By Art Hsieh, EMS1 Advisor
In EMS, it seems all that was once old is suddenly new again, as 2009 has been a year of returning to the basics. For example, many EMS systems that have focused on providing high-quality chest compressions and careful airway management have also reported higher cardiac arrest survival rates.
Attendance at airway management courses has increased. Quality Improvement managers are constantly challenged in devising ways to maintain competencies in systems with large numbers of ALS providers. As the profession continues to be more data-driven, I suspect there will be more discussion about the fundamentals.
Now, I am NOT suggesting that there is no value in ALS; there may be a positive benefit to patients for paramedics to manage respiratory distress, for example. But, I have always believed that performing the basics well sets up for better patient outcomes. There are several sayings that reinforces this concept: “BLS before ALS,” “Remember the basics,” and my favorite, “The hallmark of a good paramedic is being a good EMT.”
Gazing into the crystal ball, I do think that there will be more emphasis on doing the basics well. As individuals and systems continue to improve and expand upon the research in the industry, there will be greater opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of EMS, not only as part of the health care system but as an integrated part of overall homeland security. It will be up to us to make that happen.
As generations of EMS providers evolve, so too must our ways of receiving essential information that are timely and highly relevant. As a long-time paramedic and educator, I find that most new providers are just as excited about the profession as I was so many decades ago; what’s new are the tools and technology that help spread the word. In addition to standing around the ambulance station talking about the latest protocol changes or new equipment (and of course the latest gossip), we have turned to the Web to communicate with peers from across the country and the world.
As a member of the Advisory Board, I have been fascinated with the ongoing discussions at EMSConnect and intrigued by the innovative articles generated by its columnists. Sites like EMS1 and others will continue to provide key avenues of access and foster communication. For my part, I am excited and honored to add to the dialogue that already exists here, and hope to hear from fellow EMS professionals.