Practical EMS

Practical EMS
  • 4.8 (9)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

My mission is to use the stories we all have in emergency medicine to encourage and uplift you where you are. EMT, Paramedic, nurse, PA, NP or physician. Emergency medicine is a very difficult specialty with unique challenges, and it calls us all to be better than the average person in order to stay healthy for our patients, our families and own mental wellness. I want to connect with EMS crews, fire crews, ER RN's, ER techs and new ER advanced practice providers to better understand their current struggles. I also want to bridge the gap between prehospital medicine and the emergency department and to encourage those seeking to become an advanced practice provider. Disclaimer: All Practical EMS content is opinion only. It is unaffiliated with any company or organization and does not represent any company or organization that Aaron currently works for or has worked for in the past. No content should be taken as medical advice.

  1. 133 | Dr. Julie | The Golden Rule in the ER | Skills, Humility, and Not Letting Others Break You

    5D AGO

    133 | Dr. Julie | The Golden Rule in the ER | Skills, Humility, and Not Letting Others Break You

    I give my perspective on being an APP in the ED, be humble and teachable and strike an affect that allows the physicians to speak into your practice When in doubt, consult the specialist Julie talks about what makes her proud about her career She is proud of the connections she made, that she treated her patients how she would have wanted to be treated Remember to take that intentional time with patients to help reassure and connect with them Julie talks about a the expectation she sets for patients with abdominal pain -  that we don’t find a clear answer most of the time and when we do it’s usually something emergent and surgical so sometimes no answer is good news Set the right expectation for the ER visit early She talks about how she reassures patients that may be embarrassed for coming in when they end up not having anything emergent going on Julie highlights the need to eat and hydrate on shift Julie talks about the next generation of providers and how she hopes they continue to keep their observation skills and clinical thinking skills intact considering technology advances and AI incorporation  Julies advice to her younger self would be to not let people drag you down A big thing we need to learn is to not let others poor behavior or flexing of their ego affect us personally, it speaks more about them than us We need to learn to give constructive criticism without judging Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    31 min
  2. 132 | Surviving the ER Without Losing Yourself — Dr. Julie on Burnout, Purpose and How we interact with EMS

    DEC 14

    132 | Surviving the ER Without Losing Yourself — Dr. Julie on Burnout, Purpose and How we interact with EMS

    Mindsets to avoid burnout – Julie humanizes the patient and understands that whatever difficult things we are dealing with are temporary and have gratitude We must constantly recognize possible anchor bias and avoid cynicism to appropriately treat our patients We talk about our interactions with EMS Both Julie and I remember working in EMS and the value that EMS brings in their report because they often see a lot of things we don’t get from the history of the patient Julies advice for the new APP/ER doc - don’t come to premature closure on a diagnosis, don’t be afraid to ask questions, pay off your loans over buying the biggest house and latest toys We talk about the baseline level of stress we deal with  We talk about technological changes over time and imaging improvements She talks about the challenges that the Covid pandemic presented and the shortages of different things we have now encountered Julie still finds meaning in finding the hard differential diagnosis and working towards positive patient interactions, the teamwork in the ER I talk about the importance of creating an approachable affect so everyone feels free to voice concerns Go look at the patient when the nurse is concerned  Julie talks about the benefit for new EMT’s and paramedics to reach out and ask for feedback and follow up on their patients, often we don’t have time to pull them aside EMS doesn’t have the best mechanisms in place for good feedback on every case like we do in the ER, where we see in real time how accurate our assessment may have been when the work up comes back Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    33 min
  3. 131 | Women in the ER: Dr. Julie on Career Longevity and Burnout

