Where's The Common Sense?

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently singed a bill into law making it a crime for emergency responders to post photos or videos of crash victims on the Internet without the consent of the family. Violators face penalties of up to 18 months incarceration and fines up to $10,000. While I understand the intention of this legislation, my head screams "where's the common sense!?"

For those of us who began our EMS careers prior to the implementation of "HIPAA," patient privacy was one of the most important topics discussed in EMT classes. The concept of "what happens on a call stays on the call" was well-used and sound advice for the new EMT. I can't remember the number of times I heard this, nor the number of times I have passed it along to new EMTs in training. This is simple common sense, but as we've all heard, common sense isn't so common any more...especially with the explosive growth of the Internet, social networking sites, and web-enabled mobile devices.

Additionally, in the mid-2000s, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) made it a federal crime to violate a patient's privacy. This legislation introduced the concept of protected health information, better known as PHI, which covers information that identifies or can be used to identify a patient (individually identifiable information). PHI includes health information in any format - paper (written), electronic, or oral; information about the patient's health status or condition; and can include research information and photographs, videotapes, and other images. With this in mind, why was a state statute necessary in New Jersey when a federal statute already existed? All that was necessary was for the patient's family to file a privacy complaint with the responding agency.

Protecting the privacy of patients, whether living or deceased, is one of the highest priorities of an EMS provider, ranking up there with scene safety. However, instead of creating more "feel good" laws, lets all exercise better judgement and common sense. In the rare instances both of these self-policing practices fail, the use of preexisting  statutes to prosecute the offenders should set the example that these lapses in judgement will not be tolerated by those entrusted with patient care.

Walk a mile

Some of you may know that I have multiple roles at one of the agencies I work with. A few weeks ago, I was shifted into a different capacity in the communications office and WAY out of my comfort zone. For the first time, I was asked to fill in and be the primary Dispatcher on the medical transportation channel during a week day. Mind you, I'd handled these duties previously on weekday evenings and weekends, but never with a regular week day load. To say I was uncomfortable is an understatement.

They say to understand someone, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. That day, the mile was uphill in gale force winds. Our schedule pre-load (what I call the number of jobs that exist without counting the return trips) was heavy, and we were down a couple of drivers due to illness and vacation. It seems no matter what I did, the job count didn't drop! Mind you, our drivers were phenomenal, each pulling their own weight (and then some), and not one of them complained. They didn't question why the "new guy" was on the channel or why he kept correcting himself and asking them to "stand by" while information was being gathered.

I learned something new that day. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and into a situation I had never encountered before. Nothing like a trial by fire to show me a new found respect for my colleagues on the medical transport side of the business. Their schedules can be ruthless, the timing is crucial, and their communications and organizational skills need to be dead-on, lest something throw off the well-oiled process.

So, next time you're asked to fill-in and do something new, do it. You never know what you're going to learn!

Let's get one thing straight...

I'm not one to get defensive about my career choice often, but some recent events have me on my soapbox. A few months ago, a young man, maybe 18 years old, working the register at a local grocery store asked me why I didn't go to college. "You seem too smart to be working on an ambulance." I'm not sure what I said or did to earn that "compliment," but it caught me by surprise. My answer did the same to him: "I did go to college, but let's get one thing straight: I didn't settle on becoming an EMT."

I entered college straight out of high school. I started as a criminal justice major, switched to English after a semester, then broadcast communications after three more. I went to two-year schools, four year schools, public and private schools. Many of my courses were enjoyable, but I couldn't find a program that left me feeling like I was pursuing something I really wanted to do.

I dropped out of college after two semesters at a state university and entered the EMS workforce full-time. I have to say it was the best decision I ever made. The opportunities that were afforded me and the experiences I gained were far greater than I ever could have imagined. I chose to abandon the "social norm" of attaining a formalized higher education in lieu of pursuing a career where I was truly happy.

I've been in EMS full-time for over a decade now, and still believe this was the best decision I ever made. The work is dirty, dangerous, and emotionally defeating at times. People bleed, cough, and vomit on me because they're too sick or injured to take care of themselves. I get sworn at, threatened, and occasionally spit on by those who don't know any better and (generally) have their judgement clouded by fear. I spend long days away from my family, knowing the only guaranteed time of my tour is the start time. All of this certainly takes it's toll, but it is also part of the job, the calling that is being an EMT.

At the end of the day, my shoulder is wet from those who needed one to cry on. My ears ring with the voices of those no one else will listen to. My hand aches from those squeezing so hard to feel the comfort of another human being. My heart hurts for those whom I cannot help more. But I pick myself up and go home, where I know my loving family is waiting for me. My son, who is so proud of what I do he tells anyone who will listen, runs and hugs me as I come up the basement stairs. My wife gives me a knowing look, understanding there are things I just won't tell her about my day. And I rest, knowing that tomorrow brings another day of helping others.

No, I didn't settle for becoming an EMT. I chose this career, and am proud that I did. If you work in EMS, I hope this rings true for you as well. No matter what tries to bring us down, we're there to help others, and each other, through the uncertain future our shift holds. If you don't work among us, now I hope you understand. We make look haggard and harried, but deep down inside we chose to make this our calling.