Vegas, Baby!

So the common saying is "what happens in vegas, stays in Vegas!"

In our case this will be untrue.  We are here for PALS and the EMS World Expo and these certainly will not be staying in Vegas, rather shared with everyone at Medic One!

We had a few days off finalising our week of leave and then it was into work. The first stop being a PALS Provider course for Wade and Janine and a PALS Instructor Course for Wade.

It was recommended that we contacted three companies who would likely be able to assist us. (Un)Fortunately it turned out that only one of the three companies contacted responded to our enquiries.  This was Complete Medical Consultants:

http://completemedicalconsultants.com/

CMC is a small business not unlike Medic One and has traditionally provided training services but has also moved in to clinical services.  In this case a nurse practitioner led medical practice.  CMC is managed by husband and wife team Scott and Lynette Lamprecht.  Scott is a nurse practitioner and hold a doctorate in nursing, so officially is Dr Scott.  Scott is the Chief Clinical Educator and was to be our PALS instructor, while Lynette manages the office.

Scott has also done some cutting edge research on Sudden Cardiac Arrest Screening in Adolescent Athletes.  Expect this to be a game changer.

The welcome that we received at CMC was nothing short of amazing.  We honstly felt part of the "family" from the moment we walked in the door.  The facilities were great too.

However the real standout was the quality of the training. It is fair to say that all AHA classes should be the same in content and this is true. However, where the trainign can differ is in the passion and knowedge of the instructors.  Nothing could be more true for CMC.  Scott obviously knew his subject matter well and was a true champion for PALS.  Also shining through was his passion to help others to be more proficient and professional at their jobs.  

Medic One is most happy to reccomend CMC if your are in Las Vegas and needing clinical education, a medical consulation or any of the AHA programs!

Thanks guys! 

On our way to Vegas....

After the Grand Canyon, on our way to Vegas, we travelled via Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park.  Both beautiful areas of the world.  There will be hundreds on Gb of pictures to share on our return.

While making our way through Utah towards Nevada we decided to stop for coffee in a small town called St George.  After successfully obtaining a Quad Vinti Late from Starbucks, we were just about to get back on the Interstate, when the though crossed our minds - StatPacks boxes come to Medic One from St George, Utah.  Its plainly written on the packaging!

A quick google search had the address up and TomTom was kind enough to provide the directions.  Turns out we had landed a mere 5km from the Warehouse.  Although when we arrived the warehouse had been closed for 15 minutes.  We were able to snag an employee exiting the building and gained entry where we met Scott Barber, one of the StatPacks partners.  We were treated to a tour of the warehouse and got to see the entire range.  

It may surprise some, but StatPacks not only supplies medical bags but also an impressive camera bag range (of which Janine and Wade both own several models) and a range of sporting bags.

Some Travel

It has been a little while since we have posted.  We apologise for this, but our days have been pretty hectic.

After leaving Phoenix, we continued our Annual LEave, and travelled to Sedona, Arizona.  Sedona is known as Red Rock Country and looking at the pictures below it is easy to see why...

From Sedona we travelled towards the Grand Canyon, with a stop Bearizona on the way.  Bearizona is an animal park/zoo where you can see some famous American wildlife including brown and black bears, wolves and bison amongst others.

Then we travelled to the Canyon where we spent a couple of days looking at the sights.  Some of the canyon is only accessible via a very busy bus service.  Presumably there were too many cars driving along the busy road and with sometimes narrow roads and very little parking  it is easy to see why such a decision was made.  Although, we did have to wait 15 mins to board the first bus, during the off season, so there may be a large wait at other times.  It was good service though with commentary on board.

The Canyon is spectacular and rivals any natural sight I have seen.  The mighty Colorado River looks but a stream at the base of the canyon!

EMS and Hospitals

This is the EMS room in a hospital in Scottsdale.  It has desks and chairs for EMS to write up their reports.  A fridge containing cool drinks, water and fruit juice.  A coffee machine.  A cupboard with snacks.  And an EMS only toilet.

Just this hospitals way of making things easy for EMS...

