Vaccines are finally available. I’m getting mine, and you should too. How do they work? Are they safe? What are the side effects? What are the particulars of administration?
Episode 48: COVID…Vaccines
Episode 47: COVID…Bamlanivimab
Bamlanivimab is a monoclonal antibody for treating mild to moderate COVID-19. You’ve probably heard of it as it has rolled out here in Texas in force. What does it do and how is it given?
Episode 46: What is Operation Warp Speed?
Operation Warp Speed is a public-private partnership that has helped speed development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. But what does that mean for safety of these treatments? TL;DR: The program does not cut safety corners. It supports industry to rapidly develop capability without the financial risk usually associated with experimental therapies.
Episode 45: Ketamine for suicidal ideation
This study looks at an intriguing concept: What happens when you give an acutely suicidal patient ketamine in the ED? This study intrigued me so I thought I’d cover it. This study will not change your practice but will hopefully interest you in participating in research on the topic.
TL;DR/TL;DL: DON’T START DOING THIS YET. IT NEEDS MORE STUDY. But it is promising.
Citation: Domany Y, Shelton RC, McCullumsmith CB. Ketamine for acute suicidal ideation. An emergency department intervention: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept trial. Depress Anxiety. 2020 Mar;37(3):224-233. doi: 10.1002/da.22975. Epub 2019 Nov 16. PMID: 31733088.
Strengths: Randomized placebo controlled design. Disposition and care for patients was determined before randomization, so study drug not likely to affect care delivered. Close assessment at multiple points. Administration protocol was over 5 min, so very conducive to the ED environment.
Weaknesses: Too small to really tell us how effective this treatment is, though there is a body of literature that supports it in other settings. Evaluation of patients was thorough, more than what could be expected of a prehospital provider without substantial training. Study setting was an ED, not EMS. Does not answer the question of whether patients can be safely discharged to outpatient mental health treatment after receiving this drug.
Episode 44: Data and outcomes in EMS
The Health Data Exchange allows the flow of information between EMS charts and the hospital chart, helping us to easily look at outcomes and how EMS care has affected the patient. The best way to check your own knowledge and understanding of prehospital care is to know how the patient turned out. Was your diagnosis right? Did they decompensate after transport? Scan the patient’s sticker into our electronic patient care record and you can find this out. In this episode I sit down with 4 very special guests: Travis Baker, PA-C, our own Paramedic Practitioner; Remle Crowe, PhD, Data Scientist for ESO Solutions; Jason Gilliam, LP, Designated Medical Officer and Captain at ATCEMS; and Bill Leggio, EdD, our Clinical Standards and Practice Coordinator to talk about what we gain from this.
Episode 43: What if…
“What if” can be anxiety provoking and can send you down a rabbit hole of undesirable futures. But it can also be a powerful tool for the clinical preceptor and the clinician who is looking to improve their performance.
Episode 42: COVID- A few words
Episode 41: COVID CPAP, nebs, epi, terbutaline, proning
Episode 40: COVID in Cardiac Arrest
Episode 39: COVID- Tests! (and getting out of quarantine)
Episode 38: COVID- Task Forces
Episode 37: COVID- Isolation Facilities and Alternate Care Sites
Episode 36- COVID: What about my ACE inhibitors
SUPER short one today about COVID and ACE inhibitors (-pril) and Angiotenstin Receptors Antagonists, like Angio Recept Antag. Maybe ang rec ant. Or artan. Artans yeah, that’s it.
Episode 35- COVID: New therapies, and can I use ibuprofen?
We talk about some of the things you’ve seen in the news lately about treatments that might help COVID. AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN I CAN’T TAKE IBUPROFEN? *sad Army Doc noises*
Episode 34: COVID-19, part 2. When can I go back to work?
So, you caught the COVID. You have endured the fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and abject boredom of being home. When can you be let out of this prison? In this micro episode we talk about the return to work criteria. BLUF: No, you don’t have to be in quarantine forever.
Episode 33: COVID-19, Part 1
Covid is now a pandemic, the real kind, the not-the-zombie-kind. In this episode we talk about what the Office of the Medical Director, Austin Public Health, and Austin/Travis County EMS is doing to respond to what is now a declared disaster.
Ep 32: Talking with the Union Prez
Buy in from the workforce is necessary to bring any useful change to an organization. While unions and leadership are often set against each other, the things they can accomplish when they work together far exceed those they can accomplish when moving in different directions. The union can give the MD valuable feedback on wants and barriers to implementation, and the MD can get an idea of how to effectively introduce change to the department with wide support. I’m fortunate to get to work with Selena Xie, who is smart, politically savvy, collaborative, and has an eye for the immediate future and years down the line.
