tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62363502040840233162024-02-02T10:07:43.018-05:00WVmedicgirl's blogHello! I'm WVmedicgirl. Thanks for reading my blog. I found this site through my sister-in-law. I felt I needed an outlet to express my thoughts and relieve a little stress. I dont expect anyone to read this, but don't mind if people do. The remarks I make are mine and are not meant to judge or offend anyone. Thanks for dropping in!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-11406777703770052382016-05-23T10:44:00.003-04:002016-05-23T10:44:39.259-04:00Community ParamedicineAfter some thought and a bit of encouragement from some folks, I decided that I would try and document some of the things I have experienced and learned since becoming a part of a Community Paramedicine Program and whatever the future holds. I am by no means a master on this subject, I am still learning new things everyday as I explore this new side of EMS and all the things that come with it.<br />
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I thought I should give a little bit of my background. My adventures as an EMS provider started in 2003 as a First Responder. I have since worked my way through EMT-Basic in 2005 to an EMT-Paramedic in 2007 and most recently earned my certification as a Community Paramedic in 2015. I began working for the System I am in now in 2008 as a field provider and in June of 2015, I began this new adventure of Community Paramedic.<br />
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The two questions I am asked most often in this position are: 1) What is Community Paramedicine and 2) How is it different from a regular Paramedic? So for my inaugural post on this subject I thought I'd start with trying to answer those questions.<br />
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<b>What is Community Paramedicine?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>The best answer I have found for this comes from The North Central EMS Institute's <a href="http://communityparamedic.org/" target="_blank">Community Paramedic website</a>:<br />
"The Community Paramedic Program closes the gap by expanding the role of EMS personnel . Through a standardized curriculum, accredited colleges and universities will train first responders at the appropriate level to serve communities more broadly in the areas of: Primary care, Public health, Disease management, Prevention and wellness, Mental health, and Oral health. The Community Paramedic Program adapts to the specific needs and resources of each community. It will succeed through the combined efforts of those that have a stake in maintaining the health and well-being of its residents."<br />
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I recommend checking out the website above for those who are interested in learning a little bit about Community Paramedics. There is access to FAQs, a Program Handbook, and talks about the standardized curriculum that has been developed for Community Paramedicine programs. It is a great starting point for information.<br />
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<b>How is a Community Paramedic different from a regular Paramedic?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>The term "Community Paramedic" has been used broadly to define EMS providers that have been trained to an expanded role (not necessarily an expanded scope of practice) to act outside of the traditional roles of emergency care and transport and include ways to promote a better use of emergency care resources and to further improve the quality of access to primary care.<br />
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No two Community Paramedicine Programs are going to be alike. These programs are designed to fit the community in which they are serving. Some may focus on specific disease processes (like CHF or asthma) while others may be focused on specific age groups (newborns or the elderly). Part of designing a Community Paramedicine Program is finding the gaps in the current systems and helping to fill those gaps.WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-32617577457273637172013-05-09T05:09:00.000-04:002013-05-09T05:09:03.363-04:00failure<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10.0pt;">I’ve been in the best mood lately…well that’s a lie. I’ve
been in a better mood is better worded. I have days where I feel like I am at the
top of the world, other days I feel like I have everyone tricked into thinking
I am ok while I feel like I am losing control or slowly slipping off the end of my rope with no knot to hang on to at the end. While I know my life is in a pretty good place right now I can’t help but feel
like someone is about to pull the rug out from underneath me. I just keep
waiting for it. I’ve had a few hiccups lately, but just waiting to fall flat on
my face, show up naked in front of a thousand strangers, that kind raw
humiliation. What kind of life is that?? Always waiting for failure? I’m
talking about in my personal life, in my work life, in my social life,
somewhere…I just feel like something is going to happen any day now…and if
anyone knows me at all, they know I like to be prepared. I’m the girl who is
usually 15-30 min early for any appointment or work, carries an umbrella in the
car just in case, extra uniform in the trunk. I like being prepared, I like
having a set schedule, I like itineraries. I hate being late, I hate being
rushed, I HATE failure. I hate
disappointing people, especially people who rely on me. </span></div>
WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-30251424284661343832013-03-01T05:07:00.000-05:002013-03-01T05:07:44.645-05:00Sometimes you have to take the bad with the goodI know that times change, people change, and life is always changing. The thing is you don't always see the changes taking place and then one day you look back a few months, a year, a few years and are shocked to see the differences. Sometimes you barely recognize the old you, your old friends who aren't even in your life anymore. Hopefully the change is for the better, a better you, a better life, a <i>happier </i>you and life. <div>
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I know that's where I am in life right now. While some changes have me stressed, like the changes at work, other changes have me grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. </div>