    DEC 7

    131 | Women in the ER: Dr. Julie on Career Longevity and Burnout

    Started out her medical career as an EKG tech and in EMS as an EMT for one of the first ambulance companies in the area She saw the disconnect between the provider that people wanted to become and who they became, and she didn’t want that to be true for herself She became an attending in 1991 and now has close to 40 years in emergency medicine She became a physician when it was predominantly a male field Julie talks about some of the things that have changed over time We need to have empathy for the people that come in for non-emergent complaints and realize that we have the honor in the ED to fill all the gaps in the wider medical system We talk about the increase in transparency with patients and the access they now have to their lab work, imaging and chart and this helps us increase trust with patients Julie talks about a paramedic partner she really admired and how well she treated patients, and how there wasn’t a lot of female role models for her in med school I talk about how I also had partners that really improved the trajectory I was on as a new EMT Seek first to understand is one of the 7 habits of highly effective people and this relates directly to taking care of patients Julie talks about how it was to be a woman in medicine and how her voice got dismissed as well as the dynamics that are at play with patients Julie talks about burnout and how labyrinth therapy helped her. How you need something that helps you look beyond yourself to have a moment of awe and gratitude Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    32 min
  4. 130 | Dr. Brian | Faith at Work: Healing, Dying, and Being on the Other Side of the Hospital Bed

    NOV 30

    130 | Dr. Brian | Faith at Work: Healing, Dying, and Being on the Other Side of the Hospital Bed

    Brian talks about his experience being on the “other side” of the bedside with his wife’s cancer treatment He really appreciated the extra time that the doctors spent with him and his wife to explain things – repetition is very helpful for your patients to really hear you Brian talks about balancing fatherhood and being a husband with our emergency medicine schedules and the challenges of being in a physician couple  You have to figure out family priorities and what works well in your situation Date night is the most important investment you can make We talk about how to transition from ER mode to husband and father mode Brian talks about how finishing his notes helps to make his mind move on or answer some questions he may have to resolve a conflict he might be having We talk about church attendance as Christians Brian tells a powerful story where he was able to save and prolong a patient life so he could talk with his family “Sometimes it’s more important to help someone die than to help them live” We need to be intentional about remembering the big and the small good things that happen throughout our day You never know when you might be the last person to interact with someone and may make the difference between them, deciding to give the ER another chance Brian talks about advice to his younger self – don’t work as hard, take more time off Prayer will get you to the right answer, if you call yourself Christian you should be displaying the Christian examples we are given You shouldn’t have to leave your faith at home, it’s your best ally at work  Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    28 min
  5. 129 | Dr. Brian | The Metric of Mercy: Seeing Jesus in Every Patient

    NOV 23

    129 | Dr. Brian | The Metric of Mercy: Seeing Jesus in Every Patient

    We talk about setting the right mindset, culture and tone as a leader of the department and especially in smaller facilities You don’t have to be perfect, but you can avoid the little negative comments and criticisms Being a good example goes a long way As a Christian we are supposed to act like Christ would We have a lot of metrics we have to worry about as clinicians but, as Christians, we need to worry about the metric of mercy Understanding that we are not as far removed from the homeless, drug addicted patient as we might think We have to remember that, as we care for the homeless and drug addicted person that no one else will care for, we are doing it for Jesus Brian tells his students to spend as much time with the patient as they need, you don’t have to be the fastest provider right away We have to be careful about bias getting passed on from triage and from EMS reports as well, sometimes the problem is more subtle and requires more time with the patient How we word things when talking with patients makes a big difference We talk about providing respect and dignity to those patients that die Brian talks about some on-shift practices he uses to re-center himself on his purpose We talk about the grey area in which we practice in the ED I try to practice assuming good intent on others Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    26 min
  6. 128 | Dr. Brian | When the Dopamine Fades: Staying Driven in Emergency Medicine

    NOV 16

    128 | Dr. Brian | When the Dopamine Fades: Staying Driven in Emergency Medicine

    Has been an attending physician since 2019 Brian volunteered when he was a teenager in the ER and the staff that got him involved really drew him toward emergency medicine in med school Brian worked in the ED as an EMT as well He talks about early mentors and the impact they have, including helping him get loans for medical school We need to remember to be like that mentor that encouraged us when we were new and pay it forward to the next generation of students You must have something that drives you in emergency medicine, it is a difficult specialty. At first the dopamine drive from the excitement can carry you a ways but it will fade over time Brian talks about how faith led him to where he is now We talk about the fulfillment of just having good conversations with patients and making sure they feel cared for and understood Brian talks about recognizing burnout, it’s a “general sense of not being whole” like something has been taken from you He talks about the golden handcuffs of being a physician Brian talks about how he overcomes exhaustion and burnout Cold plunging - forces you to be in the moment, control you heart rate and breathing  Choosing hard things makes those hard things that are forced on you easier Living in the moment is largely equated with happiness, the more you can do this the more you can be happy. Meditation and many other therapies are simply teaching you to keep your mind in the moment A wandering mind is an unhappy mind Prayer is another method for focusing your mind Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    28 min
  7. 127 | ER Dr. Adam | Embrace the hard stuff | Being mentally present | Moving forward after a hard shift