RIde-Along with Mesa Fire and Medical

Its been a while since we last posted as we have had some hotel wi-fi that has been rather difficult to use to get to Blogger.  But here we are...

Last week, Wade went on a ride-along with Mesa Fire and Medical.  The Mesa fire department had recently changed its name to better reflect its work.  With 85% of all calls being medical, the name Mesa Fire and Medical was more appropriate.

I was based at Station 201, which is the main station for the City of Mesa and being one of 25 stations.  Station 201 houses a Ladder, Engine, Rehab/Specialist Unit and a District Chief.  The station had 10 staff on while I was on duty.  The were two ambulances, but these were specialist units and were not manned on the day I visited. One of the ambulances was a specialised mental health unit and responded to the large amount of alcohol and drug cases or mental health calls that the station dealt with.  It is staffed by a paramedic and the Australian equivalent of a mental health practitioner.  The second ambulance was co-managed with a local hospital and was what we refer to in Australia as an extended care paramedic ambulance.  The basic aim of this ambulance was to reduce the number of persons going to hospital and tying up ambulances for minor complaints.  This crew could undertake a wide variety of primary health care related tasks (inc wound care, wound dressing, provision of medication). 

EMS is handled differently in Mesa than what I have seen in Australia.  Each call for medical assistance sees a Ladder or an Engine dispatched, along with a private ambulance.  The Mesa Fire / Medical staff are all EMT certified with a minimum of two in each apparatus being Arizona certified paramedics.  The scope of practice is similar to ICP in Australia, with RSI, Ketamine and EZ-IO being the recent additions.  Once at the call the Mesa Fire / Medical crew would initiate treatment and the private ambulance would arrive to transport.  It was great to see the public and private providers interacting so well together and working as a unified team (certainly something that Australia could learn from).  If the patient was not critical the private ambulance would transport, otherwise a Mesa Fire / Medical crew member would ride with the private ambulance and be returned to the station.  Here is a summary of the calls for the day:

1:  Male, 81 years in hospice.  Reduced LOC, with distended abdo.  Not able to talk and was in obvious pain when palpated on the abdomen and when moved. Transported.

2:  Female, 86 years.  Fell from chair and now on ground with hip and back pain.  Immobilised on spine board and transported.  Given IV fentanyl. Transported and escorted to Level 1 Trauma Centre.  This Pt was a FF's grandmother, so it is the Departments policy for the FF/EMT's to follow into the hospital and provide extra care until the FF/EMT is released from duty to attend.

3:  Female, 23 years.  Pumping gasoline for the first time and some splashed in face.  Transported

4:  Female, 67 years. Sudden onset nausea/vomiting and hypertension ++.  Dizzy and unable to walk unaided.  GIven ondansetron and transported.

5: Male, 10 months.  Focal seizure activity for first time, then post-ictal. Unknown cause.  IV started and transported with escort to Paediatric facility.

6:  Female, 38 years.  In alcohol rehab facility.  Second witnessed seizure for the day.  Transported.

7:  Structure fire.  Unable to locate.

8:  Structure fire.  Turns out to be a bon-fire in the back yard for a BBQ. Homeowner now not enjoying a BBQ!

The crews work a 24 hour shift, 0700 to 0700 and I was with them until 2200.  The average workload for the day was 10-12 calls per crew.  Each shift the crew put $6 into the kitty and they go shopping and in turn, cook lunch and dinner.  I was invited to buy in for dinner and we had chicken burgers.  Of course one of the crews had a call just as dinner was served! Lunch we ate out.  Where ever we went people would approach the crews to thank them for there service and the great job they did.  There is certainly a high level of patriotism in the USA.

Now in Phoenix

Well, it has been a rather long drive today, starting in the LA peak hour traffic and on our way to Phoenix, Arizona.  A rather long trip with stunning mountain ranges and scenery was made quite easy in the relative luxury of our 'smaller' SUV (check out the car here...). I say smaller, with some humour, as by Australian standards this would be an oversized car.  During the trip we were passed by many an SUV or Truck that was much bigger.  Still it was quite nice being able to stretch out and not touch the dash without some effort being made!