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Let's start with work. First off, I love my career, I love being a paramedic, that has not changed; what has changed is the environment in which I work that I used to love, that used to make you feel like part of a family. Now it feels like an ugly divorce with an even uglier custody battle. About 8 months ago we merged with the other medic unit within our hospital system, while it is the logical thing to do, it has been nothing but a heartache and a headache since. We (the medic group I was part of) went from about 8 full-time and 15 part-timers to now almost 150-175 staff total, we went from one supervisor who stood up for us, fought for us, and put us on a more then even keel with the nurses and docs in the ER, to 6 white shirts (which he was initially one of, until he felt it best to step down 3 months later leaving us with 5 white shirts). The supervisors that barely take the time to learn your name let alone recognize your face if they saw you in public. When issues came about in the ER, it felt like we just got blamed instead of them standing up for us, like our previous supervisor had. Sure, we got a pretty new truck with the merge, a truck we had been begging for for 6 years and the promise of like-new, refurbished monitors (which have yet to be seen still at this point). The management has left a lot to be desired at this point, not just by me but by several. This particular medic company has been around for 30 years and has always produced many prideful medics, who worked for this company for 10-15 years, some even longer. The morale of this place used to be amazing, they were considered to be elite medics in this area. And now? Now nobody gives a damn, people are looking for other jobs, people have taken other jobs. New management has been cleaning house, firing folks who aren't following the rules. They have decided to cut our staff form 4 medics 24/7 to 3. 3 paramedics to cover the entire county! There is so much more!! I just feel like this is going to impact the community in a negative way. But I'm just pee-on. I come in, do my job, go home and collect my paycheck and just be grateful that I have a job. </div>
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Ok, enough negativity! Positive changes have been happening too. My little sister is expecting a baby boy in June! Its her first child and my 3rd niece/nephew. I am so excited! As if that news wasn't exciting enough my sister-in-law announced last week that she too is pregnant and due in August! (sex of the baby is yet to be known) I have been making amends with my biological mother, we have had a couple phone conversation on the last couple weeks and had some very heartfelt conversations. I had a lot of anger and frustrations that I simply just had to let go, otherwise I'd lose that relationship forever, and I honestly didn't want that. I've been in a relationship for close to 6 months now with the most amazing man. He is the kindest, funniest, gentlest, and most honest man I have ever known, besides my father. Did I mention he's rather handsome? (This is where he says "The generosity of women never ceases to amaze me") I would never say these things let alone blog them of I didn't believe them. </div>
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So these days I try to focus more on the good, and less on the bad, because after all, what can I do about it? Absolutely nothing!! </div>
WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-42591844244161259672012-11-11T00:29:00.001-05:002012-11-11T00:29:43.081-05:00Thank you Veterans!What does Veterans Day mean to me?<br />
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That's the question I kept asking myself while writing this post. I know this day is to honor ALL veterans of all branches of the military.<br />
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I am currently dating a veteran, he served as an MP in the US Army in several places including Bosnia, Italy, and Fort Myer in Washington, DC. I have a close friend from high school currently serving in the Army. I have an ex-boyfriend who served in Iraq as an Army Reserve Medic. I have several friends who have served and are still serving in the Army, USAF, Navy, Air Guard, and Reserves. Both my father and my grandfather served in the military, my father resigned as a MSgt. in the United States Air Force. I have several childhood memories that take place on an Air Force base.<br />
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So again, what does Veterans Day mean to me? It means respect and honor and remembrance of people I love and care about and those who served with them, before them, and after them and those still serving today.<br />
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So<i><b> please </b></i>take the time and thank a veteran, thank them for the sacrifices they made for the freedoms you and I have today, cause <i>THAT</i> is what Veterans Day means to me.WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-30377829687289353092012-11-06T03:24:00.006-05:002013-03-01T04:37:48.537-05:00the unexpectedBeing in EMS we all know things don't always go as planned. You can try to prepare, but sometimes things take you by surprise. Hurricane Sandy was one of those surprises. I have always wanted to go to EMS World, well for a few years now anyhow. I've just never had the means. Well, this year was the same until I was donating money at a local fundraiser (ok I was playing bingo, I admit it!) and I won a nice little chunk of change, enough to allow me to purchase a plane ticket anyways. I talked to a few friends who were going and the stars aligned just right and I was offered a place to sleep so I could attend this year (felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity to me!) and it meant I could attend the wedding of a friend, MsParamedic!! Well, then Sandy hit. I was worried about my flight, I was watching it like a hawk...then I got the news...the friend who had offered me a place to sleep was stuck in NJ with no place to go until Saturday!! By then it would be too late. He tried to make alternate arrangements for me, I tried to make alternate arrangements