Note: at February's town meeting a motion was made to support T.E.M.S. with $62,000, the motion was not seconded.
Subsequently, the town board contracted with Warrensburg E.M.S. for $30, 000 for the remainder of 2013 and $50,000 for 2014 with ALS qualified technicians.
If you have questions please post them. We are in contact with an EMS Operations Manager and we will answer your questions.
Below please find the link to Collaborative Protocol.
http://www.remo-ems.com/images/uploads/pdfs/2011-10-08_Comprehensive_Protocols2.pdf
Where does BLS and ALS fall in the various categories listed in these protocols and what level are the personal that are in Thurman EMS vs W'Burg EMS?
ReplyDeleteAll BLS personnel fall under the EMT category and must stop where is so states.
ReplyDeleteALS is much more complicated than the simple definition of BLS, not to say that BLS qualified personnel are not an important part of the equation.
BLS is a critical part of an Emergency Medical Squad, they can stabilize a patient.
We have been informed that TEMS has three new BLS qualified personnel.
Warrensburg EMS is an ALS qualified squad, they answer many calls per day which reinforces the members skills. We have been told that this is crucial to any squad, whether it be ALS or BLS.
Our understanding of ALS, after viewing the contents of an ALS vs. BLS bag is that and ALS qualified squad is the equivalent of a mobile Emergency Room.
Yes, we are running as a B.L.S. agency. We can save your life, stabilize any problem that you may have. (broken Bones, Bleeding, Breathing etc.) Give Albuterol, Epi. Pen and Glucose. we can do everything EXCEPT give an I.V., which costs an extra $1,000 on an ambulance and contains Saline solution (water) with electrolytes. Mostly used for Dehydration. Unless you are in BAD condition and need medications.They will give this to you to BOOST the bill (since it is mainly water) if you do not need I.V. Medication. We, as a B.L.S. squad can transport ANY patient, and meet up with an A.L.S. Tech, IF needed.
ReplyDeleteThis reply came in to me via private message and the individual wished that I share it with all to view.
DeleteI am very concerned about the post by Mrs. Wallace. Yes, A BLS only agency can provide many services to help a patient depending on the patients condition. However, at absolutely no time will an IV be started on a patient unless the patients condition warrants it. To outright accuse an ALS Tek of starting an IV so that they can, as Mrs. Wallace states, BOOST the charges, is irresponsible and slanderous and she should consider the possible legal ramifications of an accusation such as this. I am appalled that anyone would even think that this is true let alone, put it in writing for the world to see.
There are many things that a BLS provider (EMT) can do for a patient but there are also many things that they cannot do. As was written in a post on this blog by Kathytemp on October 19,2013, an ALS equipped ambulance with an ALS provider (Critical Care Tek or Paramedic) on board, can essentially provide the same treatment to a patient that they will receive in the Emergency Room. The biggest difference between ALS and BLS is the training that the provider receives. An EMT receives approximately 190 hours of classroom time. A critical Care Technician receives approximately 400 - 500 hours of classroom training and a Paramedic receives a minimum of 1100 classroom hours. These hours do not include the numerous hours that the CCT and Paramedic have to do to get on-line status. The Paramedic program is, in many areas of New York, a 2 year degree program. The CCT and Paramedics also have to attend a minimum of at least 12 hours of continuing education each year just to remain on-line in this region. EMT's do not have the same requirements. Thurman EMS has minimum "patient contact time". When an agency, ALS or BLS only handles 80 to 100 calls a year, there is no way that a provider can remain proficient at their skills or with their ability to appropriately assess a patient. Easy calls are far and few between and if the EMT or ALS Tek that has little hands on patient time gets a really "difficult" call, the ability of that provider to provide optimal care to the patient is drastically reduced.
Again, well trained and proficient providers are essential to quality patient care. EMT's can provide many services to a patient but they are limited, both in their scope of practice and their training. When an ALS Tek decides to place an IV in a patient, they are doing this for a very good reason. All patients are treated according to their condition and an IV is not started if the patient does not need it. All ALS calls are reviewed and any concerns that are found are addressed immediately.
As a fellow Health Care Professional, I sincerely resent the accusations made by Mrs. Wallace. I would sincerely think an apology would be in order to all of the Health Care Professionals that are deeply offended by her remarks and accusations. At the same time I am sorry for Mrs. Wallace because if she actually feels that what she wrote was true, she has missed the point in why we do what we do, always provide optimal patient care for the people that call for us in their time of need. What we do, providing pre-hospital medical care is a profession, and should be provided by true professionals.
Thank you for your time,
ADKEMT