Well! Kevin Howard passed his paramedic National Registry! How about that?
Your thoughts?
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Wierdest Jazz Fest Call
Okay, who's got the wierdest freak from Jazz Fest?
I was in the Grandstands and this guy about 22 years old comes up to the desk. He says he's got all kinds of back problems that cause numbness in his arms and legs, and it causes him to be unable to pee. The only way he can urinate is if he can immerse himself in the shower and is there a shower he can use?
I referred him to the ever-helpful security guard who regarded him quizzically for a while, then bemusedly. After that she sent him on his peeful way, all the while chuckling to herself.
Who's got a better wierd Jazz Fest experience?
I was in the Grandstands and this guy about 22 years old comes up to the desk. He says he's got all kinds of back problems that cause numbness in his arms and legs, and it causes him to be unable to pee. The only way he can urinate is if he can immerse himself in the shower and is there a shower he can use?
I referred him to the ever-helpful security guard who regarded him quizzically for a while, then bemusedly. After that she sent him on his peeful way, all the while chuckling to herself.
Who's got a better wierd Jazz Fest experience?
Monday, April 18, 2005
Concrete Ideas
If anyone who counts is reading this, they probably get the idea that the natives are restless, and disgruntled. Well, they are, but there have been few concrete ideas about how to improve the situation. It's important for us to keep posting, since this is an excellent way to gauge the general state of gruntlement as well as a good CISD for everyone.
Many who post here are simply minions doing the bidding of the overlords. What we could use is a good set of specific ideas to make things better. But if you're reading this and you're in a position to make things happen, read on.
We need in house training and education programs. I understand that this was recently discussed. We can go outside for our training, but this is expensive and difficult. ACLS, PALS, BTLS, CPR and EMT refresher training needs to be available, as well as CE hours. Hurrah for reinstating monthly meetings in an effort to accomplish this goal! Let's make sure we make use of it and all you instructors of the various disciplines - make yourselves available for courses! In-house training programs for new EMT's and paramedics would be very proactive in attracting new employees. There are lots of people out there who'd be proud to have gone to the New Orleans "EMS Academy!"
We need a way to attract and retain existing employees. Of course everyone immediately expects a raise, but there are other ways to put money in pockets without hitting up the budget. Anyone remember the dinosaur days at Medic One when we used to get points for good behavior - coming in early, running more than your share of calls, getting compliments from patients? They translated that to gift certificates from Sears. That was cool. How about offering similar stuff, or discounts on movies, or cell phones or Best Buy or something?
We need a way to reduce liability and improve patient documentation. I'm sure most will agree, those Hammerheads suck! I'm sure it makes it easier for billing, after all, it was Lockheed's idea to bring in those blasted things. But there are other electronic systems that do a better job of documentation. And with better documentation, patients will recieve better continuity of care at the hospital, and out libility will be reduced because of unclear documentation. If we're worried about the budget, we can help obviate a multimillion dollar lawsuit be reducing liability.
We also don't need to rearrange things in dispatch related to creating item numbers. Charity calls do not need to be put into the computer and stay in the queue for days from the time they were scheduled. The system is not designed for non-emergency calls. In addition, Charity calls are billed completely differently from 911 calls. Creating computer items would only increase the workload for Yolanda and everyone else involved in billing. Entering all these calls in the computer only seems lie a ploy to artificially inflate our call volume. We already have plenty of calls; we don't need to create more!
Any other ideas? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Many who post here are simply minions doing the bidding of the overlords. What we could use is a good set of specific ideas to make things better. But if you're reading this and you're in a position to make things happen, read on.
We need in house training and education programs. I understand that this was recently discussed. We can go outside for our training, but this is expensive and difficult. ACLS, PALS, BTLS, CPR and EMT refresher training needs to be available, as well as CE hours. Hurrah for reinstating monthly meetings in an effort to accomplish this goal! Let's make sure we make use of it and all you instructors of the various disciplines - make yourselves available for courses! In-house training programs for new EMT's and paramedics would be very proactive in attracting new employees. There are lots of people out there who'd be proud to have gone to the New Orleans "EMS Academy!"
We need a way to attract and retain existing employees. Of course everyone immediately expects a raise, but there are other ways to put money in pockets without hitting up the budget. Anyone remember the dinosaur days at Medic One when we used to get points for good behavior - coming in early, running more than your share of calls, getting compliments from patients? They translated that to gift certificates from Sears. That was cool. How about offering similar stuff, or discounts on movies, or cell phones or Best Buy or something?
