"KMG-365, Clear..."

Compressions Only CPR

2010-08-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Chest Compressions Alone Best With CPRStudies support bystanders not using mouth-to-mouth breathingBy Serena Gordon HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, July 28 (HealthDay News) -- If you haven't been well-trained in CPR and you see someone having what appears to be a heart attack, just doing chest compressions to help keep the blood flowing can be as effective as CPR that includes

What? 80% of ED patients have insurance?

2010-07-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Wow! When I first read this I thought "no way" -it's got to be more than that! We've all heard it before, "ED patient's don't have insurance - that's why they come to the ED in the first place". Well information relased by the Federal HHS Department shows that lack of insurance in our ED population is the minority when all is tallied up. Original article can be found at: http://tinyurl.com

Health Care Reform Might WORSEN ED Crowding

2010-07-15T01:17:00.000-07:00

Reform To Exacerbate Emergency Department Crowding, Experts SayThe new health reform law might exacerbate emergency department overcrowding, according to health care facility experts, The Hill reports. Advocates of the overhaul said the law would help address ED overcrowding by ensuring more U.S. residents had insurance to cover physician visits. However, EDs likely will experience higher

Fireworks Related Mortality Report

2010-07-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

(NOTE: The data for 2009 and 2010 has not been compiled yet) Below are some interesting factoids about fireworks related mortality. This report provides the results of the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff analysis of data on non-occupational fireworks-related deaths and injuries during 2008. The report also includes a summary of CPSC staff enforcement activities during

Need And Use For Air Ambulance Service Is On The Rise

2010-06-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Despite the debate between providers and various authorities, demand for air ambulances is rising. Before hiring an air medical transport, patients and their families should make sure that the operators are licensed and bonded, that the life support systems and other medical equipment meet all requirements and that pilots and medical personnel have the experience necessary to provide for safe

Woman shoots self to get surgery

2010-06-16T19:42:00.001-07:00

Woman shoots self to get surgery Desperate and uninsured, Kathy Myers hoped wound would lead to shoulder repair she couldn't affordBy DEBRA HAIGHT - H-P CorrespondentPublished: Saturday, June 12, 2010 1:08 PM EDTNILES - A woman suffering from severe shoulder pain and without any health insurance shot herself in the upper arm Thursday so she could get emergency room care. Police said the

Is The ED still for "Emergencies"?

2010-06-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

Below is a commentary I posted on an online bulletin board a few days ago. The original poster was discussing the fact that yet another hospital system has gone public with their "ER Wait Times" (see original article at: http://www.inova.org/emergency-room-wait-times/ ) COMMENTARY I think the elephant/rhino/gorilla in the room here is that we need to aknowledge that ED is "not just for

Use of glucometer testing to detect CSF leaks

2010-05-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Emerg Med J 2005;22:556-557 doi:10.1136/emj.2004.022111

FREE CEU's - Emergency Preparedness Courses in SC

2010-05-01T04:54:00.000-07:00

FREE !Preparedness CoursesFor SC Pre-Hospital Personnel (EMTs,

Feb 18th 2010 ~ National Critical Care Transport Nurses Day~

2010-02-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

Study questions the standard of C-Collars

2010-01-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

Baylor study doubts neck brace standard In some cases, device might hurt accident victims By TODD ACKERMAN HOUSTON CHRONICLE 1/25/10 Applying a brace to the neck of a trauma patient, standard procedure for many decades, can worsen the injury and lead to severe paralysis or death, according to a new study by Houston researchers. Baylor College of Medicine doctors used cadavers to confirm

Pain Scale - "Zero to Ten"...!

2010-01-21T01:29:00.000-08:00

In this business of ER/EMS/Healthcare, we have been tasked with an attempt to objectify a patient's "pain". Apparently many bean-counters and doctoral candidates have done research on how to do this, and as such the "Zero to Ten" scale was born. Now most of you reading this are undoubtedly of the ER/EMS genre' and are all too familiar with this "scale". Our instructors, mentors, preceptors,

Twas' the Night Before Christmas - Nurse Style

2009-12-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

Twas the Night Before Christmas -A Nursing Version Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the floor Lasix was given, filling foleys galore. Stockings were worn to prevent emboli, they came in two sizes, knee and thigh high. The patients were nestled half-@$$ed in their beds, while visions of stool softeners danced in their heads. We in our scrubs, and they in their gowns,

Nurses' Perks For Working on Christmas

2009-12-22T03:55:00.000-08:00

There truly are advantages to working on Christmas and other holidays. If you are scheduled to work a holiday, don't despair! Look at the bright side. OVERTIME PAY: This is one perk that most nurses appreciate when working a holiday like Christmas. The extra money can help with holiday expenses. If you are really on the ball, you can start paying off your bills quicker – get a jump on

Some Pearls for EMS/ER to live by...

