Inside EMS

A 2021 look-back: Unpacking the stories and trends affecting EMS and fire

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this special crossover episode of Inside EMS, host Chris Cebollero speaks with Chief Marc Bashoor, host of the Side Alpha Podcast, about the major news and trends impacting EMS and fire in 2021.

Cebollero and Bashoor unpack issues related to apparatus and ambulance safety, the COVID-19 vaccines, ET3 and telehealth, the use of ketamine, mayday training, and staffing shortages. 

PSOB expansion, ATCEMS‘ first female tactical medic & EMS medical marijuana use

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss top industry headlines. Grayson kicks the conversation off with highlights of the bill signed by President Joe Biden to expand the Public Safety Officers Benefit, which aims to improve the function of the program.

Our hosts also celebrate the promotion of Micah Morgan, who became the first female to be assigned to the elite Tactical Paramedic Team at Austin-Travis County EMS. The duo also discuss a decision by ATCEMS to remove a question related to marijuana use from their career application. 

Ambulances held hostage

This episode of EMS One Stop is sponsored by Blink; the mobile app helping EMS providers to better communicate with their field staff. Learn more about how Blink's two-way communications features are helping to reduce first responder turnover at www.joinblink.com.

In the light of the series of articles on ambulance patient offload times and hospital bed delays by Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, host Rob Lawrence is joined by PW&W Attorneys Doug Wolfberg, Esq.; and Steve Wirth, Esq. A solid discussion takes place on the EMS legal and ethical obligations to patients at the ED, and strategies to combat hospital bed delays, as well as the downloadable tip sheet also available at EMS1.

The resurgence of prehospital vasopressors: What providers need to know

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the article by Jonathan Lee "Understanding prehospital vasopressors: Dopamine, epinephrine or norepinephrine?" The hosts discuss the resurgence of vasopressors in the EMS field, particularly when it comes to treating sepsis. The conversation follows what vasopressors are used for, how they work, and some of the things to look out for when administering vasopressors to patients. 

How ESD11 achieved 110% staffing in the era of shortages

This episode of EMS One Stop is sponsored by Blink; the mobile app helping EMS providers to better communicate with their field staff. Learn more about how Blink's two-way communications features are helping to reduce first responder turnover at www.joinblink.com.

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence catches up with Harris County ESD11 EMS Chief Executive Doug Hooten. ESD11 is now at day 80 of being a new service provider – get an inside look at their progress.

Doug provides background on ESD11’s fleet of hybrid Ford Ambulances and the challenges of building a full fleet before the go live date, and also comments on his recruiting initiatives, which – even in the current era of shortages – sits at 110% staffed.

Rob and Doug also discuss operation enhancements and initiatives, from offering staff a doggy daycare, to the creation of a Resilience Officer post to look after the wellbeing of all staff.

Is it time for an EMT role expansion?

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss a hot topic in the EMS1 community: EMT placement of a supraglottic airway in the field. The conversation touches on the future of EMS, the expanded role of EMTs and how training should adapt. 

Giving the gift of life

This episode of EMS One Stop is sponsored by Blink; the mobile app helping EMS providers to better communicate with their field staff. Learn more about how Blink's two-way communications features are helping to reduce first responder turnover at www.joinblink.com.

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence chats with Christine Fiechter, executive director of the 501c3 Charity EMS Gives Life, and live liver doner Will Lindbergh, whose selfless act spurned the creation of the charity.

Cambridge, Massachusetts’ Pro EMS CEO Bill Mergendahl was inspired to launch EMS Gives Life after seeing the personal example set by one of his paramedics, Will Lindberg, who made the life-giving decision to become an anonymous liver donor.

Will was inspired to learn more about liver donation after responding to an emergency call from a patient with liver failure. In February, 2020, Will underwent a laparoscopic procedure to remove a portion of his liver, which helped save the life of 3-year-old Ian Charles, who was suffering from a rare type of liver cancer that can affect babies and young children.

Listen in to learn more about Will’s story, and why EMS Gives Life encourages first responders to give a small piece of themselves to give someone else a new chance at life – and help address the chronic unmet need for life-giving organ donations.

The current challenges of EMS education

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson tackle the topic of EMS education. The National Registry of EMTs recently announced it was doing away with skill sheets for EMS providers, setting up an issue for educators to determine the best way to teach the skills. The discussion also touches on teaching tools that hinder rather than help instructors in the classroom. 

 

Matt Zavadsky on the EMS staffing shortage

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode, host Chris Cebollero is joined by guest co-host Matt Zavadsky, the chief strategic integration officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth, Texas, and the immediate past president of NAEMT. 

Zavadsky breaks down three reasons for the current EMS staffing shortage, and outlines what agencies can do to reserve resources, as well as how to compete with other work opportunities. Zavadsky also touches on the topic of vaccine mandates and the repercussions some responders are facing for not complying. The discussion concludes with a debate about EMS redesign and the importance of partnering with local officials. 

Mental health checkup: Change what you can, forget what you can‘t

This episode of Inside EMS is sponsored by Eko. Learn how CORE stethoscope technology helps EMS providers make confident split-second decisions by clicking here.

In this episode of Inside EMS, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss an article by Mike Taigman centered on mental health, "A 5-step wellness checkup," with tips for learning to focus on the things you can change and forgetting the those you can't. 

The conversation turns to the recent fatal shooting by actor Alec Baldwin on the set of his upcoming movie, "Rust." Baldwin was handling a prop gun when multiple shots were fired, injuring the movie's director and killing the film's cinematographer. Our co-hosts discuss what providers need to know about firearm safety.