"We are time's subjects, and time bids be gone." 
- William Shakespeare 

I would add--time bids change and the past be gone. Shakespeare would have been more on point if he added those few words. Time charges forward relentlessly tucking the present neatly in the past. Nevertheless, our past shapes us and our experiences make us wiser. We learn, do and become something different day after day. Oftentimes we don't realize how fast our past is whizzing by until we finally reflect and remember. Moments that should have been treasured are now victims of time obscured by our memory. 

So much has changed since this blog began 9 years ago. Who knows what the next 9 years will bring. 

Typical 32-hours

Let's see...

Man carrying a huge yellow cat on his shoulder.

Bad Knee.

Sick Baby.

Real Sick Baby.

Man that shit and pissed himself.

Crackhead.

Dead Heroine addict.

Lucky, nearly dead heroine addict. At Mcdonalds with lots of kids around...

Another sick baby.

Man stuck in the windshield of a car.

Angry mob, scarred police, running paramedic...

Interesting weekend.

Not Quite As Angry as Before

I've calmed considerably. Although an article in the today's NYTimes does lead me back to healthcare reform and lingering anger over why I pay out my ass for insurance and have no control over the cost. I wish I knew the answer but even if I did it would be nearly impossible to act on it because so much of the US economy is tied up in the delivery of over-priced "healthcare." Is it possible that a "sweeping" reform could simply be a smoke screen that shrouds other more important issues?

On another note. The spring semesters begins tomorrow and I am excited to get back into the swing of things. I've been working on an interesting project in our lab the past week of so that is tied to a directed study class I'll be taking this year. Hopefully I will get enough research experience in to at least know if it is right for me. This is an important semester for me, just like all the others at this point, because I'm getting into the meat and potatoes of science. Hopefully I can keep up and remain excited about it. I don't think it will be a problem because it seems that the more I learn the more I don't known and the more I want to learn. It that makes any sense.

I've always enjoyed challenging myself and my long held beliefs. I think everyone should take time to rethink what they hold dear and learn all they can about it if that is even possible. Conflicting views have always interested me and I think that is why science is something I can learn and relearn and continue to learn because the answers are never as clear cut as they seem. Anyway, another week of trying to improve is in progress and I'm still enjoying the ride. Here's to another opportunity to study and learn and grow with hopes that it never gets old.

Just Take Them to The ER

At what point does a paramedic get the power to tell someone to Fuck off? Do you have any idea how much money this would save emergency departments. I am sick of political correctness and the assumption that everyone should get treatment in an "emergency."

You want reform. I'll tell you what reform should look like.

911 dispatcher: Medic 20 respond to an unknown medical at 397 bullshit st. apt. 1297.

Me: Fuck

First Responders: Yea, he's on the 12th floor. No elevator, so you should take your stair chair.

Me: You know, they have two feet and I only have one back...

(Paramedics walking up 12 flights of stairs with a 30lb bag, 20 lb monitor, 15 lb stair chair and 10 lb oxygen bag and an unmeasurable amount of disgust.)

Patient douchbag: I can't move. I've cut my toenail to deep and it is bleeding. I need to go to- big fucking hospital 20 minutes away- because my doctor is there and he is the only person who can treat me.

Me: So, let me get this straight. You cut you toe nails tonight (2:30 A fucking M) and your big toe on your right foot is bleeding so you can't walk?

Patient: Oh yea, I can't stand because it's hurts like hell and you know I am a diabetic.

Me: Ok, is there anything else going on? Surely to God you really didn't call me because of this?

Patient: No, I just can't walk because my big toe is hurting so bad. I'm afraid that it will get infected and they will have to amputate my foot. I've seen you before and you know that I have diabetes. You know that and I've looked on the internet it says that diabetics are at a higher risk for infection.

Me (thinking): Did you notice the articles on smoking and eating like hell until you can't breath and weigh over 300 lbs could be detrimental to your health?)

Me: Ok, your toe isn't an emergency. I can clean the cut and bandage it with antibiotic ointment. If you have any signs of infection tomorrow then you should call your family doctor and make an appointment so they can evaluate you appropriately. That way you could see your doctor and wouldn't have to leave your house tonight since it's a blizzard outside and there is already six inches of snow on the road. You know there is a good chance we may not even make it to0 - big fucking hospital- tonight because of this.

Patient: I'm not sure. I have medicaid and it will pay. You have to take me to the emergency room now because I called 911 and I don't have a ride that will take me to my doctors office two blocks down the road tomorrow.

Me: Ok, you know what, I really tried to be nice. I can't believe that you would call 911 during a blizzard at 2:30 in the fucking morning because you cut your big toe with a pair of toenail clippers. I am not going to carry you down 12 flights of stairs and pray that my driver will be able to navigate unbelievable road conditions putting both of our lives in danger to take you the emergency room were they will tell you the same thing I just told you. I will bandage your foot and you will call your doctor during normal business hours and get an appointment because that is the most appropriate action that should be taken.

Patient: I knew Obama would wreck the healthcare system. I'm going to sue you, your county, your OMD, your OMD's group, the county, the state, the federal government and the president because my I should be able to go to an emergency room on any whim and get exceptional treatment anytime of the day!

Me: Well go ahead, because the new legislation says I can recommend that you should - go fuck yourself- get the most appropriate medical care. I am protected by new laws that says I won't loose my job and you can't call an ambulance chasing lawyer to defend you. Thank you for calling and I hope everything works out ok.

Fantasy I know. In reality- because this really happened to me- I carry this big stupid motherfucker down 12 flights of steps into a blizzard and drive to big fucking hospital during a blizzard at 2:30 in the morning because I can't say no.

Real reform would stop this abuse and give better training to prehospital personnel so they could triage patients and advise them of the most appropriate action. I know this is only a tiny reason the American healthcare system is broken but reform must begin somewhere.

Why does an emergency department have to absorb the cost of ignorance?

Paramed

In General

The semester is over, finals are being graded and a week of no sleep is in the books. I never thought I could study for a week straight and still maintain my sanity but somehow I did. Just a few semesters to go until I take the mcat and apply to medical school. The closer I get to my goals the more scary they become. Well, I guess the scary part is not succeeding. I'm putting my entire life on the line in order to put all of my damn eggs in one fucking basket.

Stupid, yes. Passionate, yes. Doable, you are damn right it's doable!

It's not as easy as I thought

I've always been a good student as least I thought I was. I've jumped in a little over my head this semester though and it's been a struggle to get enough air to see where I need to go from here. I'm putting a shit load of pressure on myself and it's really making me very stressed. I've officially bombed a couple of huge test so far and I'm trying to think about this in terms of "leaving myself room to improve." Not only am I learning new material but I'm learning how to learn again and it's not as easy as I remember. I can't just look over a piece of information now and have it in my brain. I have to go over and over and over the material until I feel comfortable and then I doubt myself afterwords and jeopardize everything that I have learned. I'm going to move past the negative and ace the rest of this semester. It's an uphill battle with everything I have going on but I will make it happen I must. (there I go again putting too much pressure ton myself damn it)

And then

The history of Christianity is very interesting. Whether or not someone believes in the divine idea of Christ they can't deny the amount of evidence that points to the existence of Jesus of Nazareth the person. The life of Jesus isn't mapped out as well as one would think. As important as Christianity has been to the shaping and developing of the western world it's interesting that very little is known prior to his public ministry or death. It certainly leaves a great deal to faith, or in the instance of the early church, it left a great deal to interpretation. Which is what they did. The important part about there interpretation is the fact that the ideas the early church devised about Christ became so influential that it nearly took over their world and in turn ours. Amazing.