Hey Guys.
My name is Danny and im an aussie student ambo. Im not a user however i am after some opinions from people who have been attended to by ambulance paramedics. Im curious how you felt you were treated? were you just scooped up and dumped at the hospital or were you cared for and well treated? most importantly i would like to know how you feel the service given to by ambulance staff can be improved? In what way can we help and what advice can you give. Id appreatiate any response.
Cheers
Danny
Hey Danny
Im also an Aussie and I have a lot to say about ambos. My wife suffers from paroxysmal SVTs and needs to call the ambulance reasonably frequently. She also had post natal depression 5 years ago and was treated successfully.
Everytime the ambos came they would just tell her that she was having an anxiety attack with her history of depression, and that she needed to relax. Because she an Atrial Tachycardia type SVT, a normal monitor wouldnt show the abnormal rhythm, it only shows up on a 12 lead ECG. Letters from a Cardiologists, sample traces, blue cardiac patient record etc etc all failed the convicne the ambos who just treated her as having Sinus Tachy time after time, year after year. Then they rake her to the hospital and tell all the ED nursing staff she has a history of depression.. nothing about her cardiac history. They also failed nearly everytime to pass on her list of drug allergies leaving my wife or me to play gatekeeper on all drug administration.
Even a radio frequency oblation didn't persuade them. Now my wife refuses to call an ambulance and gets a cab to the hospital while she is having an episode of SVT with acute rate related chest pain. As anurse, most of the ambos I have dealt with are fantastic.. but having them cvome to my home regularly and having them ignore the opinipons and evidence of specialist consultants and the patient herself.. my opinion has changed. The MICA ambos are the worst bunch of know-it-all smart arses I have ever come across.
best wishes
Sean
Im also an Aussie and I have a lot to say about ambos. My wife suffers from paroxysmal SVTs and needs to call the ambulance reasonably frequently. She also had post natal depression 5 years ago and was treated successfully.
Everytime the ambos came they would just tell her that she was having an anxiety attack with her history of depression, and that she needed to relax. Because she an Atrial Tachycardia type SVT, a normal monitor wouldnt show the abnormal rhythm, it only shows up on a 12 lead ECG. Letters from a Cardiologists, sample traces, blue cardiac patient record etc etc all failed the convicne the ambos who just treated her as having Sinus Tachy time after time, year after year. Then they rake her to the hospital and tell all the ED nursing staff she has a history of depression.. nothing about her cardiac history. They also failed nearly everytime to pass on her list of drug allergies leaving my wife or me to play gatekeeper on all drug administration.
Even a radio frequency oblation didn't persuade them. Now my wife refuses to call an ambulance and gets a cab to the hospital while she is having an episode of SVT with acute rate related chest pain. As anurse, most of the ambos I have dealt with are fantastic.. but having them cvome to my home regularly and having them ignore the opinipons and evidence of specialist consultants and the patient herself.. my opinion has changed. The MICA ambos are the worst bunch of know-it-all smart arses I have ever come across.
best wishes
Sean
Thanks mate
You do know what MICA stands for dont you? Most Incompetent Crew Available!!!! Its amazing isnt it. Years of training and education are pointless if your treating the wrong problem. Its also very hard on people such as your wife with conditions such as depression. You would like to think that ambo's would be aware of how damaging it can be to a person with emotional issues to be treated as "just another anxiety attack". This is why im doing this research. I think that it is important for ambo's to take into account the ongoing trust of the patient, so that they feel comfortable calling the ambulance. The way that some ambo's scoop up overdose patients and literally toss bomb them through the front door of the hospital, its no wonder that many users wont call an ambulance or loose faith in the health system altogether.
Thanks for the reply
Danny
You do know what MICA stands for dont you? Most Incompetent Crew Available!!!! Its amazing isnt it. Years of training and education are pointless if your treating the wrong problem. Its also very hard on people such as your wife with conditions such as depression. You would like to think that ambo's would be aware of how damaging it can be to a person with emotional issues to be treated as "just another anxiety attack". This is why im doing this research. I think that it is important for ambo's to take into account the ongoing trust of the patient, so that they feel comfortable calling the ambulance. The way that some ambo's scoop up overdose patients and literally toss bomb them through the front door of the hospital, its no wonder that many users wont call an ambulance or loose faith in the health system altogether.
Thanks for the reply
Danny
Hey mate, the key issue is that fortunately my wifes depression was only post natal and has not re-ocured in 5 years - yet still the ambos labelled her and ignored the SVT.. She was having up to 5 attacks a week so that is a lot of negative eperiences with ambos. Good luck to you.
SP, I hope your wife is doing much better.
That had to be awful for her.....knowing what was going on.....then being told it was anxiety....we know our bodies...very frustrating.
Here in the States...well in mine....the fire department sends the ambulance..they usually are wonderful....except some people USE hem when there's really nothing wrong, and want a ride to their Doctor's appointment...so you can see when they get angry....that's taking from someone who really needs help, and quick....we're pretty good here thank heavens.
All good things to you SP.
That had to be awful for her.....knowing what was going on.....then being told it was anxiety....we know our bodies...very frustrating.
Here in the States...well in mine....the fire department sends the ambulance..they usually are wonderful....except some people USE hem when there's really nothing wrong, and want a ride to their Doctor's appointment...so you can see when they get angry....that's taking from someone who really needs help, and quick....we're pretty good here thank heavens.
All good things to you SP.
