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**wvditchdoc** · 09-16-2009, 04:55 AM

http://www.ems1.com/ems-news/589811-...-special-unit/

Quote:

Most of us call 911 in a real emergency: heart attack, house on fire, someone trying to break in.

But last year, there were 30 people who called DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services a total of more than 2,000 times.

Read the entire article.

This would be a good program if you had the available staff.....interesting.

PSYCtest040 · 09-16-2009, 08:45 AM

Now that is a good idea and as allied health care professionals it is well within our scope of practice. I think I will share this with my colleagues.

prncssmdc · 09-16-2009, 10:20 AM

It's about time.

I don't know if it's so much IF you have the available staffing, it's finding a way to staff something like this.

THIS is also part of our job. If this type of position was offered to me in my area I'd jump on it in a heartbeat (I'd still like some "real" street shifts ;-p). There are plenty of times I've picked up a pt, looked at their home situation, etc. dropped them off at the ER for whatever and tried to explain to the nursing staff that they need additional help beyond emergency medicine. I get the very empty promise from the RN of "ok, we'll look into that" and then I'm running back to the same address later in the shift!

Doctor's and nurses don't see how these people live. Social workers can't find them if they don't know about them. Looks like the folks in DC just filled that gap.

scribble · 09-16-2009, 10:54 AM

"Every time I had an appointment, they were calling DC Fire to bring me in the house," says Joyce McWain Gray. Her private ambulance service was calling 911 twice a day just to get her in and out of her house for doctor's appointments.

WHAT?!?! I never would have dreamed of doing that...she wasn't even that big!

strwblue · 09-16-2009, 11:07 AM

I would be willing to do those calls. After all who better to do house calls than us. Maybe Obama should consider funding for this kinda of program

AMRemt · 09-16-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scribble

"Every time I had an appointment, they were calling DC Fire to bring me in the house," says Joyce McWain Gray. Her private ambulance service was calling 911 twice a day just to get her in and out of her house for doctor's appointments.

WHAT?!?! I never would have dreamed of doing that...she wasn't even that big!

One of the privates here calls 911 for all lift assists, they WILL NOT send a second truck even on a transfer.

fire109 · 09-19-2009, 12:16 PM

the DC program sounds like someone had a brain and looked into it. People in other systems should take a goodlook

Peacheywoo · 09-19-2009, 12:56 PM

The ambulance service I did my work with have a similar scheme - the 'revolving door' patients were visited by someone from the service and a hand held record developed with info about family, carers, etc. Not sure how much its affected the call rates but last time I spoke to one of the bosses they were happy with how it was going...

Dorkfish · 09-20-2009, 12:35 AM

Seems like a good approach to the problem, but if it makes sense, it will never catch on here .

PSYCtest040 · 09-20-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorkfish

Seems like a good approach to the problem, but if it makes sense, it will never catch on here .

No.....if it cuts into revenue it won't catch on there.

09-16-2009, 08:45 AM	#2
PSYCtest040 "Epi makes you stupid" Join Date: May 2006 Location: Can't sleep, clowns will get me. Posts: 6,524 My Mood: Rep Power: 182	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit Now that is a good idea and as allied health care professionals it is well within our scope of practice. I think I will share this with my colleagues. __________________ "For the first year after school you will be, at best, a mediocre paramedic but one hell of a basic." My Mentor

09-16-2009, 10:20 AM	#3
prncssmdc Princess Medic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: WI Posts: 1,399 Blog Entries: 5 My Mood: Rep Power: 80	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit It's about time. I don't know if it's so much IF you have the available staffing, it's finding a way to staff something like this. THIS is also part of our job. If this type of position was offered to me in my area I'd jump on it in a heartbeat (I'd still like some "real" street shifts ;-p). There are plenty of times I've picked up a pt, looked at their home situation, etc. dropped them off at the ER for whatever and tried to explain to the nursing staff that they need additional help beyond emergency medicine. I get the very empty promise from the RN of "ok, we'll look into that" and then I'm running back to the same address later in the shift! Doctor's and nurses don't see how these people live. Social workers can't find them if they don't know about them. Looks like the folks in DC just filled that gap. __________________ "Taking the "E" out of EMS" - my former partner "There are no good girls gone wrong, just bad girls found out." - Mae West We don't just embrace INSANITY here. We feel it up, french kiss it and then buy it a drink.

09-16-2009, 10:54 AM	#4
scribble Health to the Hazardous! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Behind you! Posts: 3,670 Rep Power: 110	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit "Every time I had an appointment, they were calling DC Fire to bring me in the house," says Joyce McWain Gray. Her private ambulance service was calling 911 twice a day just to get her in and out of her house for doctor's appointments. WHAT?!?! I never would have dreamed of doing that...she wasn't even that big! __________________ *I used to be such a nice* girl...** Today’s hollering and screaming traveler-man is brought to you by Delerium™. Remember, when you’re on the Plaza and enraged by the lack of generosity of random passersby, it’s nothing a double-dose of Delerium™ can’t make louder. Ask your imaginary friend if Delerium™ is right for you.

09-16-2009, 11:07 AM	#5
strwblue I didnt touch your spoons Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota Posts: 2,996 Blog Entries: 10 My Mood: Rep Power: 104	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit I would be willing to do those calls. After all who better to do house calls than us. Maybe Obama should consider funding for this kinda of program __________________ Of course there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings. There is no refuge from memory and remorse in this world. The spirits of our foolish deeds haunt us, with or without repentance. "Gilbert Parker"

09-19-2009, 12:16 PM	#7
fire109 Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 34 My Mood: Rep Power: 9	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit the DC program sounds like someone had a brain and looked into it. People in other systems should take a goodlook

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09-19-2009, 12:56 PM	#8
Peacheywoo KILT ARMY SUPREME BOSS Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sunny Devon, SW UK Posts: 3,916 Blog Entries: 4 My Mood: Rep Power: 114	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit The ambulance service I did my work with have a similar scheme - the 'revolving door' patients were visited by someone from the service and a hand held record developed with info about family, carers, etc. Not sure how much its affected the call rates but last time I spoke to one of the bosses they were happy with how it was going... __________________ You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day

09-20-2009, 12:35 AM	#9
Dorkfish I am not a sea kitten Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Neighborhood of Make Believe Posts: 2,520 My Mood: Rep Power: 95	Re: DC Fire & EMS addresses 'frequent flyers' with special unit Seems like a good approach to the problem, but if it makes sense, it will never catch on here . __________________ Don't make me go Fire Chief on your ass ! A: AOS to find a moron C: Pt states " my toe hurts " H: Pt has Hx of abusing 911 A: vitals above , Pt is a moron R: Pt recieved why did you call at 3 am speech T: Tx to facility 50 miles from Pt residence b/c that is where Pt's proctologist is . Don " Ham Sandwitch " , Ghettomedic Mafia . " Step up , or step back . Either way , get to stepping " CWL