2009-12-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

Credit for this goes to Thom Dick as publised in his JEMS article... Following is a list of 30 Pearls for EMS/ER practice.... People don’t change. Some of the most beautiful people in the world come wrapped in the plainest packages . You can stir up as much trouble as you need to. Just make sure you do it only to make things better, your care is always top-notch and your certs

US Panflu Update - 11/12/09 "Are we in the clear yet???"

2009-11-13T05:23:00.001-08:00

US Pandemic Situation Report- Nov 12th The overall national trend is now one of declining impact. Reporting nationwide continues to be highly variable from location to location. Some locations are reporting decreases in case loads while others are reporting dramatic surge. The below information pertains to those locations within the US reporting challenges related to pH1N1. School Absenteeism

CAMTS Accreditation - Blessing or Curse?

2009-10-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This is my commentary/response to the original article which appears at:VerticleOnline and published Oct 21, 2009MY COMMENTARY:CAMTS accreditation has become double edged sword.On one hand your HEMS program may not be able to live without it (either by regulatory requirement of your state, OR by lost revenue via third party insurers who require accreditation), but on the other it may be

National Emergency Nurses Week Oct 11-17, 2009

2009-10-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

Emergency Nurses "Prepared for the Unexpected" Emergency nurses across the US will be celebrating Emergency Nurses Week, Oct. 11-17, and Emergency Nurses Day on Oct. 14. This year’s theme is "Prepared for the Unexpected," a perfect theme as every day brings the unexpected. There is no "usual" or "typical" day in an emergency department.Emergency patients are just that — emergencies requiring

ENA General Assembly Day #1 - Town Hall Report

2009-10-08T05:44:00.000-07:00

Day #1 of the ENA General Assembly (GA) finished up with a Town Hall style meeting. This is an activity which has been done at the last several ENA GAs and has continued since. It is an opportunity for members to meet in a collegial and informal setting and ask quetions and engage in an "open forum" with the ENA leadership. This provides an opportunity for members to directly ask questions

ENA Conference/General Assembly Opening in Baltimore

2009-10-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Wednesday October 7.8:00amENA president Bill Briggs called the General Assembly to order for 2010 here in Baltimore MD.Many new and interesting things were on tap for starters.One of the first "improvements" was the installation of a new method for registering keypads for the delegates to vote with. Previous years had seen difficulties with delegate registration, missing keypads, DUPLICATE

Seasonal Flu Myths

2009-09-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of the upcoming flu season I decided to share with my followers this list of common misunderstandings and misperceptions of the seasonal flu vaccine. An alarming 50% of healthcare workers do not get the flu vaccine annually and some of these myths are the reasons I've heard of before...Flu Myth #1: The seasonal flu vaccine protects against swine flu. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. The

"A 98.8% passing rate...?"

2009-09-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

While promoting and publishing my own CEN review course and CEN Review Manual, I have been keeping abreast of what others are doing out there.One "competitior" company is Med-Ed. On their website they boldy proclaim a "98.8%" passing rate.While they do not specific which exam that refers to, they do print it on their flyer for their CEN classes.I found this passing rate pretty high and had some

ER Wait Times....

2009-09-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

While reviewing some of the Emergency/EMS blogs I read, I came across Paul Bond's "Emergency Nursing Today Show" latest post... Public Tracking of ED wait times. This made me think of a site I had seen a while back that was doing sometihng similar....North Florida ER Wait TimesMiddelsex Hospital Wait TimesThese are just two examples and apparently there are several more out there.I find this

Remembrance 9-11-01

2009-09-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

No words necessary for today's postHowever you choose to honor and give respect today - make sure you do and NEVER FORGET!

Primary Care in the ER?

2009-07-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

Original article at: http://tinyurl.com/washpost071309 See my points/comments in bold/blueA Critical Situation For Area HospitalsPrimary-Care Needs Spill Over Into ERsThis title is inaccurate: it implies patients are seeking "primary care" in the ED. This is false. Primary care (pap smears/breast exams, colonoscopies, diabetes managment etc) is not done in the ED, rather it's people who no

Tasers in the ER...