for me, but I had no extra money to afford a hotel for myself, and everyone who was already there was so wrapped up in the conference and the events surrounding it no one was able to get back to us. I had a decision to make...as much as it pained me and disappointed me, I cancelled my flights 8 hours before I was to board my plane. I'm not going to lie...I cried...a lot for the first 12 hours...then I realized something...what the hell was my problem? I had a roof over my head, heat in my house, electricity, food, water. There were people a mere 4 hours from me who did not have these things, people that I know, people I call friends!! I had friends in New York and New Jersey who were suffering a hell of a lot more than me because of this horrific storm. People had lost their homes, their savings, their LIVES, and I was upset because I couldn't go on a trip! I was being so selfish and self-centered! So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to pray for those in need. I couldn't do much else for them. I tried to reach out to those I could on Facebook and Twitter and let them know I was thinking about them and praying for them. And I just kept reminding myself just how damn lucky I was and how good I have it...WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-72591192393038829572012-05-15T04:36:00.001-04:002012-11-11T00:37:56.214-05:00making a differenceMost of us can remember why we started this career. And most of the time it was help people, to make a difference in someone's life. We have all learned that making a difference doesn't happen everyday. Occasionally we run that call that we know we have all trained for and that training pays off. I once had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful lady. Our meeting was unfortunate for her. This woman was a nurse of 50 years, still practicing 2-3 nights a week in the local prison. The night of our meeting she was attempting to go to bed when she began having a pressure in her chest. She thought it was just gas from a soda she had earlier in the evening. In just over an hour the pain and pressure increased dramatically, radiating to her neck, shoulder, arm, and back and then she got nauseated and sick. She decided she was just going to try and tough it out until her son-in-law heard her vomiting and checked on her and immediately called 911.<br />
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Upon my arrival BLS had just gotten an initially set of vitals. All it took was one look and my gut shouted "not good". Placed a 4 lead on this woman and immediately did not like what I saw and proceeded with a 12 lead. Within 5 min of being on scene I knew this woman, who had very little past medical history, was having a heart attack. My BLS crew helped her onto a stair chair and out of the house and down the stairs to stretcher while I called Medical Command at the local hospital and spoke to a Dr. who had received the 12 lead I sent and agreed this pt needed a cath lab and to proceed to the heart hospital, a mere 30 miles away, but that takes the better part of an hour, even with lights and sirens.</div>
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I fell back on my education and got my thoughts in gear. Zofran given IM before we moved pt to prevent any more vomiting, ASA given orally as pt was being moved into stairchair, IV placed on first try as soon as pt was in the ambulance, and then I began the NTG SL sprays and morphine administration. While my pt remained in a lot of discomfort throughout the transport, I did my best to make her as comfortable as possible. The receiving facility knew we were coming and had received 2 EKGs prior to my arrival, one directly form me and another faxed from the local hospital I bypassed. They also received a phone update from me while enroute. I was greeted by 3 doctors, 2 nurses, and an ER Tech all prepared to help my patient. </div>
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During the ride I got to know my patient a little better. She told me of her nursing career of 50+ years, and how she enjoys keeping herself busy by working at the prison infirmary 2-3 nights a week. She was concerned about not making it to her next scheduled shift the next night. She also told me she was expecting her first great grandchild, a girl, very soon, that the baby shower was next weekend, and she didn't want to miss it. It wasn't until we were about 3/4 of the way there that she looked me straight in the eye and asked "Is it possible I am having a heart attack?" It was at that moment that I realized 1) I hadn't made it clear to her that she was and 2) I had kept my cool so well that she was unaware of just how serious her condition was. I looked right back in the eye and said "Yes ma'am. You are having a heart attack, but I guarantee I am doing everything I can to help decrease your pain and that I am taking you to the most appropriate place for you to be to fix it."</div>
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Normally a patient in this condition would go immediately to the cath lab, but due to another patient already on the table there, the ER team did their best to make my patient as comfortable as possible until they were able to get her in. The patient had to have thanked myself and the ambulance crew a dozen times during the handoff process. </div>
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I have the capability to follow up on patients that I take to this particular facility, so the next day I followed up and found she had a 100% blockage in her RCA. </div>
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It's patients and calls like this that remind me why I continue to do this job even when we run the frequent flyers, the drug seekers, and all the other calls we consider "BS". This woman will most likely walk out of the hospital and return to her busy life, her nursing job, and that great grandbaby that is coming so soon...</div>
WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-79042869211912628682012-03-05T01:57:00.000-05:002012-03-05T01:57:18.215-05:00EMSToday 2012 overviewJust got back from JEMS EMS Today 2012 this morning. It was a blast as always! It was so great to see old friends, make new ones and have fun while learning new things, seeing new products, and just having some great conversations with some amazing folks. I have so much going through my mind right now. The biggest thing that hit home for me this year was EMS 2.0. I have known about EMS 2.0 for a while now, but something clicked this weekend for me. While I had known about it, I didn't fully understand what it was until I tried to explain it to my best friend, an aspiring paramedic student. When she had questions I couldn't answer I went back and did more reading and research and a whole lot of listening this weekend. I finally get it! AND...I want to help! I want to do more than share a post here and there on Facebook and Twitter. I want to be an advocate, I want to learn more and understand what is going on with my profession, I want to make my way to the front lines! I would never have even heard of this if it hadn't been for the <a href="http://www.firstrespondersnetwork.com/" target="_blank">First Responders Network</a> folks, Scott Kier, Sam Bradley, Justin Schorr, Ted Setla,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Paul Bahnik, Cayce Justus, Maddog Medic, Patrick Lickiss, Random Ward, James Brasiel</span> </span>and all the others closely involved!<br />
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Ok, I have more stuff to talk about from EMSToday 2012 but am hoping to make another post about it.<br />
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As always, thanks for stopping by!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-21353186458885357822011-09-26T23:25:00.002-04:002011-09-26T23:25:02.763-04:00Count your blessings...oftenWow, Blogger changed its look...don't know if I like it yet or not. I'm not very technologically inclined, so once I get used to something I like it and find change hard sometimes, like the new facebook...HATE it, but that's life I suppose. Life changes...a lot. I was slapped in the face with a reality today, that I should be a LOT more grateful than I tend to be. An old friend of mine messaged me today to tell me he had been involved in a very bad car wreck, he is fine, but there was a fatality in the other vehicle, a young high school student, she was the passenger in the vehicle her mother was driving when her mother swerved to miss a rear-end collision in her lane on a small highway and crossed the center line resulting in a head on collision with my friend. Talk about a miracle that my dear friend is ok, I cant even begin to imagine what that mother must feel like, to know her actions to save herself and her child resulted in her daughters death. Immediately after hearing about this you know what I did? I called Daddy and Mom, that's right, I turned to my parents, the 2 people in the world that I know will always be there for me, no matter what. I had a wonderful conversation with them. Talked about how Mom isn't feeling the greatest, has a stomach bug. Talked about my siblings, how my sisters have decided to move in with each other for a little while, and about 2 of the greatest kids I know- my niece and nephew and how they got to spend a few days with Pap and Doh (my folks) and went to the marble festival, and rode the ferry across the Ohio river and how unimpressed a 6 year old can be while a 3 year old is simply fascinated. Family has always meant a lot to me, which makes me wonder how I can <i>forget</i> to be so thankful.<br />
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Life in general has been pretty good for me lately. I quit a part time job that wasn't making me happy and in turn started a new one that I am still deciding about. I met an amazing guy when I had decided that I had more important things in life to worry about than dating. I might be 27 ( for a whole 12 days now...lol) but I have not had a lot of experience in the dating world. I didn't date in high school, and my Junior year in college met a guy that I thought was IT, we dated for 3 years and turns out I was wrong. It never ceases to amaze me how people are put into our lives, some longer or shorter than others, for so many different reasons, for encouragement, support, advice, and sometimes for heartache or for us to make a bad decision so that when the right folks show up we can make the right decisions, to make those friends that last a lifetime.<br />
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Its realizations like these things that make you check in with yourself. Are you happy? Are you living life to the fullest? Are you taking life for granted? There have been several reasons lately to remind me to be thankful. Multiple friends diagnosed with cancer, a family member who had a cyst on his brain that had to be drained, a friend who can pick right up where things left off last time she saw you, 4 months ago, and another friend who can probably use a shoulder because she got her heartbroken on top of struggling through a difficult school program so she can reach a goal in her life.<br />
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I definitely need to remember to count my blessings, and should probably do it more often, not just when a friend has a close call or a bad day....WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-81860830055391905422011-08-21T04:38:00.000-04:002011-08-21T04:38:36.438-04:00slacker, I know!I was called out today about slacking on my blog...truth is I have been. I dont really have an excuse...life has just been going...a lot happened at the end of March in personal life which made me have to change some things. I lost what I considered to be a good friend, and not to death but to lies and deceit. She was evicted from our house, leaving me to pick up the pieces, the bills, and the trash. I have to say life has gotten better since she has been gone. The last few months she was around were not good ones for me. It also made me take a closer look into my life...I have re-evaluated the relationships I have with people, my goals in life, both personal and professional.<br />