    NOV 9

    127 | ER Dr. Adam | Embrace the hard stuff | Being mentally present | Moving forward after a hard shift

    Advice for the new EMT, paramedic, nurse, physician who is also a believer Build your faith in the easier times so your faith doesn’t shake when times are hard You have more reason than anyone on the planet who doesn’t believe to strive to do this job better every day, you are held to a higher standard Adam still finds joy in emergency medicine, doing hard things, interacting with many different humans, seeking an answer, the intellectual stimulation You must be able to embrace the hard stuff, embrace the suck Adam talks about the priority he gives to family and being mentally present when he is physically present with his kids He talks about the training that is required to make yourself mentally present outside of work and how to move on from a hard shift “He told me to cast my cares to him because he cares for me” Take care of yourself before you take care of others In our line of work sometimes quality is better than quantity time Adam gives the advice he would give to his younger self He knows himself well enough to know he should say “Stay scared my friend,” because he can take that in stride and not panic. This job can be out to get you You don’t know what you don’t know Don’t step over the line between confidence and cockiness Adam talks about some practices he has that allow him to move from ER physician mode to father, husband mode Praise and worship music on the way home helps him I try to remember to keep my eyes above the waves, like the story of Peter when he walks towards Jesus on the water Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    31 min
  8. 126 | ER Dr. Adam | Faith and burnout | Choosing hard things | The reward in striving

    NOV 2

    126 | ER Dr. Adam | Faith and burnout | Choosing hard things | The reward in striving

    Faith and burnout Adam talks about how he tends to spend his spare time reading the Bible, going to church, spending time in prayer and how this develops character and is better than pursuing time wasting activities or the easy dopamine dump that does not add to sustainability or self-improvement We are designed to do hard things – mental or physical – including pursuing Jesus – this builds stamina, character and makes you better in your career Choosing hard things makes the hard things that you don’t choose much easier to handle Seeking hard, painful things can reset your own personal pain scale We can find more reward and satisfaction in the suffering than the result, less satisfaction in being done “Re-shift your mindset to find that the goal is the struggle and you are overcoming it” Journey over destination “The reward comes from striving, from the journey” “That’s the example of Jesus” We talk about the apostle Paul and his example Social media skews our view of other humans; it polarizes us and makes us see the worst of humanity instead of seeing the good There is some benefit to boredom  All sacred texts talk about the need to meditate on these things, allow yourself to sit in silence and seek what you are trying to find Support the show Everything you hear today from myself and my guests is opinion only and doesn’t represent any organizations or companies that any of us are affiliated with. The stories you hear have been modified to protect patient privacy and any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice nor used to diagnose any medical or healthcare conditions. This is not medical advice. If you have personal health concerns, please seek professional care. Full show notes can be found here: Episodes - Practical EMS - Content for EMTs, PAs, Paramedics Most efficient online EKG course here: Practical EKG Interpretation - Practical EMS earn 4 CME and learn the fundamentals through advanced EKG interpretation in under 4 hours. If you want to work on your nutrition, increase your energy, improve your physical and mental health, I highly recommend 1st Phorm. Check them out here so they know I sent you. 1st Phorm | The Foundation of High Performance Nutrition

    29 min
See All (138)

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

My mission is to use the stories we all have in emergency medicine to encourage and uplift you where you are. EMT, Paramedic, nurse, PA, NP or physician. Emergency medicine is a very difficult specialty with unique challenges, and it calls us all to be better than the average person in order to stay healthy for our patients, our families and own mental wellness. I want to connect with EMS crews, fire crews, ER RN's, ER techs and new ER advanced practice providers to better understand their current struggles. I also want to bridge the gap between prehospital medicine and the emergency department and to encourage those seeking to become an advanced practice provider. Disclaimer: All Practical EMS content is opinion only. It is unaffiliated with any company or organization and does not represent any company or organization that Aaron currently works for or has worked for in the past. No content should be taken as medical advice.

Information

  • Creator
    Practical EMS
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Practical EMS
  • Show Website
    Practical EMS