Episode 31: Headache
Some causes of headache are benign, but the EMS provider would be wise to consider carefully some “bad actors” that cause headache. Here we will talk too about how to manage these patients in the prehospital setting.
Episode 30: Meditation and mindfulness for the first responder with Jessica Sasser, RN
Jessica Sasser, RN, is one of the amazing staff at our public safety wellness division which supports the physical and mental health of Austin/Travis County EMS and Austin Fire Department. In this episode she discusses meditation and how it can be useful to the first responder. Hint: it doesn’t just make you feel better, it makes you better. Please don’t meditate while driving.
Resources for ATCEMS and AFD employees can be found at: atxpublicsafetywellness.com
Insight Timer can be downloaded from the Apple app store.
Episode 29: Medic to PA to MD
Combat medic, paramedic, PA, and now medical student Andy Fisher talks about his journey. If you’ve thought about making the leap from #EMS, don’t miss this episode.
Episode 28: Andy Fisher talks BLOOD
In patients with hemorrhage, nothing else can take the place of #blood. Andy Fisher talks about why, and how, you can bring #blood to your #EMS system.
Episode 27: Syncope
Syncope, or fainting, is an incredibly common complaint seen by #EMS providers. This short episode discusses some of the exam findings and considerations.
The Epsilon wave: https://litfl.com/epsilon-wave-ecg-library/
Wolff Parkinson White syndrome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K098rnvqRE0
Lown Ganong Levine syndrome: https://ecglibrary.com/lgl.html
Episode 26: EtCO2
If you are not using #EtCO2 during airway management and monitoring, then you are wrong. Fix yourself. Dr. Pickett tells you why. #EMS #Prehospital #Paramedic #maybeifIsqueezethisbagashardandfastasIcanthepatientwillgetbetter #morewavylines #butIjustlearnedEKGs #Isawthetubegothroughthecords #sodideveryonewhoevermisplacedanETtube
Episode 25: Tracheostomy Disasters
Do you get nervous when you are faced with a patient with a tracheostomy tube? This short episode covers common problems and how to troubleshoot them. Be nervous no more. #paramedic #EMS #prehospital #criticalcare
In this episode, I make reference to a couple of great YouTube videos on the subject. One is from RT Clinic on the ins and outs of tracheostomy devices. The other is from The Crashing Patient Series from the University of Maryland and goes into greater depth on care of the crashing tracheostomy patient.
Episode 24: New Clinical Operating Guidelines
We undertook the unenviable task of revising our clinical operating guidelines to make them more usable, more manageable, and easier to read. We want to foster a clinician mindset and embrace the clinical flexibility medics need to take care of our patients in a very fluid environment. We also created new credentialing levels for medics to expand their current horizons.
Episode 23: Flight Rules
Today we are covering some of the flight rules for those studying for their #FP-C exam. #paramedic #EMS #prehospital #HEMS
Episode 22: Flight Physiology, Part 3/3
Today we are covering a bit of #flight physiology for those studying for their #FP-C exam. We broke this episode into 3 parts to make it a bit more manageable. #paramedic #EMS #prehospital #HEMS
Episode 21: Flight Physiology, Part 2/3
Today we are covering a bit of #flight physiology for those studying for their #FP-C exam. We broke this episode into 3 parts to make it a bit more manageable. #paramedic #EMS #prehospital #HEMS
Episode 20: Flight Physiology Part 1/3
Today we are covering a bit of #flight physiology for those studying for their #FP-C exam. We broke this episode into 3 parts to make it a bit more manageable. #paramedic #EMS #prehospital #HEMS
Episode 19: Heat illness
Heat illness ranges from the benign and temporary to the life-threatening. We dive into management of heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Rule #1: Stay on scene to cool them down.
Episode 18: Trauma reports
In person and on the radio, make the most of your concise patient report.
Episode 17: The monitor should stay on.
If you felt the need to put a #cardiac monitor on at any point in the patient interaction, it should stay on as you walk into the ED. #EMS #paramedic #prehospital
Episode 16: Airway Pearls
We dug into our QA data and the literature to bring you some pearls on #prehospital #airway management. #EMS #paramedic
Episode 15: Sepsis
750,000 Americans will suffer from sepsis this year. Early recognition and treatment are key. Here we go into the field recognition of sepsis and treatment priorities.
Stroke treatment 24 hours from onset
For patients with #stroke outside of 4.5 hr #tPA window, they may benefit from thrombectomy up to 24 hours since last seen well. Take to comprehensive stroke center and perform MRI safety screen. #EMS #paramedic
Quick and dirty estimation of weight for #pediatric #resuscitation
Quick and dirty estimation of weight for #pediatric #resuscitation:
Birth: 5kg.
