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Medics on the Move
McLean County Business to Business, May 1993
by Roy Taylor, Business to Business Reporter
National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is May 23-29, and this year's theme is "We're Ready, Are You?" The men and women of Lifeline Mobile Medics are constantly at the ready, and its director says it is time for the public to be "at the ready" to change an old stereotype.
Bruce Weinberg, director of Lifeline Mobile Medics, says "People tend to forget or not look at pre-hospital health care as "health care." In the 1990s, the ambulance is far more than just transportation to the hospital; paramedics provide care both before and during transport, he says.
During National EMS Week, Weinberg wishes to promote all pre-hospital health care in McLean County, and remind people to thank workers for their excellent service.
"McLean County has excellent pre-hospital care," Weinberg says. In the small communities of the county, where the force is usually all-volunteer, service is especially noteworthy. "Those people do a great job-they volunteer their time for the betterment of the community."
Weinberg says paramedics do not exist simply to provide rides to the hospital. They undergo hours of training every year to keep up with changes in the field. There are also several different levels of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, and this designated what level of care may be provided by the giver.
The initial level for the EMT is EMT-A, or Emergency Medical Technicial-Ambulance. At this level, EMT's may provide basic emergency care including patient assessment, airway management, and may be licensed to defibrillate cardiac arrest patients.
"The chances of cardiac arrest survival are much greater if the patient is de-fibrillated as soon as possible, so it is important for all EMTs to be able to perform the procedure," Weinberg says.
The second level of certification is the EMT-I, or Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate. "EMT's certified at the EMT-I level may perform more complicated procedures including starting an IV, opening an airway in order to keep the patient breathing, or even more sophisticated airway techniques," Weinberg explains.
The final level an EMT can attain is the rank of EMT-P, or Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. This technician may "perform all the most advanced life-support techniques," Weinberg says. Cardiac monitoring and medication administration are examples of advanced techniques that may be utilized by EMTP's, he adds.
In order to stay current with the continually-changing field, all paramedics must attend 48 hours of continuing EMT education each year. Classroom education is followed up with both a written and practical exam every year. In addition, each EMT must renew his/her license and take that exam every two years. Weinberg points out this continual education, testing and licensing is more rigorous than the requirements doctors and nurses must meet after they are initially licensed.
Lifeline is the only paramedic-level pre-hospital health care provider in the county, Weinberg says. While most smaller communities in the county have emergency medical services, their paramedics are all trained to the EMT or EMT-I level. They are "some of the most dedicated workers you'll find," he says.
What determines whether Lifeline or the local Fire Department responds to a call? The type of care required, Weinberg says. Because Lifeline is the only paramedic-level service in the county, advanced life support emergencies require their presence in addition to a municipal rescue squad.
When a 911 call is placed in the Twin Cities, both the Fire Department and Lifeline receive the information simultaneously. A Lifeline ambulance will be dispatched in "every case that there is a possible need for advanced life support," Weinberg says. Sending two ambulances to one call is not a waste of time and money, he says. "If Lifeline is not needed, we will not stay on the scene," he says.
When a call comes in from a rural rescue squad, Lifeline EMTP's meet the rural squad on the road and board their vehicle to provide emergency care en route to the hospital. Lifeline is a non-profit organization owned jointly by Saint Joseph Medical Center and BroMenn Regional Medical Center. In order to pay their bills, Lifeline must charge for the service it provides.
People may ask, "Why do I have to pay for a ride to the hospital?" Weinberg responds: "Persons who are transported by Lifeline must remember they are paying for a service, a health care service. Just as you pay for groceries, a trip to the doctor or dentist, you are paying for this service."
Most insurance will pay at least a portion of the cost for Lifeline's services, and the company is "aware of and sensitive to the patient's needs" in their payment plans, Weinberg says. What does the future hold for pre-hospital health care? Everything, Weinberg says. "Pre-hospital health care is probably the fastest changing field in the health-care industry."
"We are always looking for ways to provide better care," the director says. Currently, their units are researching the use of 12-lead EKG's in the field. According to Weinberg, the use of 12-lead EKG's during transport would greatly reduce the time spent before life-saving drugs are administered during heart attacks. "If we determine this will work, we will use them," he says.
