dr-exmedic.com

Lately, I’ve been seeing an increasing amount of well-reported stories on EMS.  Apparently, there was enough acclaim over Robert Davis’ famous (infamous?) series in USA Today that interest in reporting on EMS spread, and not all of the stories are completely idiotic.  In fact, compared to much of the non-EMS medical reporting out there, they’re downright solid.

One complaint:  the reporters frequently don’t fully understand how poorly cardiac arrest rates compare between cities, and many of the stories I’ve seen focus on cardiac arrest.  I suppose that’s because it’s both dramatic to an outsider and comparatively easy to measure.  However, although this story about the District of Columbia is primarily about cardiac arrest, that wasn’t what really made me want to vomit:

For example, morphine and Valium, drugs commonly given to patients experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or seizure, respectively, are not stocked on District ambulances though they were approved for such use in 2002.

DC EMS has never had a reputation for timely, quality service.  But to learn that they didn’t even carry two ridiculously simple, common drugs–and still don’t, 6 years after getting permission–is just too much for me.  It makes me wonder if they’re able to be sued for malpractice, or if there is some law giving them protection, because I can find no more appropriate word for this.

Filed under: EMS