The Newly Meds

The Newly Meds
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Medicine

Welcome to The NewlyMeds, a podcast geared for YOU! This podcast is brought to you from the perspective of new paramedics, for new paramedics. We’re here to help expand your knowledge of medicine for paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare providers. The NewlyMeds podcast was created by new paramedics with the hope of sharing the information we wish we had known when we first hit the streets. Enjoy! The NewlyMeds is not affiliated with any EMS agency and does not provide medical practice information. Please refer to your local protocols and scope of practice for medical guidelines. thenewlymedspod@gmail.com

  1. Hyperkalemia: When Calcium Helps vs Hurts

    Apr 16

    Hyperkalemia: When Calcium Helps vs Hurts

    In this QuikCrit, we break down when calcium actually helps in hyperkalemia, and when it doesn’t. Starting with a crashing patient and a wide QRS, we walk through the cardiac action potential, why hyperkalemia slows conduction, and how calcium stabilizes the myocardium without lowering potassium. We cover: Why Vₘ follows potassium (Vₘ ≈ Eₖ)How calcium raises threshold potential and restores conductionECG changes in hyperkalemiaCalcium chloride vs gluconateThe role of calcium in PEA arrestWhy giving calcium blindly may not help, and may cause harmBottom line: Calcium isn’t a routine arrest drug, it’s targeted therapy for hyperkalemia. Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast. References: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36403820/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9550532/

    22 min
  2. Experience vs Exposure

    Apr 5

    Experience vs Exposure

    After a brief Spring break, The NewlyMeds is back with a conversation on one of the biggest questions in EMS: does time on the job actually make you better, or does real exposure, repetition, and continuous learning matter more? In this episode, we break down the difference between years of experience and meaningful experience, skill degradation in low-volume systems, confidence versus competence, and why evidence-based practice has to keep pushing EMS forward. We also talk rural vs urban volume, the value of simulation and training, and why every patient contact, including IFTs, can be a rep that makes you better. Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-frequent-patients-years-job-ems.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0736467987902149 https://www.cafsti.org/wp-content/uploads/Advanced-Life-Support-Skill-Deterioration-Among-Paramedics-in-Low-Call-Volume-Emergency-Medical-Service-Systems.pdf

    1h 8m
  3. Sepsis in the Field: How One EMS System Brought Antibiotics Prehospital

    Feb 1

    Sepsis in the Field: How One EMS System Brought Antibiotics Prehospital

    Sepsis is one of the most common and deadly emergencies we see, and it often presents quietly before crashing hard. In this episode, we’re joined by Zac, a deputy chief at a Pennsylvania EMS agency launching a first-of-its-kind pilot program in the state for prehospital antibiotics in suspected sepsis. We break down practical sepsis recognition in the field, why early treatment matters, and how clinical judgment beats rigid checklists alone. Zac walks us through the real work behind the pilot: antibiotic stewardship, drawing clean blood cultures before antibiotics, aligning with hospital sepsis bundles, crew training, documentation, and making all of it operationally realistic on scene. Whether your system is progressive or just getting started, this episode gives you concrete takeaways to improve sepsis care today and a roadmap for advocating change tomorrow. If you want to connect with Zac or learn more about the pilot, email the podcast at thenewlymedspod@gmail.com Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast https://sccm.org/survivingsepsiscampaign/guidelines-and-resources/surviving-sepsis-campaign-adult-guidelines?_gl=1*1uwmjkl*_gcl_au*MTU3NTI3MTkwNy4xNzY5MDM3NjMx https://emcrit.org/pulmcrit/ssc-1-hour/ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sepsis https://emcrit.org/pulmcrit/understanding-lactate-in-sepsis-using-it-to-our-advantage/ https://www.handtevy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-Prehospital-Sepsis-Recognition-and-Antibiotic-Administration-A-Retrospective-Analysis.pdf https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692%2818%2930074-6/fulltext https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12873-024-01137-0 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10324699/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27536386231207055 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10228518/

    1h 18m
  4. Pharm Foundations: Levophed, Ancef, and Early Shock Management

    Jan 15

    Pharm Foundations: Levophed, Ancef, and Early Shock Management

    In this episode of the NewlyMeds Podcast, we go back to pharmacology basics with a focused deep dive into two critical medications we’re seeing more and more in EMS: norepinephrine (Levophed) and cefazolin (Ancef). We break down how norepinephrine works at a physiologic and cellular level, why it’s become a first-line vasopressor in shock, and what matters when titrating pressors in critically ill patients. We also walk through cefazolin from the ground up, including bacterial cell wall physiology, beta-lactam antibiotics, and why early antibiotic administration plays a major role in trauma, sepsis, and septic shock outcomes. This episode is intentionally foundational. We’re setting the stage for a much deeper upcoming discussion by reinforcing the why behind these medications, not just the dosing or protocols. If pharmacology ever felt rushed or confusing in medic school, this is your chance to slow it down, reconnect the dots, and build a stronger clinical framework for critical care decision-making in the field. Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast References: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12057179/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1198743X25002356 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12057179/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1198743X25002356 https://www.instagram.com/p/CnCKhWuu6HO/?img_index=2 https://emcrit.org/ibcc/shock/ https://rebelem.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mgmt-of-Shock-Educational-Reinforcement-Material.pdf