2009-06-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

(This blog refers to a post by "Impactednurse.com" which can be found here)Dr Donald Dawes, from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, reported thatTasers were used 27 times at one Minneapolis medical center over a one yearperiod and found the number of injuries to both patients and medical staff werereduced with the introduction of Tasers to the hospital.(For more information on Taser devices:

Stimulus Checks to fund EMS????

2009-06-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

Over at JEMS.com there is an article, "Stimulus to pay for emergency vehicles" which originally was printed in the Chattanooga Times Free Press (May 19).In said article, it explains how Tennesses will get approx $4.5 MILLION for fire, police and rescue vehicles courtesey of the "Stimulus Package".....WHAT??I for one, did not envision the Stimulus Package, errrrr, the American Reinvestment and

Taxi vs. Ambulance

2009-06-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

Any chance they are "Transformers"????

CEN Review Questions 5/19/09

2009-05-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay folks! Here's some more CEN Exam Review Questions for practice/review... Here's some sample CEN like review questions. Try to answer them and write out a rationale. Try to justify why the answer you choose is correct and why the others are wrong..... The link to the answers is at the Bottom of this page... Category: Psychiatric/Mental Health (1) When caring for a delusional

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen?

2009-05-18T02:21:00.000-07:00

A recent discussion over at Jems.com was started in which the original poster (OP) threw out the question about what drives EMS staffing, Cardiac Arrests (ALS) or Medical Care, and what the mix of EMT's to EMT-P's should be utilized. (http://connect.jems.com/forum/topics/cardiac-arrest-or-medical-care)An interesting discussion ensued with many people voicing their opinions and experiences. After

NBC TV "Trauma" - ER Replacement?

2009-05-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

New NBC TV Series "Trauma" trailer/preview....I'll probably watch this just for pure entertainment purposes nothing more.Interesting - they included HEMS in this "Emergency meets Third Watch" traumashow. Now the public will see more mis-information and mis-use of HEMS I'mSURE!!!I guess that's why the guy playing the flight medic/nurse ("The rebel") isflying cause he says "I can't die".....!!!!

"Hopelessness" and Facilitation....

2009-05-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

Dr Ed Leap, a well respected blogger, and author that I respect, recently posted his blog on "Hopelessness". I read through it and it was quite thought provoking.The main point I believe Dr Leap was explaining, was that no matter how much logic, observation, rationalization or coercion we use/do - there are just some aspects of human behavior that cannot be adequately explained with the

Emergency Department Overuse - Austin Tx

2009-04-01T23:13:00.000-07:00

In a recent article posted in the online version of the Austin American Statesman Newspaper, Ms. Mary Roser (a staff writer) comments on a recent release of information that shows that one ED in Austin Texas log over 2678 patient visits from just nine individual patients. These astounding numbers were released by a nonprofit group in central Texas which provides care for uninsured and low income

CEN Review Questions 3-30-09

2009-03-30T03:08:00.000-07:00

(ANSWERS POSTED 4/3/09 - Scroll to bottom of this article for link) Sorry for the delay folks! Here's some more CEN Exam Review Questions for practice/review... Here's some sample CEN like review questions. Try to answer them and write out a rationale. Try to justify why the answer you choose is correct and why the others are wrong..... Category: Orthopedic/Trauma (1) Your patient is

I Got My EM training during 'Prime Time'....

2009-03-30T01:18:00.000-07:00

In the article "Young Doctors Learn Bad Habits From TV Medical Dramas", in the NATIONAL POST, (Mar 23, 2009) author Tom Blackwell talks about how more and more young physicians are becoming a product of the entertainment industry rather than the medical education establishment.The original article published in the "Journal of Resuscitation" looked at data gathered by a survey in which evaluation

CCC Class Wake Med - Day 1 Report

2009-03-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

What a day! Just finished day 1 of a 2 day CFRN/FP-C course here in Raleigh NC at Wake Med. This was a 2-day certification review course produced by Critical Care Concepts and Rick Patterson. I was assisting Rick in teaching for his company during this class.Their conference facility was THE BOMB. Rick even compared it to some conference hall. He said "man this is like JEMS" the EMS today

Getting Blood Out of a "turnip"...

2009-03-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

So... the coroner comes in with a body. Tells us he needs an order and a requisition for a carboxyhemoglobin level. Apparently there was concern on scene that this deceased had quite a few kerosene heaters running in the house and the concern is for carbon monoxide poisoning.Well we wrote up the blood gas lab slip and gave it to him (the coroner) with the appropriate specimen labels. I was

CEN Practice Questions 2-25-09

2009-03-12T01:55:00.001-07:00

(ANSWERS POSTED 3/12/09 - Scroll to bottom of this article for link) Here's some sample CEN like review questions. Try to answer them and write out a rationale. Try to justify why the answer you choose is correct and why the others are wrong..... Category: Special Populations (1) You are discharging your 79 year old female pt who sustained a large skin tear. Which of the following is the best

Know your author....