I have been asked by several people why I chose to be a paramedic, why not be a nurse? Even my own folks have asked me this. Truth is, I am not sure, but I do know I love what I do. I know a lot of people who are burned out or well on their way there, but I still feel like I am still learning the ropes even though I have been a paramedic for 4 years and in EMS for 8. While I'm not a "dinosaur" I am not quite the newbie I once was. I try to keep up with EMS news and all my Twitter folk and fellow bloggers are helpful with that. I was hoping to make it to Vegas for the EMS World Expo this year, even applied for a scholarship but wasn't a luck winner. I will post my essay in blog for reading later...I promise. WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-53917188464466983192011-08-21T04:27:00.000-04:002011-08-21T04:27:56.901-04:00EMSToday re-capSo I realized that I still had not posted my re-cap of EMSToday and it has been well overdue! I got to be part of a surprise visit of SSGJBroyles. I got to hangout with several of the CoEMS folks for food, drinks, and even some karaoke. These folks included, but may not have been limited to, the following: SSGJBroyles, Gingermedic, Ambulance Driver, Hybridmedic, TraumaSheares, SES4EMS, CKEMTP, The Happy Medic, Setla, NJDivemedic, and many more!<br />
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I started this post about month after EMSToday and am just now getting it published....I know, I'm such a slacker!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-8883941843646295222011-03-27T23:20:00.002-04:002011-03-27T23:21:26.487-04:00Designer DrugsIt amazes me the things kids, or people in general, manage to get themselves into these days. Behind us are the days of simply doing crack, cocaine, heroine, etc. These days people are into synthetic drugs and alternatives. First there was <a href="http://www.livescience.com/6149-fake-weed-real-drug-k2-causing-hallucinations-teens.html">K2</a>, now folks are sniffing, snorting, injecting, or even eating <a href="http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/366638">bath salts</a> and taking <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/18/earlyshow/living/parenting/main20044667.shtml">2 C-E</a>, a synthetic version of Ecstasy. Unfortunately, there isn't much we as EMS providers can do except treat the symptoms, we have nothing in our arsenal of drugs to counteract these "designer drugs", as they have been coined. <br />
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So tell me, what are you and your company doing, if anything, to prepare for this? If you aren't seeing it yet, I have a feeling you will be soon....WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-58939926522843420422011-03-27T22:28:00.000-04:002011-03-27T22:28:53.846-04:00slow and steadyWeight loss is hard. End of story. I have been working on this for a while now and am trying to keep the blog updated with it among other things. Tonights weigh-in is 284.7! Still heading in the right direction. I have been doing my best to get to the gym and watch what I eat, but there are lazy days and days I just eat what I want instead of what I should...I suppose moderation is key... Check back in later for more updates!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-23848982275756933922011-03-11T19:33:00.001-05:002011-03-27T22:22:44.406-04:00a good read...Another amazing read form yet another amazing friend from the Chronicles of EMS family. Please read! (You might need a tissue or two...)<br />
<a href="http://njdivemedic.blogspot.com/2011/03/veterans-day.html?showComment=1299889878658#c7741651490581049868">http://njdivemedic.blogspot.com/2011/03/veterans-day.html?showComment=1299889878658#c7741651490581049868</a>WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-65008902257536085352011-03-11T02:06:00.002-05:002011-03-27T22:22:59.057-04:00No disapointments...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">"Eat that damn chocolate cake, get your hair wet, love someone, dance in those muddy puddles, tell someone off, draw a picture with crayons like you’re still 6 years old and then give it to someone who is very important to you. Take a nap, go on vacation, do a cartwheel, make your own recipe, dance like no one sees you, paint each nail a different color, take a bubble bath, laugh at a corny joke. Get on that table and dance, pick strawberries, take a jog, plant a garden, make an ugly shirt and wear it all day, learn a new language, write a song, date someone you wouldn’t usually go for, make a scrap book, go on a picnic, relax in the sun, make your own home video, kiss the un-kissed, hug the un-hugged, love the unloved, and live your life to the fullest. So when you’re standing in front of heaven’s gate that chosen day, you’ll have no regrets, no sorrows, no disappointments."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Can't remember where I cam across this, pretty sure it was off of "and its love" tumblr. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">I found this a while ago and had completely forgotten about it until I rediscovered it again tonight. It really got me thinking about a lot of things in my life, particularly my professional life. I have have been in EMS for about 7 years. I started off as a First Responder and I fell in love, after a year I took an EMT class while in college and I fell more in love, so much so that after 2 years I decided I wanted to be a paramedic. I worked hard, studied enough to get by, and here I am. I have been a paramedic for almost 3 years. I started off as a transport medic, a world completely separate from 911. While I was working as a transport medic I was also volunteering in a small rural college town as a paramedic. I was learning both sides, comparing them, trying to learn as much as I could and use it in both realms. I fell in love with both worlds, and decided my "dream job" would be to be able to do both in the same job, but little did I know that was actually a possibility. A year after I got my P-card I just happened to apply for a job 70 miles and 2 states away, assuming Id never even get an interview, but it couldnt hurt. Well long story short, I got the interview and the job, packed up my things and moved to a world where I had no friends and no family. I wasnt worried about that, I am good at making new friends, and family was just a few hundred miles away. Today I still work in a hospital based 911 system, and I made those new friends, some that I even consider family. I love my job, and I want to be the best paramedic I can be, I want to be better than I am, because I know I am capable of more. I feel like I am being held back though. I have learned