A few months ago I had a first in my 15yr career as an EMT and it really got to me. I was dispatched to a local hospital to get a patient who was being discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility. When we reached the floor at the hospital we were met by a very nice hospice nurse and a very nice hospital staff nurse. The two nurses advised me and my partner that the patient was going to the Skilled Nursing Facility for end of life care. Once taken to the room we were introduced to the patient’s wife who was really pleasant, we were informed that the patient needed to be taken off a very potent vaso dilator that they were using to keep his blood pressure up. The patient was moved to our stretcher and made comfortable the wife told us she would meet us at the SNF. So we had an uneventful ride to the SNF and after taking the patient out of the truck and started into the SNF but were stopped at the back door by the Director of Nursing. The director then asked the patients name and asked for paper work and I gave her the quick and skinny report, she then told me she was not accepting the patient and didn't care where we took him as far as a hospital. I made the choice to take him back to the hospital we picked him up from, so I called the ER and gave them the story they were very accepting and took my report. Upon arrival at the hospital I gave my report to multiple nurses including a hospital nurse manager. So after moving the patient to a hospital stretcher I went to Wright my report, after getting my report signed I went to leave it at the patients bed side and there was the very nice hospice nurse I had talked to on the floor, she informed me she was at the SNF when our patient was refused and she was never told by the SNF that they refused us. But in this whole story the people I feel the worse for is the patient who had to be moved multiple times while in pain with vital signs that were not that good, and for the patient’s poor wife who had no idea her husband had been refused admittance into the SNF. The last I knew the hospice nurse was trying to contact her but there was no answer.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
A First In My 15yr Career
A few months ago I had a first in my 15yr career as an EMT and it really got to me. I was dispatched to a local hospital to get a patient who was being discharged to a Skilled Nursing Facility. When we reached the floor at the hospital we were met by a very nice hospice nurse and a very nice hospital staff nurse. The two nurses advised me and my partner that the patient was going to the Skilled Nursing Facility for end of life care. Once taken to the room we were introduced to the patient’s wife who was really pleasant, we were informed that the patient needed to be taken off a very potent vaso dilator that they were using to keep his blood pressure up. The patient was moved to our stretcher and made comfortable the wife told us she would meet us at the SNF. So we had an uneventful ride to the SNF and after taking the patient out of the truck and started into the SNF but were stopped at the back door by the Director of Nursing. The director then asked the patients name and asked for paper work and I gave her the quick and skinny report, she then told me she was not accepting the patient and didn't care where we took him as far as a hospital. I made the choice to take him back to the hospital we picked him up from, so I called the ER and gave them the story they were very accepting and took my report. Upon arrival at the hospital I gave my report to multiple nurses including a hospital nurse manager. So after moving the patient to a hospital stretcher I went to Wright my report, after getting my report signed I went to leave it at the patients bed side and there was the very nice hospice nurse I had talked to on the floor, she informed me she was at the SNF when our patient was refused and she was never told by the SNF that they refused us. But in this whole story the people I feel the worse for is the patient who had to be moved multiple times while in pain with vital signs that were not that good, and for the patient’s poor wife who had no idea her husband had been refused admittance into the SNF. The last I knew the hospice nurse was trying to contact her but there was no answer.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
My Soap Box
Earlier today I got on my soapbox about a subject that had really turned my stomache. Below is what i had posted on my Facebook page. If any of my fellow public servant brother and sisters have been following the going on lately with Detroit Fire and EMS how many jobs do you think that 214 Million Dollars could help pay for.
So I heard a story this morning on the radio that really got my goat. A baseball player signed a contract yesterday for 9 years and 214 MILLION DOLLARS what is wrong with this picture just because he can hit a ball. MY FELLOW BROTHER AND SISTER PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CAN IN THEORY REVERSE NATURAL SELECTION AND SAVE YOUR LIFE AND GET CRAPPED ON EVERYDAY MAKE POCKET CHANGE COMPARED TO THESE SO CALLED SPORTS STARS WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICAN CULTURE.