    27 min
  5. Endocrine Collapse: Thyroid and Adrenal Crisis

    Jan 3

    Endocrine Collapse: Thyroid and Adrenal Crisis

    Welcome to Season 3 of TheNewlyMeds! Today starts with a classic “not acting like herself” call that looks like sepsis, until it isn’t. Dan and Wil break down the endocrine emergencies EMS can miss when we anchor on infection. We cover thyroid and adrenal crises that can silently worsen, then crash fast: Graves and thyrotoxicosis, thyroid storm, apathetic hyperthyroidism in older adults, myxedema coma, Addison’s disease and adrenal crisis, plus Cushing syndrome. You’ll get practical prehospital recognition tips you can use without labs, along with what matters most in the field: airway, temperature, rhythms, glucose, fluids, and key pitfalls to avoid. Quick pattern recap: too fast and too hot: thyroid excess. too slow with hypoventilation: thyroid failure. shocky and refractory: adrenal failure. Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast References: Myxedema crisis (2024 Chen et al.): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/thy.2023.0559 Thyroid storm (2024 Elendu et al.): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10977538/ Addison’s disease (2023 Carsote et al.): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10243343/ Graves disease (2022 Hoang et al.): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9174594/ Cushing’s syndrome (2025 Dillon et al.): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12484323/ Adrenal crisis (2022 Lentz et al.): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736467922003481 Apathetic thyrotoxicosis (2023 Lee et al.): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10873132/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9627317/

    1h 22m
  6. Burnout in EMS with Dan and Wil

    12/21/2025

    Burnout in EMS with Dan and Wil

    As the year comes to a close, Dan and Wil sit down for a candid, unscripted conversation about burnout in EMS and healthcare. In this Quick Crit, they share personal experiences from different career paths, including EMS, nursing, and major job transitions, and break down where burnout really comes from. They talk about recognizing burnout cycles, the impact of workplace culture, feeling expendable versus valued, and knowing when small changes are not enough. The conversation also dives into practical strategies for managing burnout, including finding meaningful outlets, building a strong support network, and separating work from personal life. Whether burnout is coming from your job, your schedule, your environment, or life outside of work, this episode offers honest reflection, hard earned lessons, and reassurance that you are not alone. If you are feeling stuck, burned out, or questioning your next move in healthcare, this episode is for you.

    32 min
  7. What We Missed in 2025

    12/02/2025

    What We Missed in 2025

    This December episode of The NewlyMeds Podcast is a year in review for both the show and for you as a growing provider. We look back at what it really means to step into the role of paramedic and healthcare professional, and we get honest about the learning curve, the self doubt, and the wins that do not always show up on a skills sheet. From there, we zoom out and talk about the bigger picture of growing in this profession, including sharpening your assessment, managing airways and sick patients, handling imposter syndrome, and finding a realistic balance between work, study, and life outside of medicine. We also reflect on seasonal trends, scene leadership, and documentation habits, tying it all back to what it means to stay grounded and continue improving as you move into a new year of practice. And most importantly, we share our appreciation for the support, feedback, and community that has grown around the podcast this year. Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast

    1h 8m
  8. Bleeding Control and the Meds That Make It Happen

    11/16/2025

    Bleeding Control and the Meds That Make It Happen

    In this Quik Crit episode, we dive into two powerhouse medications that every EMS provider should understand: TXA and Pitocin. We walk through how each med supports bleeding control in both trauma and postpartum emergencies, why timing and assessment matter, and how knowing the pharmacology behind them builds real confidence in the field. From mechanisms and dosing to contraindications, safety pearls, and practical prehospital considerations, this episode focuses on getting comfortable with the tools that can make or break early intervention. If you want a clearer picture of when, why, and how to deploy these meds, this one is for you. Whether you’re a new paramedic, an EMT, or just someone who loves learning from the streets, this is a must-listen reminder that the only real mistake in medicine is not learning from the ones you make! As always, this podcast does not contain medical guidelines or protocols, please refer to your statewide scope of practice and accepted protocols and procedures for your level of licensure. TheNewlyMeds podcast has no agency affiliation and is an independently owned and operated podcast

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The NewlyMeds, a podcast geared for YOU! This podcast is brought to you from the perspective of new paramedics, for new paramedics. We’re here to help expand your knowledge of medicine for paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare providers. The NewlyMeds podcast was created by new paramedics with the hope of sharing the information we wish we had known when we first hit the streets. Enjoy! The NewlyMeds is not affiliated with any EMS agency and does not provide medical practice information. Please refer to your local protocols and scope of practice for medical guidelines. thenewlymedspod@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Newly Meds
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Wilson Sheker 2023
  • Show Website
    The Newly Meds