If I have one vanity, it’s my education (three degrees and two professional licenses). Sometimes, like tonight, it even comes in handy.
So, when dealing with a random psych patient who’s a valued repeat customer, I got to use some of that education. (After all EMS is a business and the foundation of any successful business is repeat customers.) My patient proceeded to tell me that an involuntary psych transport is against her religion. Being the inquisitive liberal arts type, I asked her which religion. She proceeded to state “The Church of the Native American.” I then went on and asked her which tribe and reservation she’s enrolled in and for her tribal card.
Sometimes, in emergency medicine, you get entertainment when and where you can find it. Helping a psych patient dig themselves a deeper hole can be entertaining. What was fulfilling was hearing her, five minutes later, tell me that I was the best medic to take care of her in a long time and that she wanted to check herself in for mental health assistance. I’ll take that for what’s hopefully the last call of the weekend.
She’s still not my favorite psych patient, though. That still goes to the lady who asked me and the other medics on scene to find her a Buddhist priest to exorcise her dead husband’s spirit from her body. The best part was taking her to a Catholic hospital and the nursing staff recognizing her. That’s a “Keep Austin Weird” moment you don’t usually see.
Ok, off to get some sleep. Hopefully.
(After all EMS is a business and the foundation of any successful business is repeat customers.)
Et Tu? Stealing my best material.
It’s the sincerest form of flattery. After all, Robin Williams shamelessly stole Jonathan Winters’ schtick!