Back to the Books

This week has started out just like the last few weeks...a lot of reading. The amount of reading here is no where close to the amount I have at home, but, having not been in any real class situation for about a month and a half, I am getting pretty lazy with the work.

What I am not getting lazy with is reading about the new EMS developments from home. Whether it be NinthBrain or EMS 2.0 its all looking like a whole new beginning for EMS quality improvement (QI) and quality assurance (QA). People in general tend to view EMS as a necessary component to any society...and why not? We have flashing lights and sirens and we show up at your house in your time of greatest vulnerability, but what people tend not to think is "how well educated are these guys? What tools do they have at their disposal to make them the best?" People see a uniform and, for most people that is, believe that the person in that uniform is a professional who does this job for a living...right? Well, EMS is still not a profession folks and it will probably take some time for that to happen; however, in the meantime we here in EMS squads around the US need to think about how we can best control our QI and QA. We need to ask ourselves "how do we make a good EMT/Paramedic?" I don't have nearly the amount of experience as say Medic999 or The Happy Medic, but I have some small ideas on how we can improve the overall system. The main idea is that instead of thinking so big so quickly about getting recognition from the government, why not start small and build our way up? Yes, the process takes longer (it will take just as long getting across any Congressman's desk), but its a great place to start. We need to show how EMS affects not only the government, but the individuals we are speaking to in government...How are we an asset to national security? How do we fit in to the national security response system? How, on an individual level, do we fit as an addition to public safety? These are all questions that need to be seriously thought about before bringing our ideas to any government member's table and I am sure most if not all have already been answered by the veterans of EMS. Starting on a small, state government level, allows us to gain credibility within our own states and gives a starting point at which point we can then approach the big wigs of American politics. I will ask one question though, to what point are we trying to nationalize EMS? Every system has their own standards, protocols, etc. so would it not be a smart idea to initially approach state government with each state EMS lobbying for their own individual needs? I have read about this dilemma of EMS 2.0 in a few other blogs and it seems that state government is the best approach until someone with great wisdom is able to develop a nationalized system under which EMS can function.

Anyway, that was a long rant. As for Israel, the weather remains nice and warm with a continuing, though lessening, veil of haze that continues to sweep through Haifa daily. At night it usually clearer. Hopefully, by the end of this week I will have confirmation for myself as to whether or not I am going to go to Petra or the Sinai. Both are enticing, however, at the moment I am leaning towards Petra so I can go to the Sinai and really spend time around the Giza pyramids and such.