Just a couple of random thoughts to get your Monday morning started.
1) In EMS, we’re constantly making noise about going beyond blindly parroting and following protocols, but we continually apply the cookie cutter mindset to any legal issue in EMS. For example, if you don’t do exactly this, you’ll be guilty of abandonment, battery, or some other tort that the average EMS provider remains incapable of understanding, but is an expert because they sat through the PowerPoint slides on medical-legal issues.
2) Nursing (and other health care professions) have made a great deal of noise over the years about not taking abuse from physicians. Rightfully so. I’d like to remind nurses that respect is a two way street. Especially the ED charge nurse who sarcastically asks, “Why’d you bring the patient here?” That is an excellent question. I will be sure to recommend the competing hospital network’s facilities, especially since my family uses said network, primarily because of the quality of the nursing staff.
3) Part of the reason, in my opinion, that private EMS gets a bad rap is because so many of the management types there give you the same feeling that you get from the finance guy at the car dealer who tries to convince you that without the rust guard and the extended warranty that you’re placing your family at risk. Long term success and short term profits aren’t always the same things. Successful businesses recognize that.
Spot on. Just amazing how insightful you are on evaluating the situation of the nurse bugging the medic of “why’d you bring em here?”
And the answer to the situation should be that any ambulance co. Owner/manager-someone in management have at least a degree in business, or some sort of educational requirements- something. I don’t know how else to remove the douche out of the douchebag…
I have always hated the “despots” of private EMS.
My answer to that question (yes public sector providers get it too) was always, “Well, the zoo was closed and there’s nothing good playing at the all night theater, so we thought we’d come here instead.”
Feel free to use that, but at your own risk.