EMS Today

I’m Infected: A Prehospital Look at Sepsis

On this week’s episode of the EMS Handoff Podcast, hosts Bradley Dean and David Blevins are joined by Dr. Tyler McCardell who is currently an EMS Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and serving as chief resident and assistant medical director for AHN Lifeflight.

During this EMS Handoff, Dr. McCardell discuss the current state of sepsis in the prehospital environment to include SIRS Criteria, continuum of sepsis, early recognition and its effects on morbidity and mortality.

And just when you thought you have enough fluid, think again. About 3% of the calls that EMS agencies run in the United States are related to Sepsis. Putting that into a little more context, that is about 136 calls for service every hour of the day, all year long. Are you ready for that handoff?

A Career in Emergency Management

JEMS Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ted Lee speaks with Stephanie DeLorenzo about her career in emergency management.

Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project Assessment

Is your EMS agency ready for pediatric emergencies? The National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project (PPRP) can help.

JEMS Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ted Lee speaks with Dr. Kathleen Adelgais and Frank St. Denis to learn more about the program.

The PPRP is an initiative to ensure all U.S. EMS agencies and fire-rescue services that respond to public 911 medical calls have essential resources in place to provide high-quality emergency care for children. The project is led by the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program in partnership with more than 30 national organizations and stakeholders.

Learn more about the assessment here.

Friday Night Lights: Shift 3 – Above the Baseline

You and your partner are savoring the last drops of the best brew from the local coffee shop when the tones drop for a seven-year-old female with shortness of breath. It’s only about two miles away at the urgent care; as you start down the road, you bounce ideas back and forth with your partner. What are some of the things you think could cause this?

Read the full article here.

What EMS Providers Need to Know about Dengue Virus

Infection control consultant Katherine West provides information about Dengue Virus, an ailment EMS providers may encounter this summer.

How to Deliver Engaging Continuing Education

On this episode, Dr. Erik Axene joins the Not A-Fib Podcast to discuss his passion for teaching, continuing education and the uniqueness of Axene Continuing Education, LLC.

He talks about what led him to create his company and the stellar team he's built to deliver high-quality, engaging continuing education.

Finally, he wraps up by talking about his experience as an airway management physician for the Dallas Cowboys.

Friday Night Lights: Shift 2 – Leaky Hose

It’s a warm Friday evening in July. You’ve just wrapped up a transport and cleared the hospital. As your partner turns out of the hospital parking lot, your ambulance is dispatched to a local distribution warehouse for a worker complaining of shortness of breath.

On arrival, you load your stretcher with all your gear and prepare to get some steps in while traversing the expanse of the warehouse. As you know, warehouses are never built small, and there is always a possibility that the scene awaiting you at the patient is not what you expect.

Read the full article here.

Friday Night Lights: Shift 1 – Balloons Under Water

It’s a cold Friday night in January. You just finished an uninterrupted meal at the local Chinese restaurant with your partner when you’re dispatched to a house in town for an 88-year-old male with trouble breathing. You pull up to a one-story house, sitting slightly up on a grade. The lights are on and the front door is open. As you enter a musty smell catches you as you lock your eyes on an older male. He’s tri-poding in an old, worn, puffy rocking chair. It’s clear from his fast, shallow, pursed-lip breathing he’s in distress. You introduce yourself and accept his outstretched hand for a shake.

Read the full article here.

The Decline of Rural Ambulance Services

In this episode, we interview Paramedic Jessica Thompson to talk about ambulance services closing in rural areas. The financial struggles faced by EMS providers, coupled with outdated reimbursement rates, have led many to economic collapse, forcing them to reduce staff or halt services altogether.

This reduction in services not only impacts the immediate area but also places additional strain on neighboring services, creating a domino effect that worsens response times and stretches resources thin across wider regions.  

‘Right in the Middle of Everything’: What It’s Like to Work for Sunstar Paramedics

JEMS Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ted Lee finds out what it’s like to work for Sunstar Paramedics in Pinellas County, Florida. Joining him is Malachi White, director of recruiting, and Capt. Shelby Papa, clinical services coordinator.