2009-02-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

My personal review of"Paramedic Practice Today - Above and Beyond"by Barbara Aehlert (Author)Publisher: Mosby/JEMS; 1 edition (January 30, 2009)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0323043747 "More info on the editor please.....""February 11, 2009 By Mark W. Boswell "www.BEMETweb.com"-See all my reviews on Amazon.com As an educator and author I support my

Brian Regan - Emergency Room Comedy

2009-02-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

Hey all, I just came across two OUTSTANDING comedy videos. Comedian Brian Regan does an excellent job of pointing out some of the funnier aspects of our jobs in the ER. Watch and ENJOY!Embedded video is courtesey of YouTube.Part 1 (approx 2.5 minutes)Part 2 (approx 5.5 minutes)-KMG-365, Clear...

The EMS Truth Detector

2009-02-13T19:06:00.001-08:00

Ever wonder if your patient is telling the truth or not? Often this is a dilema for pre-hospital and ER folks. Now after EXTENSIVE research and LABORIOUS review I have compiled some common patient sayings and given you a way to weigh the possiblity if your patient is speaking the truth or not. Look down the LEFT side to find your patient's statement, then look ACROSS to find the PERCENTAGE

How to predict injury severity

2009-02-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, now we have a tool so you can predict just how serious/severe your next dispatch will be. Look on the bottom for any pertinent dispatch information given to you by your 911 Center, then cross reference it with the severity/seriousness description on the left side. ENJOY!-KMG-365, Clear

The REAL reason for spinal precautions!

2009-02-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

-KMG-365, Clear

CEN Practice Questions 2-12-09

2009-02-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

(ANSWERS POSTED 2/15/09 - Scroll to bottom of this article for link) Here's some sample CEN like review questions. Try to answer them and write out a rationale. Try to justify why the answer you choose is correct and why the others are wrong..... The link to the answers with rationales will be posted here in 1-2 days..... Category: Professional-Legal (1) Local EMS brings you, into your trauma

"Designer" Hospitals

2009-02-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

Don't be fooled...hospitals are "competing" for your business.They want YOU to come to THEM and spend your money (well your insurer's pay-outs more specifically) with THEM and not the competitor.In an effort to do this, there are many marketing strategies - a hospital that wants to be successful strives to become a "system"; it's gone way beyond the brick and mortar building itself and it extends

The Economy and Specialty (CEN) Certification...?

2009-02-09T19:11:00.001-08:00

So I was sitting down tonight watching President Obama's first press conference (8:00 pm EST ????)....Anyways, as he was explaining his take on the pulse of our current economy and how he has seen "first hand" the effects of it on places like Elkhart IN that saw it's jobless rate nearly triple in the last 3 months, and how people are out of work and loosing jobs; I was considering what relevance

ABG Basics

2009-02-06T03:04:00.000-08:00

ABG's can be one of the more difficult concepts to grasp when reviewing Emergency Nursing or Critical Care. The whole ABG interpretation process has caused many people lost/sleepless nights trying to decipher and understand the concepts. I can relate. Every time I prep for a lecture that includes ABG's I have to review myself the night before. Over time I've come up with a couple of rules for

CEN Practice Questions 2-5-09

2009-02-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

Here's some sample CEN like review questions. Try to answer them and write out a rationale. Try to justify why the answer you choose is correct and why the others are wrong..... Answers with rationales will be posted here in 1-2 days..... Category: Professional-Legal (1) A 49-year-old woman with a subarachnoid hemorrhage is identified as a potential organ donor. The patient’s family consists

"Rampart, this is Squad 51..."

2009-02-04T21:15:00.001-08:00

Motorola Biophone 3502 (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)The Biophone was a combination voice and telemetry radio communications system commonly used in the 1970s and 1980s by field emergency paramedics (typically firefighters or ambulance attendants) to talk to the doctors supervising them from a hospital base station, and also to transmit EKG rhythms. It was this sort of communications

CEN Study Pointers...EXAMS vs TESTS

2009-02-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been receiving more frequent emailsasking how I would specifically recommend someone studying for their CEN exam. The answer is as individual as it is long and really no one methodology would be appropriate for everyone. Instead of laboriously typing the same email response to everyone with the similar background information and advice,I figured I'd put this on a blog and have