We need a way to reduce liability and improve patient documentation. I'm sure most will agree, those Hammerheads suck! I'm sure it makes it easier for billing, after all, it was Lockheed's idea to bring in those blasted things. But there are other electronic systems that do a better job of documentation. And with better documentation, patients will recieve better continuity of care at the hospital, and out libility will be reduced because of unclear documentation. If we're worried about the budget, we can help obviate a multimillion dollar lawsuit be reducing liability.
We also don't need to rearrange things in dispatch related to creating item numbers. Charity calls do not need to be put into the computer and stay in the queue for days from the time they were scheduled. The system is not designed for non-emergency calls. In addition, Charity calls are billed completely differently from 911 calls. Creating computer items would only increase the workload for Yolanda and everyone else involved in billing. Entering all these calls in the computer only seems lie a ploy to artificially inflate our call volume. We already have plenty of calls; we don't need to create more!
Any other ideas? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
A sad passing
It is with a heavy heart I say this afternoon a great friend, father, Paramedic and a great man, has passed away. C.J. Orgeron has touch many of us and will be missed. Our thought and prayers go out to Dawne and Daniel as I'm sure they will need all of our support to ake it through this tragic time in thier lives. May you rest in peace C.J. till we all meet again to mustard around the Lords table.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Code 77 Shocker
I did hear some encouraging news! Friday I was riding around with Dr Johnson (6280) and he had attended a meeting of the Orleans Parish Medical Society that Juliette had organized. She had arranged for the CEO's of all the local hospitals to meet there. What was remarkable - it was the first time the hospital CEO's had ever met with each other! I guess in the world of corporate selfishness, it isn't cool to confer with one another.
Anyway, Juliette had a stack of paperwork that she distributed to each CEO detailing how many minutes their facilities had kept our units Code 77. One interesting fact was that the CEO's didn't even know that we had a situation like Code 77! I suppose the ED staffs never reported any of this information in an effort to make themselves look good.
But here's the kicker: Juliette's report detailed the Code 77's from January through March, and the total cumulative minutes of Code 77 in those 90 days was 30 days! All those 30, 60, 90 and so on minutes of Code 77 added up to an entire month that a unit was kept out of service by the hospitals!
The CEO's were stunned. They said they don't want to miss out on one patient coming in to their facility. They're busy scrimping and saving trying to minimize staff and maximize profits. But their effort to save money are misdirected. Imagine how much money is wasted on dumb advertisements ("Is it love, or a heart attack?") when they could be proactive in solving our problems and getting more of their own profits by building bigger facilities, staffing empty wards, and having in-house training programs for new R.N.'s, techs, lab workers, etc.
According to Dr. Johnson, there were some suggestions to bring in new technology to help solve some of this problem. How that works out remains to be seen, but you have to hand it to Juliette for bringing this to the shocked attention of the hospital mucky-mucks, opening the doors of their ivory towers and exposing them to the real world, our world.
Anyway, Juliette had a stack of paperwork that she distributed to each CEO detailing how many minutes their facilities had kept our units Code 77. One interesting fact was that the CEO's didn't even know that we had a situation like Code 77! I suppose the ED staffs never reported any of this information in an effort to make themselves look good.
But here's the kicker: Juliette's report detailed the Code 77's from January through March, and the total cumulative minutes of Code 77 in those 90 days was 30 days! All those 30, 60, 90 and so on minutes of Code 77 added up to an entire month that a unit was kept out of service by the hospitals!
The CEO's were stunned. They said they don't want to miss out on one patient coming in to their facility. They're busy scrimping and saving trying to minimize staff and maximize profits. But their effort to save money are misdirected. Imagine how much money is wasted on dumb advertisements ("Is it love, or a heart attack?") when they could be proactive in solving our problems and getting more of their own profits by building bigger facilities, staffing empty wards, and having in-house training programs for new R.N.'s, techs, lab workers, etc.
According to Dr. Johnson, there were some suggestions to bring in new technology to help solve some of this problem. How that works out remains to be seen, but you have to hand it to Juliette for bringing this to the shocked attention of the hospital mucky-mucks, opening the doors of their ivory towers and exposing them to the real world, our world.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Adios, amigo!
Today is Joejoe's last day! He's been something of an institution at HD since the dinosaur days. If you're like me, you likely learned plenty from him, pissed him off plenty, and got pissed off by him plenty! Nonetheless, EMS just won't be the same without him. We'll miss you, ma'am!
Best of luck in all your new endeavours! Wherever you go, you'll be an asset!
PS - C-watch is having a good-bye crawfish boil tonight (Friday). Not sure where it is, but it shouln't be too hard to find.
Best of luck in all your new endeavours! Wherever you go, you'll be an asset!
PS - C-watch is having a good-bye crawfish boil tonight (Friday). Not sure where it is, but it shouln't be too hard to find.
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