how to network, I have people I can reach out to for questions, or articles to read, to get me thinking, heck thats how I ended up here with a blog. But I want to do more, I want to learn more. Unfortunately because the hospital system I work for offers all classes required for my job taking extra classes I am responsible for on my own. I only wish I could have the financial resources to attend more conferences to actually attend classes instead of just driving to Baltimore for a day (after all its only 50 miles) and visiting for a day and socializing and networking in the exhibit hall. I didnt even have a chance to attend the free classes...part of that is scheduling, working 60 hours a week cuts into free time. I know there are people less fortunate than me who cant even do those kinds of things. I wish there were several programs, grants, scholarships, or something for EMS folks to help them continue to educate themselves on new trends and topics. Heck, back where I grew up they just got a monitor capable of 12 leads in the last 6 months!! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Anyways, the whole point of this, I am vowing to myself to start reading more articles, discussing with more folks, and hopefully attending some more events where I can ask questions, discuss topics, and have some hands on experiences with new products, not just for myself, but so that I can bring them back to work and share. I feel like my coworkers are not just comfortable in their jobs but might be becoming complacent. I know I am comfortable where I am, and scared as hell that I might become complacent and thats where the problems are....</span></span>WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-42956780839222524752011-03-07T05:34:00.001-05:002011-03-27T22:23:12.753-04:00Ok, I know it has been a while. Life has been crazy and hectic. I am hoping to get something up here soon about my recent experience with the wonderful CoEMS family and time spent socializing/networking at EMSToday 2011.<br />
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As always, thanks for stopping by!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-89194159435298425942011-01-22T05:10:00.000-05:002011-01-22T05:10:56.363-05:00update on lifeSo I have really been lacking on this blog. But I guess life has its own plans and sometimes we just get swept up into it. So heres what I have been doing: I am still working my 60 hrs a week. I am looking at possibly quitting my part time job of 24 hours a week as a transport medic to babysit 16 hrs a week for one of the cutest babies I have seen, I interviewed with the parents yesterday and am waiting to hear what they think and what they are willing to pay. (I think I'll be happier doing that at less pay...I am afraid of burnout.) As far as my weight loss efforts go I weighed in at 288lbs on Wednesday. So still slowly losing....I actually made it to the gym once this week, was going to go again, but ended up with a terrible GI bug that landed me in the ER for some fluids and meds. I have NEVER had stomach pain that bad. Things with the roommate are still tense. I was under the impression (from the landlord) she was getting evicted but she doesnt seem to think so... We barely talk these days except for polite hellos and goodbyes and how are you's. Buddy, my trusty canine sidekick, is doing pretty well. I will be calling the vet this week to get him a check-up, his eyes are starting to look a little funky and I just wanna make sure he is ok. In the dating world I met a guy named Ian recently who seems like a really nice guy. Taking things one day at a time, not rushing into anything or getting my hopes up. Im tired of being hurt and used. So thats about it, exciting life I know.... Thanks for stopping in and checking on me!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-66105935993384025842011-01-07T06:36:00.000-05:002011-01-07T06:36:09.460-05:00Apparently I have the words "sucker" or "doormat" or something similar written across my forehead in ink that I can not see and cant seem to wash off either. I am so sick and tired of people taking advantage of me, lying to me, and leading me in directions just to leave me lost and alone. I am hanging on to the end of a rope and I am tiring rather quickly. Just when it seems I am moving forward in a positive direction someone feels the need to push me down or trip me. These people range from my closest friend to people I just met, to my own relative. <br />
I am a good and kind person. I help out my friends in need, I lend a shoulder to cry to on, an ear to talk to without judgment or advice. In return, I feel used and unappreciated. <br />
I have tried to focus on just me, to try and heal myself, to better myself, but Im not that person. Im the person people call at 3am to come and pick them up. Im the person who will drop whatever I am doing to hold your hand through a rough time, to bring a box of tissues when the tears start to fall. <br />
I love the person I am. I am not afraid to show my emotions, but I am afraid to tell you how I feel, afraid I'll lose a friend. But maybe you werent a friend to begin with....<br />
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Well, I am done. I am done. We all know I say that but that I will just suck it up, pretend everything is ok. Thats what I do. Its what Im good at. When I find that person who can tell the difference, I know I will have found a real friend.WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-31204619236421779622010-12-02T02:53:00.000-05:002010-12-02T02:53:16.246-05:00RIP WCO David Grove, LODD 11/11/10Recently a young, thriving Wildlife Conservation Officer was killed in the line of duty, just doing his job, all because someone was breaking the law, again, and didn't want to pay the consequences. Well Officer Grove, I hope justice is served for your death and I sincerely hope that peace will come to you friends, family, and all of those affected by this. I unfortunately did not have the honor of meeting you, but I have not heard anything negative about you.<br />
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here are just a few links with some details about the incident fro any of you who are interested:<br />
<a href="http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_16704513">http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_16704513</a><br />
