not be ignored by those of us caring for the body, but not the soul. Behaviours occur with some, and it it is a sign they still have the ability to fight…they haven’t given up yet.It is frustrating, but it is also a chance to intervene and help guide the individual in their anger before they truly give up and just begin waiting for the end.

By: Steve Whitehead

Steve Whitehead — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:49:15 +0000

Scott, I think it is important to somehow interject the reality of what EMS care is in the basic curriculum. I don’t see it becomeing a part of the standard DOT curriculum any time soon, but as an instructor I know it can be done.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:15:22 +0000

I agree. I wish this had been taught first day at my school. Wouldn’t have changed a thing for me, but I wish it had been taught.

By: Steve Whitehead

Steve Whitehead — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:13:23 +0000

@Aerindel I’m so glad you agree. Thanks for dropping by.

By: Steve Whitehead

Steve Whitehead — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:34:25 +0000

I wouldn’t have chosen the phrase “Godlike” Kevin but I’m glad you liked it. I agree that we should talk more about this during our initial introduction to the field.

By: kevin horn

kevin horn — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:21:32 +0000

That is godlike..I bow to the author!! Thank you. Let’s get the message out there. Let’s teach this in EMT/Medic school.