I have decided too many in this field use the phrase
"You call, we haul, that's all."
So I have declared that today, January 22, 2010 is the last day we are allowed to say that, unless you have a side job in the refuse industry or possibly driving a tow truck.
Your new slogan is
"You hurt, we flirt. You lyin', someone might be dyin'."
It is not against the law, nor outside of your responsibilities to inform persons when their injuries or illnesses are untreatable by you and your staff. Nor is it against the law or outside your responsibilities to tell the truth when they ask if they should have called you.
I have been known to remind clients that a baby could be choking nearby but they will die because their paramedic resource is here putting your swollen wrist in a towel from your kitchen and frozen vegetables from your freezer while all your college buddies watch from the couch.
"I didn't know what to do so I called you guys, is that wrong?"
"Yes." Odd look. "An emergency and an injury are two remarkably different things. Sometimes they overlap, but not as much as you might think. Your ambulance will be here shortly, they're coming from far away, busy night tonight."
"A lot of sick people huh?"
"No."
"Do you think I need an ambulance?"
"No."
"What should I do?"
"Goto a doctor. But as you can see I've taken the pain away and reduced the swelling in your wrist using common household items. I learned this in the cub scouts. This is as much pre-hospital care as we can give, so from this point on everything is else is just a ride. A very expensive ride."
"Can my friends take me instead? I mean I thought you guys could get me in quicker."
"Sure your friends can take you, let me help you to the car. Sign this release form first and assume liability for the bill."
"What bill?'
"The bill from us coming here to help you. As much as your politicians would like you not to know, this tax payer funded service is not fully funded to the point we can provide service for everyone calling 911, so we bill for our service."
"Oh."
OMG happy, what are you doing? If he's insured that's an easy ALS billing transport, we need that money!
No, I just freed up one of your precious ambulances to run an actual emergency call and performed vital public education, something our profession fears among all other things.
A well informed and healthy populace generates few billable transports.
Stop lying to your patients by telling them they should always call you when they stub their toe or that there is no fee when there is one. Lying to them IS against the law and outside your responsibilities. Telling the truth and refusing transport are two completely different things.
Telling the truth can never get you in trouble.
Carry on.
"You call, we haul, that's all."
So I have declared that today, January 22, 2010 is the last day we are allowed to say that, unless you have a side job in the refuse industry or possibly driving a tow truck.
Your new slogan is
"You hurt, we flirt. You lyin', someone might be dyin'."
It is not against the law, nor outside of your responsibilities to inform persons when their injuries or illnesses are untreatable by you and your staff. Nor is it against the law or outside your responsibilities to tell the truth when they ask if they should have called you.
I have been known to remind clients that a baby could be choking nearby but they will die because their paramedic resource is here putting your swollen wrist in a towel from your kitchen and frozen vegetables from your freezer while all your college buddies watch from the couch.
"I didn't know what to do so I called you guys, is that wrong?"
"Yes." Odd look. "An emergency and an injury are two remarkably different things. Sometimes they overlap, but not as much as you might think. Your ambulance will be here shortly, they're coming from far away, busy night tonight."
"A lot of sick people huh?"
"No."
"Do you think I need an ambulance?"
"No."
"What should I do?"
"Goto a doctor. But as you can see I've taken the pain away and reduced the swelling in your wrist using common household items. I learned this in the cub scouts. This is as much pre-hospital care as we can give, so from this point on everything is else is just a ride. A very expensive ride."
"Can my friends take me instead? I mean I thought you guys could get me in quicker."
"Sure your friends can take you, let me help you to the car. Sign this release form first and assume liability for the bill."
"What bill?'
"The bill from us coming here to help you. As much as your politicians would like you not to know, this tax payer funded service is not fully funded to the point we can provide service for everyone calling 911, so we bill for our service."
"Oh."
OMG happy, what are you doing? If he's insured that's an easy ALS billing transport, we need that money!
No, I just freed up one of your precious ambulances to run an actual emergency call and performed vital public education, something our profession fears among all other things.
A well informed and healthy populace generates few billable transports.
Stop lying to your patients by telling them they should always call you when they stub their toe or that there is no fee when there is one. Lying to them IS against the law and outside your responsibilities. Telling the truth and refusing transport are two completely different things.
Telling the truth can never get you in trouble.
Carry on.
Comments
This post was mentioned on Twitter by theHappyMedic: Latest from HMHQ: Get it out now http://happymedic.com/2010/01/22/get-it-out-now/...
That and the continued need for private companies to, by law, turn a profit on these people keeps them from educating their clientele. Not all, but most.
Thanks again for reading PG. you coming out to SF for the premiere?
Justin, where DO you live? Earth, ot Planet Zog?
They often answer, "True, but..."
Patient doesn't need ambulance, tell them. Patient does need ambulance, tell them. Cook made your order wrong, tell them. Wife looks fat in those pants, tell her. Even that last one. you'd be amazed how far the truth can take you into a happy and stress free life.
The more you lie or withhold the truth, the worse off everyone is.
True or false?
That and the continued need for private companies to, by law, turn a profit on these people keeps them from educating their clientele. Not all, but most.
Thanks again for reading PG. you coming out to SF for the premiere?
*revolution*
Justin, where DO you live? Earth, ot Planet Zog?
They often answer, "True, but..."
Patient doesn't need ambulance, tell them. Patient does need ambulance, tell them. Cook made your order wrong, tell them. Wife looks fat in those pants, tell her. Even that last one. you'd be amazed how far the truth can take you into a happy and stress free life.
The more you lie or withhold the truth, the worse off everyone is.
True or false?
*revolution*
I couldn't imagine what would happen if I noted on my call sheets all the times that a patient was ambulatory and walked to the truck with no problems. What's even worse is going to a nursing home and not transporting a resident who has fallen; this patient is usually CA/Ox4 and doesn't want to go anywhere. Too many of these would surely get some unwanted attention.
So the rock and hard place gets even tighter as I try to maintain professional integrity and stay gainfully employed.
O woe is me!!
I couldn't imagine what would happen if I noted on my call sheets all the times that a patient was ambulatory and walked to the truck with no problems. What's even worse is going to a nursing home and not transporting a resident who has fallen; this patient is usually CA/Ox4 and doesn't want to go anywhere. Too many of these would surely get some unwanted attention.
So the rock and hard place gets even tighter as I try to maintain professional integrity and stay gainfully employed.
O woe is me!!
If your service is instructing you to omit information related to patient care they are committing fraud. Your report is a legal document and under the law can only be edited by the author and the person about which it is written.
If your service instructs you to lie to your patients and default to transport, indeed the private service model has failed, putting profits ahead of proper care.
Do what you can to be an advocate for your patients. Do what is right, tell the truth, and be honest with them. If you are fired for telling someone who doesn't need you just that you will own that company and make your own decisions.
Email me gate keeper, ASAP
If your service is instructing you to omit information related to patient care they are committing fraud. Your report is a legal document and under the law can only be edited by the author and the person about which it is written.
If your service instructs you to lie to your patients and default to transport, indeed the private service model has failed, putting profits ahead of proper care.
Do what you can to be an advocate for your patients. Do what is right, tell the truth, and be honest with them. If you are fired for telling someone who doesn't need you just that you will own that company and make your own decisions.
Email me gate keeper, ASAP
http://38.106.4.187/index.aspx?page=7
http://38.106.4.187/index.aspx?page=7
http://38.106.4.187/index.aspx?page=7