So I heard a story this morning on the radio that really got my goat. A baseball player signed a contract yesterday for 9 years and 214 MILLION DOLLARS what is wrong with this picture just because he can hit a ball. MY FELLOW BROTHER AND SISTER PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CAN IN THEORY REVERSE NATURAL SELECTION AND SAVE YOUR LIFE AND GET CRAPPED ON EVERYDAY MAKE POCKET CHANGE COMPARED TO THESE SO CALLED SPORTS STARS WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICAN CULTURE.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Layed To Rest
Today the brothers of the Worcester Fire Department layed to rest FF John Davies who payed the ultimate price one week ago in a three alarm fire. May you go with Gods speed to your last station assignment. I also layed to rest the first hurdle of Paramedic school today took the final for paramedic 1 thank you to all that have supported me to this point.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Signal 5-5-5-5 Worcester LODD
A very sad day today in the public service area I will be praying for all the victims and there families.
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the families and the men and women of the Worcester Fire Department in the wake of todays events. FF Brian Carrol was injured at a 3 alarm fire with building collapse early this morning searching for a occupant of the house. FF Jon Davies of Rescue 1 a 17yr member of WFD payed the ultimate sacrifce and died in the line of dutie. God's speed brother may you R.I.P.
Please also say prayers for the Upstate New York Fire Fighter who paid the ultimate sacrifice today in the line of duty and also to the victims at the Virgina Tech shooting that took place today.
A very sad day today in the public service area I will be praying for all the victims and there families.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Longest Day
To all who read this I am sorry but I got a little long winded tonight.
12/3/2011 18:30 Hrs (6:30 PM)
So my long 38 hour shift of work and school has come to an end. It started unlike any other 38 hour shift I do like this every other weekend it was the 20th anniversary of my brother’s death so the day had a sad undertone to it. 07:30 I arrive at work like any other Friday all I want to do is get my truck and get the day started in my head all I want to do is work to keep my mind off my brothers anniversary but that didn't happen I was informed by the overnight dispatcher I would be dispatching or as I call it (In The Box). Just what I needed to have an idle mind all day sitting there staring out a window but I would make due. So the day goes on my wife calls me a few times to check on me see how I am holding up some of my closest co-workers also check in on me finally the long day in the box ends. I gather my thoughts for the drive to the firehouse for the 12 hour rescue shift. 17:15 hours I arrive at the station the rescue is out I am kind of happy this gives me a little while to unload my gear out of my truck get my uniform on and just sip my coffee and relax. I hear the rescue backing in the station I am ready to start my truck check. Bill and Tom give me report on the truck and we shoot the breeze as I wait for my partner Keith to show all of a sudden the alarm goes off and we are dispatch to a call for head pain Bill offers to go to the call with me I get a phone call from Keith he is 5 minutes out he will meet us on the scene. I am happy to be on the call my brain is not idle thinking of all the time lost with my brother. We load the patient in the truck and take the patient to the hospital it is an unusual call the true nature was for mouth pain due to possible dental problems we drop the patient off at the hospital see a few friends from other departments exchange pleasantries and go back to town. Starting to get idle brain and thinking again but it’s not as bad as earlier in the day Keith had read my blog I had written earlier in the morning and asked me about it I told him the story it actually felt good to tell him I felt some weight lifted off my heart and shoulders. So it is about 19:10 hours we are back at the station we have a emt basic student doing ride time with us which we both like because we get to teach her and answer questions we pass the time answering some questions and having dinner. After dinner we take her thru the truck go get fuel and come back to the station so far an easy night. 21:10 hours the alarm trips we are dispatched to Water and Miller for a man down not a long drive to the call about 6 feet off our ramp we meet the police on scene for the intoxicated male. Keith says he will teach the call with our rider it is her first ever rescue call. We arrive at the hospital it is a little busy I see my friend Zach from providence rescue standing outside he asked if we were all set and if we needed a hand I nonchalantly tell him no but thanks. The hospital is a little busy and Keith and the rider give report and take care of the paperwork and patient I put the truck back together I see a few more of my friends from providence we exchange pleasantries and all compare our patients and go down memory lane because come to find out we had all brought in intoxicated patients it kind of felt like the old days. The rest of our night is very quiet we sleep the night away. I do have to say heading to school I was in a lot better mood than on Friday morning and even during school all day. So I guess the moral of my story is I have to as thank you to all my friends and family that helped me thru the day.
