In EMS we talk about a lot of things, protocols, evidence based medicine, new equipment, new equipment we hate, old equipment we love, new guys, old guys, and management. We speak a lot about management, and it’s not all laudatory. We also speak about how rough our lot in life is. We compare the pros and cons of various treatments, whether particular patient complaints require BLS or ALS. We don’t agree on much, as is our nature. EMS personnel are by nature individualistic and very strongly opinionated. I was speaking with one of the bosses about how much sense it would make to standardize the layout of our ambulances. He laughed and said that would never happen because not only would not two crews agree on the best plan, but no two managers would agree either. I commented that we were not one department, but in fact we’re 200+ independent contractors who just happen to wear the same uniform. He laughed at that, but only because there is a kernel of truth in the statement.
Despite all of that disagreement and apparent complexity this job isn’t all that difficult or confusing most of the time. If you want to have a long and successful career in EMS there are five things you need to do in order to complete most calls that we receive. This is one of the big secrets that most non EMS people won’t know, but despite that will intuitively grasp.
Here they are.
1) Answer the radio when the dispatcher calls you. Or the page, or the phone, depending on how you are dispatched.
2) Go to the call as quickly as safely possible.
3) Be courteous to the patient and family.
4) Take them to the hospital.
5) Keep them warm, as in make sure they are comfortable and have a blanket.
Seriously, do those five things and the vast majority of your calls are easy. Despite EMS 2.0, EMS 1.0 says that we exist to provide transport. I don’t see that changing really soon.
You won’t be surprised to know that 80% or so of our complaints, internal and external, revolved around one of these five things.
Maybe I can get Tom T. Hall to write song about this. Well, he’d have to change the words a bit, but you get the point. Most things just aren’t that complex, in fact they’re pretty simple.
Even with all this wonderful technology the community has failed to even come close to accomplishing what the fire service labor movement accomplished without Facebook, Blogger, and Twitter.
I'm sure this is just a typo, but when you were talking about the complaints, you mean "five things" not "three things," right? I've always tried to practice these five things as a rule, especially #3. I shall take the advice of my elders to heart. =)
Your post is pretty right on. Not sure I'd change anything. That song is right on too, and the words speak volumes. Great post.
I'd venture to say that almost all external complaints could be resolved by being better at #3.
Great advice! I've been telling the EMS gods I work with similar things for years.
Thanks for spotting that minimedic, correction made.
As a dipshitter, I especially approve of number one.I love being called after a call is over and done with and getting chewed out for doing a second tone… when they didn't answer the first one, or the multiple radio calls on several frequencies.The tapes are my friend.
I heard/had the same conversations back in the 70's … sigh…
As much as all of this agreement is beginning to make you look wrong about agreement, I agree, too. 😉
4a) Unless there is a clinical (STEMI, Trauma, etc.) or system (Severe weather, hospital closures, etc.), take them to _their_ hospital.And no, "I won't get off duty on time" is not a system issue for diverting to a different hospital.(4a would also reduce the number of complaints drastically).TOTWTYTR: Can I post this in next month's department newsletter? I'd be sure to post the link and credits.
I inferred 4a, but didn't state it. That's also true, and it's true that following it would reduce a good chunk of complaints. Feel free to post it. Maybe they'll get a chuckle out of it. Don't forget the link! 😉
[…] in case, I’ll remind them of five simple rules to a long EMS career. […]
I had to laugh @ how accurate this is re esp the ” 200+ independent contractors who just happen to wear the same uniform”comment. Also agree with #1 & understand ZerCool”s pain. 1st company I worked for put me on dispatch & within a wk I went from an EMT everyone liked & wanted to work with, to the “disbitcher”. Instead of just doing the call crews would call me on their cell & bitch, @ the same time facilities were calling & bitching @ me re them being late. Dispatching can be worse then middle management sometimes. The other 4 things are common sense (& we all know how “common’ that is) & should be automatic. Unfortunately they seem to be more the exception then the rule.