EMS Today

Mind the Anion Gap

Guests: Tyler Christifulli

How is it possible for metabolic acidosis and anion gap to be remotely interesting? The two words send shivers down most medics’ spine. However, Tyler Christifulli from FoamFrat joins the EMS Handoff crew to make this information not only accessible but fun to learn and review. 

Tyler Christifulli is a flight medic and  co-founder/producer at FOAMfrat where he lends his expertise to educating EMS providers through blogs, podcasts and online content.

The EMS Handoff - Gamification of EMS with Dr. Cicero and Dr. Wallner

Guests: Dr. Mark Cicero, Dr. Clare Wallner

Which has a longer attention span? A goldfish or an average adult? 

Mark X. Cicero, MD, FAAP, is an associate professor of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) at the Yale School of Medicine, the director of the pediatric disaster preparedness program, an EMS physician and an attending physician at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. Mark has designed experiential and didactic curricula in pediatric disaster medicine, and has numerous publications about triage and prehospital response.  He is a member of the National Biodefense Science Board and the principal investigator for the Pediatric Research In Disaster Education (PRIDE) network, which has received funding from HRSA and the AHRQ.

Clare Wallner is an assistant professor and clinician educator at McMaster University and associate medical director for the Centre for Paramedic Education and Research in Hamilton, Ontario. She works as an EMS and emergency medicine physician. In addition to innovative curriculum design and medical leadership, she dabbles in research and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in medical education.

Show Highlights

• Gamification education and pandemics
• Disadvantage of “pouring information into our students”
• Experience over lecture
• Locus of internal control
• Buy-in from instructors
• Goldfish and adults
• Engaging students
• What the 1840 Prussian army has to do with modern education
• “Practice the way you play”
• Overlap of entertainment and education
• Gamification resources for instructors
• Virtual and mixed-use reality
• Instructor as the dungeon master

The Violent Side of EMS

On this episode of Another Dose, Dr. Candice McDonald and Robin Goldinger, RN, are joined by Fire Chief/Attorney Chip Comstock and Paramedic/Attorney Matthew Streger to discuss the violent side of EMS. 

Addiction Among Us

Guest: Kirk Mittleman

We have all seen it, but just too late! We may have a loved one who has the problem, but don’t want to say anything. Ignoring it won't help but saying something means we have a problem. Did you enable the addict by ignoring the issue? Admitting to it means we have failed in our quest to be perfect. Why is drug and alcohol addiction so prevalent in our profession? Can we make a difference through education and leadership by changing our own outlook and attitudes?

In public safety, we lose excellent professionals to addiction every day. They may go on to right their own ship, but most do not. Public safety administrators, educators and workers need to step up and help our own. Recognizing the problem is our first step in helping our students, staff and co-workers through recovery. The second step is educating students and employees of the danger that is around the corner. As leaders in EMS and public safety, we have an obligation to take care of our own and not cast them aside. Don’t ignore the problem, become part of the solution by learning and helping our colleagues avoid and beat addiction.

“Capt. Kirk” is a 40-year veteran of EMS and public safety. He retired in 2001 from Provo City Police after 22 years and a Purple Heart.  Upon retiring from law enforcement, Capt. Kirk went to work full time in the fire/EMS service where he again retired after serving as a paramedic captain and EMS coordinator for Eagle Mountain Fire Department.

Capt. Kirk is currently working for Reach Air Medical, serving Contra Costa County Fire Protection District as the clinical quality improvement and clinical education coordinator.  Capt. Kirk teaches all levels of EMT’s and wilderness medicine as the co-founder and program director of Mt. Nebo Training.

Document Like a Pro

Guest: Jason Haag

The evils of auto-narration, 1 a.m. toe aches, carrot versus stick QA, and which is better, SOAP or CHART. If any of that appeals to you, you’re in the right place. Jason Haag joins the EMS Handoff crew to discuss the ins-and-outs of documentation from the eagle eye’s perspective to the nitty-gritty.

Jason Haag is a well-traveled EMS educator who currently works as the Quality Assurance analyst and clinical educator for MultiMed Billing in Baldwinsville, NY. With more than 18 years of EMS experience, Jason is a critical care paramedic with experience as an EMS supervisor and CIC certification teaching agencies across New York.  He also speaks at conferences, hosting classes, and reviewing texts for Jones and Bartlett Learning.  Jason continues his EMS advocacy with multiple EMS agencies and committees. His involvement with Geneva (NY) Fire Department, Boy Scouts, Masons, Rotary, and Ducks Unlimited occupies his days after his daily family time with his wife and son.

Brian Kim

Hear Brian Kim’s story of reprioritizing life and his struggle to recreate balance after leaving the military.

Tactical Medicine for EMS, Law Enforcement and the Community

Through their experiences in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the military as well as public safety and other medical personnel learned the value of immediate care for injured civilians, while working with first-arriving law enforcement officers, at active shooter and other mass casualty incidents.

With the publication of the four Hartford Consensus documents on Improving Survival from Active Shooter Events, the importance of including law enforcement officers as part of the continuum of care was highlighted. 

With civil disturbances becoming an all too frequent occurrence, the mechanisms and types of injuries have changed from just penetrating trauma to a host of other injuries – such as blast burn and inhalation injuries, tension pneumothorax, crush and pelvic injuries as well as exposure to chemical agents. 

Join A.J. Heightman and his guests for a discussion of new approaches and courses for the delivery of tactical medicine in the field by law enforcement personnel and by first responders at civil disturbances.

The National EMS Scope of Practice Episode

Scot Phelps and Maria Werner talk about the National EMS Scope of Practice Model -- and what they like and don't like about it.

Volunteerism in EMS

Guest: Wes Ogilvie

Where have all the volunteers gone? The top reason for shifting EMS volunteerism is surprising. After all, there is no better feeling than giving back to your community and knowing you made a difference – but at what cost? Across the country throughout the years, the number of volunteers in EMS, fire and rescue has sharply decreased, especially over the last decade.  Where have all of the volunteers gone? Wes Ogilvie joins the EMS Handoff crew to discuss volunteerism in EMS.

Wes is a renowned EMS advocate and legal expert in EMS and is currently serving as a paramedic/FTO with multiple EMS agencies. Wes is an attorney for Texas state government, has been in EMS since 2004 and has been a paramedic since 2007. Wes is currently a paramedic/FTO with West EMS and a paramedic with Huffman EMS.  Throughout his career, he has been published in several EMS periodicals and co-authored the Medical-Legal chapter of Paramedic Care: Principles and Practice.

Rod Hutchinson

How did an aspiring actor end up going into the fire service? Hear the story of Rod Hutchinson and his viewpoints on the dominant fire culture, his personal struggles with vulnerability and advice to those exploring the career.

“Therapy has been a godsend," said Hutchinson.