<a href="http://outdoornews.com/pennsylvania/news/article_7d67f462-ee7b-11df-aaed-001cc4c03286.html">http://outdoornews.com/pennsylvania/news/article_7d67f462-ee7b-11df-aaed-001cc4c03286.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/news/article_471a3988-ee71-11df-ae2c-001cc4c03286.html">http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/news/article_471a3988-ee71-11df-ae2c-001cc4c03286.html</a>WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-32730797717995728732010-11-14T19:49:00.000-05:002010-11-14T19:49:13.329-05:00IKDG Chapter 1 reviewOk, So like I mentioned earlier I plan on writing some thoughts about <u>I Kissed Dating Goodbye</u> by Joshua Harris as I read it. I finished the first chapter along with the study guide this week. <br />
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The first chapter teaches about "smart love". It refers to Phillipians 1:9-10 which states "God not only wants me to act differently, He wants me to think differently- to view love, purity, and singleness from His perspective, to have a new lifestyle and attitude." In smart love we must use our heads as well as our hearts. Mr Harris says "By avoiding romance before God tells me I'm ready for it, I can better serve girls as a friend, and I can remain free to keep my focus on the Lord. [...] God wants us to seek guidance from scriptural truth, not feeling. Smart love looks beyond personal desires and the gratification of the moment. It looks at the big picture: serving others and glorifying God." Mr. Harris also uses two other scriptures in this chapter: Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:2.<br />
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I am using the study guide designed by Joshua Harris as I read this book, reading and answering the questions in a notebook as I go. I am not going to write and answer the questions on here as they get lengthy and somewhat personal, but I will however include bits and pieces. As I mentioned in a previous post the first time I read this book as a 15 year old freshman in high school, I was very innocent and naive at that time. I think that reading this book 11 years later will most definitely give me a different perspective. Ten years ago I had difficulty just getting past the title, who would <em>want</em> to kiss dating goodbye? Certainly not me, I hadn't even begun dating yet! Today is a little different, I have had relationships, some serious, some not so serious, some that last for several years, others only hours long. I currently am not dating, but sometimes I feel as if I am missing out on something, so I am re-reading this book in hopes of renewing my faith and personal relationship with Christ, making it better than it was in high school. In the last several years my focus has not been in the right place. My focus has been on myself, my roommate, work, family, everything <em>but</em> God. I have forgotten who it is I should be trying to please, not myself, not others, but God and <em>only</em> God and in return I will be blessed by Him. This chapter, and the Philippians verse (1:9-10) challenges.encourages me to learn what and how to "love appropriately" so that I can love intelligently, love much, and love well, to avoid "sentimental gush".<br />
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Joshua states on last statement in the study guide that I feel pertinent to remember "Obedience to God looks boring- pursuing the world and its pleasures appears tantalizing." We have to remember while it may appear tantalizing now, the effects of being obedient to God will have much bigger and better results in the end.<br />
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Thanks for reading, and if anyone would like to discuss this book, I'd love to, feel free to contact me!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-29710325283840210642010-11-11T23:17:00.000-05:002010-11-11T23:17:58.487-05:00IKDG #1I have decided to re-read a book I read in high school with a group of girls called <u>I Kissed Dating Goodbye</u> by Joshua Harris. It is a book that gives a very interesting look at Dating, or not dating and courting instead, all based in a Christian setting. I remember bits and pieces of this book, but it has been 10 years since I have read it and have a lot of life changing experiences since last reading it. I plan on blogging about the book, my opinions and anything I may learn as I read. I already know that I may not agree with everything Mr Harris may have to say but I am interested in how different my opinions are now opposed to when I was 15 years old and reading this book for the first time. Thanks for stopping by!WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-25897147754793232932010-11-02T04:25:00.001-04:002010-11-02T05:12:20.613-04:00The next music star in my family...<div>This is a video of me niece, shot by my sister-in-law</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><a href="http://thetuelfamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/take-me-home-country-roads.html?spref=bl">Ben, Laura, Ted & Sophie: take me home, country roads</a>: "Sophie has learned a new song. Again, not out of us directly teaching her. Just out of pure exposure. The other day at Giant Eagle, Country ..."WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-31314461356878248282010-11-02T03:19:00.000-04:002010-11-02T03:19:29.539-04:00You can't treat what you don't seeI have noticed recently a disturbing trend with the BLS crews I that I work with regularly, they aren't doing full assessments. They aren't getting the full story. They are too worried with response times, on scene times, and turn around times, or they just seem like they don't care. This can make my job as an ALS provider difficult, especially if they are rendezvousing with me between the scene and the hospital, there's no family to tell me the story and the patient is unable to or is a poor historian, which in turn makes me look like the imbecile upon arriving at the hospital and telling the nurse nothing more than a generic chief complaint with no pt history, meds, or even allergies sometimes, just what I found in my assessment and what I did to treat my patient.<br />
