Aug 15, 2014

Is potentially not saving one patient a worthwhile sacrifice if that loss helps pave the way for future saves?  Is this ethical?  These are two questions that Warwick University in England is having to tackle as they prepare to involuntarily enlist patients in a study to find out how effective epinephrine is in helping achieve ROSC and favorable long term outcomes.  While long overdue, a study like this toes a fine line between what is ethical and the opportunity to answer a long debated question of whether or not epinephrine actually makes a difference in cardiac arrest.  The results of this study could pave the way for some major changes in cardiac arrest management. The study will evaluate 8,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests with patient either receiving epinephrine or a placebo with outcomes evaluated after the arrest.  The problem with studies on cardiac arrest is there will be a patient population that you just don’t get back and others where we achieve ROSC with very few interventions at all.  In other words, sometimes even if you throw everything including the kitchen sink at a patient who arrests right in front of you, you still might not get them back.  Still though, if things go as they hope they will, England could see an improvement on their dismal 6% out of hospital ROSC rate. I am sure that despite overwhelming support from the medical community in England, some will try and poke holes in the ethical aspect of this study.  When any medic hears the words “CPR in progress” we immediately shift gears, and many of us will turn up the intensity and focus a notch or two.  We know what the task at hand is.  This is our bread and butter, it is what we are trained for.  It is a true medical emergency.  The prospect of possibly not doing everything we can for a patient in cardiac arrest is one that some will struggle with.  When looking at the bigger picture though, with the right evidence the results of this study could be earth shaking. Personally though, I am happy that someone has finally built up enough guts to tackle this one....

Aug 14, 2014

Since the blog is 4 and a half years old, I felt like it was time for a change.  As I mentioned in my announcement about the lack of a podcast post for this week, the site got a makeover.  For the last couple of days, I have been tweaking and moving, and playing around with all of the new settings on the new WordPress theme that I downloaded.  I know it might sound boring, but actually it is kind of fun! There will be more changes on the back end which will probably be less noticeable to those of you who read the blog regularly already.  I am currently playing around with a few different search engine optimization plugins that Go Daddy! offers. Also, I feel like this is a good time to mention the direction that this blog has taken over the past couple of months. As many of you know already, I moved my blog off of the First Responders Network of blogs.  This is in no way a reflection on my relationship with Ted or any of the other folks over at FRN it is a great organization that I am still affiliated with.  The truth of the matter though is the blog started to outgrow the capabilities of what could be offered to me on the hosting side of things.  My move to self-hosting the blog and running it through Go Daddy! was a tough decision to make but it was vital to the future of MedicSBK.com. The fact is, if it was not for Ted Setla, I would probably still be writing over at the little Blogspot site where I got my start four and a half years ago.  He believed in me, he got me started, and he gave me a soapbox to stand on for more than four years. So take a look around the site!  If you notice something that is not working, or a link that is dead, please feel free to report it to me.  There is still plenty of fine tuning and tweaking that will take place here over the next couple of weeks, but all in all, I feel like the...

There will be no podcast this week.  I am currently in the process of renovating the site complete with a new theme.  Everything will be back to normal for next week!    

Aug 6, 2014

Recording Monday’s podcast was a lot of fun.  The topic of arming paramedics and EMTs usually results in a heated discussion and I got to sit back and listen to two people with a lot more knowledge on a topic debate the finer point of it for close to an hour.  The arguments shared by both Chris Montera and Sean Eddy were both constructive and well thought out.  I found myself agreeing with both of them on many points, and could each of their sides of the arguments and walked away better understanding why they stand where they do. The one thing that I did not do on the podcast though is share my personal opinion on the topic.  So, where do I stand, you ask? Let me start out by saying that this topic is nothing new to the internet.  People have been debating arming EMTs and paramedics for years.  With each and every story posted on Facebook that has anything to do with an EMT getting assaulted comes a barrage of comments both for and against arming EMTs and paramedics.  There have been times where I have added my two cents to the conversation, consistently on the “con” side of the issue.  The replies I have gotten have been amusing. I have been told that I am “infringing on (my) Second Amendment rights.”  I have been called a liberal who wants to empty out everyone’s gun cabinets.  Well, if you have met me, or read my political views, you would realize that I am far from what most would consider a liberal.  If you have any doubt about that, just ask Justin Schorr.  We have had some spirited political debates over the years. Also, if you follow me on Twitter, it is easy to see that I am also a fan of the Opie and Anthony Show on Sirius/XM radio.  I feel silly calling it that now after the firing of Anthony Cumia, which personally I feel was unjust.  Without getting into the particulars of my feelings on that topic, I bring it up to point out one particular argument brought up by some of Anthony’s fans.  Some think that Anthony should not...

One of the most controversial topics in the world of EMS today is whether or not we should arm EMTs and paramedics or rather, should we allow those who possess conceiled carry permits carry on the job?  And furthermore, in whose hands should this decision rest in?  Lawmakers?  Department leaders?  The individual? This week, Scott turns over the podcast to the Geekymedic Chris Montera and Sean Eddy which allows the pair to engage in a spirited debate on the utlimate question: should we arm them? Also, stay tuned after the closing music for a little nugget from the cutting room floor. . . To download this week’s podcast, follow this link!  Otherwise, use the player...