The upcoming nationwide observance of the special services provided by paramedics is intended to remind us McLean County EMT's are "Ready id we are." Although everyone hopes emergency health care will never be necessary, we can rest assured that we will be in good hands should the need arise.
Bruce Weinberg, director of Lifeline Mobile Medics, says "People tend to forget or not look at pre-hospital health care as "health care." In the 1990s, the ambulance is far more than just transportation to the hospital; paramedics provide care both before and during transport, he says.
During National EMS Week, Weinberg wishes to promote all pre-hospital health care in McLean County, and remind people to thank workers for their excellent service.
"McLean County has excellent pre-hospital care," Weinberg says. In the small communities of the county, where the force is usually all-volunteer, service is especially noteworthy. "Those people do a great job-they volunteer their time for the betterment of the community."
Weinberg says paramedics do not exist simply to provide rides to the hospital. They undergo hours of training every year to keep up with changes in the field. There are also several different levels of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, and this designated what level of care may be provided by the giver.
The initial level for the EMT is EMT-A, or Emergency Medical Technicial-Ambulance. At this level, EMT's may provide basic emergency care including patient assessment, airway management, and may be licensed to defibrillate cardiac arrest patients.
"The chances of cardiac arrest survival are much greater if the patient is de-fibrillated as soon as possible, so it is important for all EMTs to be able to perform the procedure," Weinberg says.
The second level of certification is the EMT-I, or Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate. "EMT's certified at the EMT-I level may perform more complicated procedures including starting an IV, opening an airway in order to keep the patient breathing, or even more sophisticated airway techniques," Weinberg explains.
The final level an EMT can attain is the rank of EMT-P, or Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. This technician may "perform all the most advanced life-support techniques," Weinberg says. Cardiac monitoring and medication administration are examples of advanced techniques that may be utilized by EMTP's, he adds.
In order to stay current with the continually-changing field, all paramedics must attend 48 hours of continuing EMT education each year. Classroom education is followed up with both a written and practical exam every year. In addition, each EMT must renew his/her license and take that exam every two years. Weinberg points out this continual education, testing and licensing is more rigorous than the requirements doctors and nurses must meet after they are initially licensed.
Lifeline is the only paramedic-level pre-hospital health care provider in the county, Weinberg says. While most smaller communities in the county have emergency medical services, their paramedics are all trained to the EMT or EMT-I level. They are "some of the most dedicated workers you'll find," he says.
What determines whether Lifeline or the local Fire Department responds to a call? The type of care required, Weinberg says. Because Lifeline is the only paramedic-level service in the county, advanced life support emergencies require their presence in addition to a municipal rescue squad.
When a 911 call is placed in the Twin Cities, both the Fire Department and Lifeline receive the information simultaneously. A Lifeline ambulance will be dispatched in "every case that there is a possible need for advanced life support," Weinberg says. Sending two ambulances to one call is not a waste of time and money, he says. "If Lifeline is not needed, we will not stay on the scene," he says.
When a call comes in from a rural rescue squad, Lifeline EMTP's meet the rural squad on the road and board their vehicle to provide emergency care en route to the hospital. Lifeline is a non-profit organization owned jointly by Saint Joseph Medical Center and BroMenn Regional Medical Center. In order to pay their bills, Lifeline must charge for the service it provides.
People may ask, "Why do I have to pay for a ride to the hospital?" Weinberg responds: "Persons who are transported by Lifeline must remember they are paying for a service, a health care service. Just as you pay for groceries, a trip to the doctor or dentist, you are paying for this service."
Most insurance will pay at least a portion of the cost for Lifeline's services, and the company is "aware of and sensitive to the patient's needs" in their payment plans, Weinberg says. What does the future hold for pre-hospital health care? Everything, Weinberg says. "Pre-hospital health care is probably the fastest changing field in the health-care industry."
"We are always looking for ways to provide better care," the director says. Currently, their units are researching the use of 12-lead EKG's in the field. According to Weinberg, the use of 12-lead EKG's during transport would greatly reduce the time spent before life-saving drugs are administered during heart attacks. "If we determine this will work, we will use them," he says.
The upcoming nationwide observance of the special services provided by paramedics is intended to remind us McLean County EMT's are "Ready id we are." Although everyone hopes emergency health care will never be necessary, we can rest assured that we will be in good hands should the need arise.
All Content © Roy Taylor 2007