12/3/2011 18:30 Hrs (6:30 PM)
So my long 38 hour shift of work and school has come to an end. It started unlike any other 38 hour shift I do like this every other weekend it was the 20th anniversary of my brother’s death so the day had a sad undertone to it. 07:30 I arrive at work like any other Friday all I want to do is get my truck and get the day started in my head all I want to do is work to keep my mind off my brothers anniversary but that didn't happen I was informed by the overnight dispatcher I would be dispatching or as I call it (In The Box). Just what I needed to have an idle mind all day sitting there staring out a window but I would make due. So the day goes on my wife calls me a few times to check on me see how I am holding up some of my closest co-workers also check in on me finally the long day in the box ends. I gather my thoughts for the drive to the firehouse for the 12 hour rescue shift. 17:15 hours I arrive at the station the rescue is out I am kind of happy this gives me a little while to unload my gear out of my truck get my uniform on and just sip my coffee and relax. I hear the rescue backing in the station I am ready to start my truck check. Bill and Tom give me report on the truck and we shoot the breeze as I wait for my partner Keith to show all of a sudden the alarm goes off and we are dispatch to a call for head pain Bill offers to go to the call with me I get a phone call from Keith he is 5 minutes out he will meet us on the scene. I am happy to be on the call my brain is not idle thinking of all the time lost with my brother. We load the patient in the truck and take the patient to the hospital it is an unusual call the true nature was for mouth pain due to possible dental problems we drop the patient off at the hospital see a few friends from other departments exchange pleasantries and go back to town. Starting to get idle brain and thinking again but it’s not as bad as earlier in the day Keith had read my blog I had written earlier in the morning and asked me about it I told him the story it actually felt good to tell him I felt some weight lifted off my heart and shoulders. So it is about 19:10 hours we are back at the station we have a emt basic student doing ride time with us which we both like because we get to teach her and answer questions we pass the time answering some questions and having dinner. After dinner we take her thru the truck go get fuel and come back to the station so far an easy night. 21:10 hours the alarm trips we are dispatched to Water and Miller for a man down not a long drive to the call about 6 feet off our ramp we meet the police on scene for the intoxicated male. Keith says he will teach the call with our rider it is her first ever rescue call. We arrive at the hospital it is a little busy I see my friend Zach from providence rescue standing outside he asked if we were all set and if we needed a hand I nonchalantly tell him no but thanks. The hospital is a little busy and Keith and the rider give report and take care of the paperwork and patient I put the truck back together I see a few more of my friends from providence we exchange pleasantries and all compare our patients and go down memory lane because come to find out we had all brought in intoxicated patients it kind of felt like the old days. The rest of our night is very quiet we sleep the night away. I do have to say heading to school I was in a lot better mood than on Friday morning and even during school all day. So I guess the moral of my story is I have to as thank you to all my friends and family that helped me thru the day.
Please remember the 6 Worcester Fire Fighters that gave the ultimate sacrifice 12 years ago today may you all R.I.P
Friday, December 2, 2011
Life's Journey
So today is 12/2/2011 and 20 years ago today my best friend on earth my brother was taken to a higher better place in life. So my insomnia has set in and I am wrighting this blog in his memory I don't tell the story that much but had a patient today that for some reason brought back a lot of memories good and bad. But the patient today also made me realize why I do the job I have chosen to make my career. So my hole day today weather good or bad is dedicated to my brother and best friend Brian.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Rescue Rounds
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