Archived Topics 2014
January 2015
You have that “gut feeling” that your patient is bleeding somewhere (or has a significant intravascular volume loss) but you have no obvious blood (or fluid) loss to prove it... and the vital signs aren’t that bad…. To Read More Click Here
September 2014:
"Trying to give report to the ER upon your arrival" For the ERTI Trends and Issues topic I have chosen to start out with an ISSUE: trying to give report to the ER upon your arrival. I have known this to be a challenge for EMS – no matter what ER - since the beginning of time. And of course it’s not a local problem - it is everywhere! To Read More Click Here
July 2014:
"Best Practice Intraosseous Infusion." Although intravenous (IV) fluids have been around since the 1800’s, obtaining IV access is not always possible. Attempts at IV access may be unsuccessful for a variety of reasons, including: decompensated shock, vascular collapse, and/or poor lighting in the field. It is in these circumstances that intraosseous (IO) access makes for a great solution. It is well documented that blood, plasma, saline, and medication can all be given IO; this is no longer a debate. IO access is a safe, effective, alternative to IV access. What now needs to be considered is the placement location of an IO. To Read more Click Here
"Back-boarding the patient; Is it time to let go of a “tradition”?" By now, surely you have heard of the evolving debate about the efficacy and effectiveness of spinal immobilization. Well, if you haven’t, here is a study and a presentation that you should check out. Unfortunately, the ubiquitous shape of EMS has been long forged by its “relationships” to several different industries. I say “unfortunately” because I feel that our tenet in EMS has been to fill a needed void, identified now some fifty years ago, at any cost while trying to serve multiple masters, if you will. What I mean to say is, who are we anyway? I mean aside from the obvious answers; do-gooders, adrenalin junkies, and those driven by a sense of moral servitude. Are we healthcare professionals, or some dysfunctional family member of multiple other industries? To Read More Click Here