Age 1: 10kg.
Age 3: 15kg.
Age 5: 20kg.
Age 7: 25kg.
Age 9: 30kg.
#PALS #APLS
Episode 14- Fast facts for response to bombing victims
This is a short episode on the response to and care for bombing victims for #EMS, #Firedepartement and #Police. A longer episode will follow that covers #prehospital care in detail, but this is the initial response and considerations. #packagebombmurders #austinbombings @ATCEMS @Austin_police @austinfiredepartment @TxDPS @TravisCoSheriff @CommitteeTECC @CommitteeonTCCC @NTOATEMS Find us on @iTunes and @GooglePlay and @feedburner
Safe evacuation distances from explosives
From the National #Counterterrorism Center, this chart gives #evacuation distances for #explosives of different sizes. Time, distance, shielding. Minimize the TIME you are in a threat zone, increase DISTANCE between you and the device, and seek SHIELDING in the form of cover from hard buildings or terrain. #packagebombmurders #austinbombings #EMS #prehospital #paramedic #firedepartment
Episode 13: Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
Neither rare nor mysterious, Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome causes pain and vomiting that can be difficult to treat.
Marijuana use is growing for medical purposes and recreational abuse. With this has come a rise in Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome which is marked by recurrent, severe abdominal pain and vomiting that does not respond well to the usual antiemetics. Dr. Pickett discusses the causes and treatment of this disorder which we will recognize in increasing numbers with increased marijuana availability.
Critical care inter facility transport: Handling conflict with class and style
Dr. Cynthia Griffin @CMGrffn wrote this great article on #CCT and how to handle orders that conflict with protocol or practice style. Doctor’s orders and intra-transfer modifications
#EMS #paramedic #flightmedic #flightnurse
Episode 12: Trauma Resuscitation
Fluid resuscitation, blood, acidosis, coagulopathy, hypothermia, TXA, intubation, push dose pressors! All the greatest trauma lit for your naughty bits.
SVT with aberrancy, or V-tach?
Some tips to help differentiate #SVT with aberrancy and #vtach. #EMS #prehospital #paramedic
Pressors in shock
What’s the right pressor for different types of shock? When should you pull the trigger?
http://www.emdocs.net/evidence-based-approach-pressors-shock-part/
Episode 11: MRI for acute stroke- screening in the field
In this episode we sat down with Dr. Steven Warach the Director of the Clinical Research Institute and Vascular Neurologist from Dell Seton Medical Center to talk about acute MRI for stroke and how we might be able to reduce the time to treatment.
3 questions comprise the safety screen:
- Do you have any implanted electronics like a pacemaker or defibrillator?
- Do you have any vascular clips in your brain?
- Do you have any metal fragments in your body?
Episode 10: Asthma!
Most asthma is pretty routine. Most. Dr. Pickett talks about tools for management of the severe asthmatic adult or child.
Deep breath, doc…
Episode 9: Bedside Teaching- Medic Mindset and ATCOMD joint podcast! Teaching at the bedside in the field or in the hospital.
Some people have the natural gift of teaching. For others it does not come easily. Teaching is all about connecting with your student, finding out their abilities and weaknesses, and helping build them into stronger clinicians. Teaching is a learned skill that can be molded and honed no matter how good a teacher you are. I sat down with Ginger Locke, Associate Professor of EMS Education at Austin Community College and the producer of the Medic Mindset podcast to see what tips and tricks we can offer the field preceptor.
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 8: Atrial fibrillation!
Ever had that patient that you just weren’t sure what pathway they fit in?
You have a 75 yo F who called 911 due to palpitations and increasing shortness of breath. She looks fairly comfortable with belies the rate of 180 seen on the monitor. She does endorse some chest discomfort. No previous drug use, no recent surgery/ Rhythm might be irregular but it’s too hard to tell at that rate. Should I cardiovert? Should I give them diltiazem? Could this tachycardia be reactive to something, and I should look for other potential issues?
Reconstruction of the Vegas shooting
NYT reconstruction of Vegas shooting
This is a very well done reconstruction of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. Several things to note here: varying reactions in the crowd (you can see some individuals standing and staring in disbelief as others run to cover), care under fire and members of the crowd organizing others to help, and the police who charged into the gunfire to end the shooting.
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 7: Mishmash! Dextrose, hemostatic agents, and chest seals.
Decided to address some reader comments with this one. Dextrose, hemostatic agents, chest seals. Little bit of medicine, little bit of trauma.
Why did we change over from D50 to D10 for hypoglycemia? And should we be treating hypoglycemic diabetics the same way we did 30 years ago? Should I have a hemostatic gauze in my kit? And how useful are chest seals really?