This doesn't apply only to medical patients, I have had run ins on trauma calls as well. (These are not every call events, but I am hoping its not a new trend either) Crews not getting a full story and by time I meet the BLS crew the helicopter is already 5-10 min out, I know my pt has some sort of traumatic injury, and the pt is still dressed. I have 5-10 min to assess the injuries (including exposing the patient so I can properly assess injuries), try to gather a story if any family is present, or hopefully peek at the vehicle (if I meet crew on scene), and start treatment.<br />
I am sure I am not the only person to struggle with this. I am not trying to whine or complain here, just want to figure out a way I can reach out to these folks and express the importance of a full, proper assessment, no matter how minor the "emergency" may seem, no matter how close to the hospital you are, or how hard the adrenaline has your heart pumping. Our care needs to be more patient focused and less focused on turn around times or the fact that a patient is a frequent flyer.<br />
Each patient deserves our very best, each and every time.WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-13038837716691212102010-11-01T04:49:00.000-04:002010-11-01T04:49:13.427-04:00spiritual growth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6d5e5f; font-family: 'century gothic', monospace; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I have recently decided to renew my relationship with God. I used to be very close to Him and over the last 8 years I have strayed away and even defied Him in so many ways. While trying to figure out how to this I have encountered several websites, blogs, and have even had the opportunity to meet new people and have have very insightful conversations with old friends. One blog in particular that I have found is a blog by a woman named <a href="http://throughhimredeemed.blogspot.com/">Erin Taylor</a>. I found her blog through </span></span><a href="http://www.sheseeks.org/">http://www.sheseeks.org/</a>. <br />
In one of her blog entries Erin states<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6d5e5f; font-family: 'century gothic', monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> "If I were to lean into my Prince would He not guide me in the waltz we call life? Would it not be the most beautiful dance ever choreographed?" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'century gothic', monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Those two sentences hit me like a ton of bricks. It is so true. Erin also says <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6d5e5f; font-family: 'century gothic', monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Today I rest in that I am valuable simply because I am His. He chose me. He loves me and I am whole. When life spirals I white knuckle those truths and step one foot in front of the other in the race He has called me, just me, to run."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'century gothic', monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> This reminds me that I need to let go so much more. Most days I feel like I am letting God run the show when in reality I am trying to do all the directing. I have been holding on to MY life and living it MY way, to benefit ME and to do things on MY time. It took Erin's blog entry and a recent conversation with a new friend for me to recognize this. I should be spending more time listening to God and living a life for Him than for myself. My thoughts before my actions shouldn't be "how will this affect me?" or "what do I want out of this" but instead just leaving the "how", "what" and most importantly "why" up to God. </span>WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-8959875735217846822010-10-14T13:45:00.000-04:002010-10-14T13:45:23.031-04:00RIP PFC Cody Board<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://fromcowpasturestokosovo.blogspot.com/2010/10/oklahoma-turnpike-authority-denies-free.html">Its a sad day in our country when a soldier who died for our country can't even make it to his final resting place in peace! </a></span>WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6236350204084023316.post-11513775410727377502010-09-28T04:51:00.000-04:002010-09-28T04:51:14.553-04:00a friend and a prayer<div class="MsoNormal">It amazes me how you can find a friend in someone you never thought you would. Tonight I was chatting with a friend who works as an emt at a local fd that I run mutual aid with as a medic and we had what was a very emotional conversation for me and I don’t think they even knew it. We got on the topic of how I have wanted to lose weight for some time now but I feel like it doesn’t matter what I do it either doesn’t work or only for a little bit. I was not expecting to get nearly as emotional as I did. I found myself not just shedding a tear or two at how kind he was being and how encouraging he was trying to be but I found myself sobbing, sitting in the medic office at work crying like a damn blubbering fool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a person who until tonight I considered only an acquaintance of work. It was great joy to learn they could be a source of encouragement and motivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had so much going on in my personal life that I feel like I am losing control, slowly but surely. I feel like I was spun in circles and let loose in a dark room with a lot of random objects to run into and stumble over. I have tried deep breathing, I have tried reading, I tried throwing myself into my Bible, but I feel like either its not working or Im not doing it right. This is the second time I have ended up crying today…earlier was in public while at the doctor office and I have no idea what provoked it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God,</div><div class="MsoNormal">Please help me! Guide me closer to you, if I can give all my burdens to you and live for you then everything else won’t matter! I need to shed myself of the things that are standing between you and me, the things that I have let into my life and run it instead of listening to your plan.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Amen</div>WVmedicgirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06022753097434709358noreply@blogger.com0