We fuelled up for the first time today. The Gas Stations seem to be totally automated and we did nit have to go inside to pay as is the case in Australia.  The pump took card and cash (as long as you can remember your pin number LOL). Water and air costs 75c for a minute.

It even rained in the dessert on the way to Az,  so much so that we got an SMS from the Government altering us to flash floods in the area we were travelling.  They were not wrong - at one point there was a rushing river along side the road and some areas that resembled a lake!

So tomorrow is shaping up to be a good day.  Wade is off to join the City of Mesa Fire & Medical Department for the day at Station 201 in Mesa.  

City of Mesa Fire & Medical Department video

We are sure there will be some pictures and stories to follow....

Welcome to the USA

Good Morning LA.

We have had a sleep in today in an effort to combat jet lag.  Due to the gymnast sat next to us on the plane and the small tribe of children behind us, sleep was lacking quality on the flight.  But we are here.  We have been to Starbucks and as a first time drinker, I must say it was very nice coffee.  This Blogger was particularity surprised by the ability to buy food, alcohol and get your prescription filled in the same shop.  Certainly something Australia could learn from.

It is fair to say that we have a busy work agenda while over hear in the States and although we are both taking some 'vacation' time while over here, we will not be completely switched off from work. We have today in LA and plan to do some browsing around and seeing the sights, before departing for Phoenix tomorrow.  Hopefully in Phoenix, our plans come together and Wade will be riding along with local EMS.

The next leg of the trip to EMS World is about to begin with a snack and drink in the Qantas Business Lounge, prior to our departure in 20 minutes.

Once we are in LA, we will update the blog with our plans for the trip.

So until we get to LA..........

Footnote:  so today we leave, but get in to LA yesterday, which by then will be tomorrow in Australia.  So today its, see you later, talk to you tomorrow when its yesterday!

G'Day Sydney

Stage 1 over with Sydney to our right.

LAS VEGAS Bound

Wednesday 21st August 2013
Janine Nicholas and Wade Bloffwitch depart Perth Western Australia bound for the EMS World Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.


Watch this blog and follow our journey over the next month as we share our days in the USA, talk about the people we meet and report on the amazing EMS World Expo 2013.

Tulsa Life Flight

Thanks again leaugeay for giving us the opportunity to visit Tulsa Life Flight. A great day visiting with Shawn and Doug. It's the first chopper we have seen with a front positioned patient. Could make things interesting for the pilot at times.

Location:Tulsa, Oklahoma

Happy Thanksgiving

To all our USA friends ..... Happy Thanksgiving

Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC)

Our thanks go out to Leaugeay Barnes and her wonderful team at the OCCC Health Professions Centre.

http://www.okc.cc.ok.us/health/emt.html

The team arranged for Paramedic students to undergo a Medical Scenario especially for us. It was very obvious that these students operate at a very high level of competency and have exceptional support from management and faculty.








Ex Ambulance training unit (donated by Tulsa Life Flight) inside the OCCC building




Purpose built Scenario room

Location:Oklahoma City, USA

A new state and new laws!

Arrived safely into New Mexico and settled into what is a very impressive hotel chain, Hyatt Place. An early end to the day so we gave into a nice wine at the bar. Well I did anyway as Janine couldn't produce ID to prove she is legal to drink in this state.

Location:Arvada Ave NE,Albuquerque,United States

Almost in Texas

Well it's been a long and very productive 3 weeks in the Unites States. With the changes we had to make around visiting New York City we have a couple of extra days for some R & R. We pulled out the maps and looked at the itinerary and contemplated how to spend a free week in the States.

LAS VEGAS HERE WE COME !



So across Texas we go and onto New Mexico, Arizona and into Nevada.

Location:Frontage Rd,Shamrock,United States

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Testing

As a special guest of Gail Neff-Gordon, flight Paramedic at Tulsa Life Flight, we were treated to observe a state based NREMT examination for paramedic registration. Located 30 minutes from Tulsa, the test site was located at Rogers State University, Claremore, Oklahoma. Thank you to all the amazing people we met and all the best to the Paramedics seeking National Registration.

Location:Rogers State University, Claremore, Oklahoma,United States