Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP) aka Counter Pulsation Therapy is an intervention that the Critical Care Provider may be called upon to transport from one facility to another. Transporting the counter pulsation patient can be a daunting idea if the provider does not understand the who’s, why’s and what’s of utilizing and monitoring this device. Intra Aortic [...]
Pediatric Meningitis, while relatively rare, can have devastating effects. Meningitis is defined as an inflammation of the meningeal layers that surround not only the brain but also the spinal cord. It typically affects children under the age of 5 due the fact that their immune systems are still not fully developed. Other groups that are [...]
Emergency Medical Providers are programmed to look for the most dangerous or life threatening disorders and treat them first. We are very good at identifying and intervening anytime there is an issue with either airway patency, ventilatory insufficiency or perfusion issues. While this approach serves the majority of our patients very well, this approach can lead [...]
Airway management is often a skill that Paramedics and Critical Care Paramedics are thought to be experts on. It is a skill that we often practice, practice again and then practice again to become comfortable with. One pitfall of being an advanced provider is the fact that many advanced providers look for the shiny object in [...]
Patients with special healthcare needs can be both unique and challenging when encountered by EMS. Their unique conditions can vary from barely perceptible to life altering. How we assess, communicate, treat and interact with this special population can make the difference between a smooth running patient encounter and a total disaster. The term “Special Healthcare [...]
