Podcast Education; How Much For That Speedy Dry In The Window?; Blog Loss; ECG ABCs Course

Looking for ways to keep up with some of the current research in EMS and related topics?
The Web offers plenty of opportunities and from time-to-time I'll try to spotlight ones I like.
For today's installment let me direct you to phtlspodcast.com
The site allows you to listen to talks by physicians and national leaders in trauma research via audio streaming on several dozen trauma-related topics, everything from shock and spinal cord injuries to the current state of research into fluid resuscitation.
You can also download the lectures to your mp3 player for listening later (Apple iTunes actually has a pretty remarkable selection of mp3 medical lectures available for free on its site -- but more on that another time).
The interface is easy to use, the audio is excellent quality, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better source of cutting edge information on trauma care, current practices and future developments.

I don't know how I feel about this idea making the rounds in Winchendon.
I can see the rationale for charging at-fault drivers for the cost of the emergency response to the accidents they cause, but something about it doesn't sit well with me.
I mean, why not start charging anyone who calls 911 and sends an ambulance, police car and fire engine out the door?
Should we start charging patients who call 911 then refuse to go to the hospital? How about hypoglycemics who refuse to go to the hospital once EMS corrects their low-blood sugar with an IV and amp of D50?
I don't know if I like the sound of any of that.
My feeling is that we're a public service, and the public shouldn't have to worry about how much it might cost them to call us.
This will bear some watching.
FOLLOW UP: Here's the Web site for the Dayton, Ohio-based company that is mentioned in the Telegram story. It sounds suspiciously like a way for police departments to finally bill for some of their services, and for fire departments to bill for something other than inspections and ambulance runs.


I'm sorry to say that one of my favorite blogs may be no more. The Boston EMS paramedic who wrote Other People's Emergencies announced this week that he was suspending his blog for the time being due to his activation in the armed forces, and that in all likelihood the blog is done permanently.
That would be a huge loss to his readers, but the blog remains up for now, and I highly recommend following the link above to read his archive. Let's hope this is just a temporary interruption.

This course comes highly recommended by a friend of mine whose acumen at choosing excellent courses is legendary.
"The ABCs of ECGs: Essentials for Frontline Clinicians" is being held on Nov. 1 at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston, and is a continuing medical education event sponsored by Harvard Medical School.
The course announcement claims that there will be something of interest to every level of provider here, and some of the topics covered during the day are definitely relevant to EMS, for example:
"Basic Principles: How to Read an ECG"
"Artifacts, Lead Misplacements and Normal Variants"
"Avoiding ECG Fumbles and Errors"
"Bradycardia: Causes of Pauses"
"Metabolic Abnormalities and Drug Effects/Toxicities"
The course costs $170 for everyone except docs, who get to pay $350.