The 3 different types of report in EMS
When the EMS provider has to convey patient information, there are 3 distinct settings in which this should occur. You don’t want to waste time on the phone when you (and they) need to be doing other things, and you don’t want to leave out critical details when you need an order or you are handing off care to another provider.
- Report to the receiving hospital to obtain a bed and mobilize any necessary resources, such as a trauma team.
- This report should be brief and include only enough information to mobilize the appropriate resource.Details such as what medications have been delivered need not be given, as well as the details of how the injury occurred or an explicit history of present illness. Key thing is that this should be BRIEF. You have better things to do than talk on the phone, and so do they.
- In the case of a trauma, it requires a report of mechanism of injury, MAJOR injuries (can exclude most bruises, lacerations, and abrasions), vital signs, GCS, and whether or not the bleeding and airway are controlled. This is enough injury to determine what level of trauma response will be needed at the hospital (Category 1, Alpha, or whatever their terminology is) and whether blood should be brought to the trauma bay.
- For stroke, the current symptoms and LAST TIME KNOWN WELL are paramount to determine if the stroke team needs to be mobilized.
- For STEMI, EKG findings, age, and vitals are important. If the patient has a cardiologist, knowing who this is may be important if the hospital has more than one cardiology group that takes ER patients.
- This report should be brief and include only enough information to mobilize the appropriate resource.Details such as what medications have been delivered need not be given, as well as the details of how the injury occurred or an explicit history of present illness. Key thing is that this should be BRIEF. You have better things to do than talk on the phone, and so do they.
- Report to online medical control physician, usually to obtain advice or permission to execute some part of the protocol or deviate from protocol.
- This usually requires a more detailed report to paint the picture. Make sure you know who you are talking to before you launch into this report. It won’t do for you to give a detailed report to to the person that picks up the phone only to repeat the whole thing when the physician gets on the line.
- Start with your BLUF (bottom line up front) and tell them what you are asking for. If you need an order for something, say so. “Doc, I need an order to repeat the ketamine dose in this patient. 45 yo M in a rollover MVC…” “Doc, I have a patient here that wants to refuse transport and I don’t think that’s in her best interest. This 65 yo F was found today…”
- Handoff to another provider such as another EMS provider, nurse or physician at the receiving hospital.
- This report should be detailed, including all treatments rendered and the patient’s response. Concerning findings or clues of the patient’s history are conveyed then.
- If it is a time critical situation such as a trauma, you probably have only 30-60 seconds to deliver this info. Don’t rush through it but give a concise history and summary of injuries and last vitals. Summarize any medications given especially pain medications, sedatives, or paralytics.
- You can always give the summary report to the resuscitation team, then fill in the details with the nurse who is the “recorder” documenting the resuscitation.
- For handoff to another prehospital provider, it is good practice for that provider to read back the summary report to you to make sure everything was understood.
- This report should be detailed, including all treatments rendered and the patient’s response. Concerning findings or clues of the patient’s history are conveyed then.
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 6: Flush rate oxygen, apneic oxygenation, and ramped positioning for intubation
Do you like it when your patient desaturates just as you are getting ready to intubate them? Of course not, nobody does. Here are some tricks to help keep the sat up while you secure the airway.
Quick review of rhabdomyolysis
http://www.emdocs.net/em3am-rhabdomyolysis/
Fast facts on rhabdo.
Rescue Task Force in action at Vegas shooting
Staging during large scale attacks has a real cost in terms of lives. We must balance the tiny theoretical risk to rescuers with the huge known risk to patients who are already bleeding and dying. Rescue Task Force programs are the way to mitigate the risk and stop the clock of life threatening hemorrhage. Vegas did it right.
Epinephrine dosing in anaphylaxis when the patient is on a beta blocker
This is a great blog about all things emergency medicine. Great evidenced based articles. This episode they talk about epi dosing for anaphylaxis in patients on beta blockers. Academic Life in EM- Epinephrine
BLUF: Epi in patients with beta blockers does not cause seem to cause unopposed vasoconstriction and hypertensive crisis. Use standard doses of 0.3-0.5mg IM.
ETA: If the patient isn’t responding to epinephrine, give them IV Glucagon. It activates the same cGMP pathway in the cell. BUT you have to give higher doses than the 1mg you might have. 4-6mg, even 10 mg. And you can always go up on the epi dose!
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 5: Breaking bad news
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 4: Move over, heroin. The opiate epidemic takes a devastating new turn.
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 3: Ketamine- It cures what ails you.
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 2: An airway case, and why it helps to be prepared.
ATCEMS OMD Podcast Episode 1: Introduction, and a little philosophy.
Podcast is live! Episodes 1-4 uploaded!
First blog post
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