tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69373630259554574302024-02-06T18:41:22.921-08:00Down in the MouthThe fractured focus of a dentistDocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-85493955962704351102010-03-25T03:53:00.000-07:002010-03-25T03:56:24.457-07:00Slippery SlopeInvoluntary servitude in New Jersey and making physicians "agents of the state" in Florida.<br /><br /><a href="http://gruntdoc.com/2010/03/senate-weighs-bill-proposing-to-shield-emergency-room-personnel-from-malpractice-suits-florida-miamiherald-com.html">http://gruntdoc.com/2010/03/senate-weighs-bill-proposing-to-shield-emergency-room-personnel-from-malpractice-suits-florida-miamiherald-com.html</a><br /><br />This is a slippery slope we are headed down!DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-85300285264871168192010-03-22T15:39:00.000-07:002010-03-24T08:45:48.795-07:00Involuntary ServitudeNew Jersey Assembly Bill , A.B. 4175, introduced on 23 November 2009 will require physicians, dentists, and nurses to complete 30 hours of volunteer service in their respective fields as a condition for biennial registration.<br /><br />Well.....Guess what New Jersey? This is the final straw. You just lost another provider. Happy? Whose going to treat all those folks with insurance now?<br /><br />Links added:<br /><br /><br />This one is the Academy of General Dentistry alert that just came out.<br />Scroll down to Region 4 to see it.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.agd.org/publications/articles/?ArtID=7197">https://www.agd.org/publications/articles/?ArtID=7197</a><br /><br /><br />This is a link to the Bill itself:<br /><a href="http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A4500/4175_I1.HTM">http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A4500/4175_I1.HTM</a>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-69415855951435917382010-02-23T15:51:00.000-08:002010-02-23T16:19:04.083-08:00IOM to examine access to dental care<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK51t8JgglNx50y_-VQHHStxf_X5LNondPAKZ5pRi9YC3SgA-6sXvVYsNeFy-2FYj1_Z47H-yQLuKgbeJagJZzuUKFotmE-nr0WcujG8Jdy37EpeGSrmDYsx7iNHHeJ2hIUv5h-lyvnY/s1600-h/467f38ce-1.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 1px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 1px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441593785172338818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaK51t8JgglNx50y_-VQHHStxf_X5LNondPAKZ5pRi9YC3SgA-6sXvVYsNeFy-2FYj1_Z47H-yQLuKgbeJagJZzuUKFotmE-nr0WcujG8Jdy37EpeGSrmDYsx7iNHHeJ2hIUv5h-lyvnY/s200/467f38ce-1.bmp" /></a><br /><div>Typical Government. The Department of Health and Human Services and the California Health Care Foundation commissions an ivory tower institute (The Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies) for input on how to deal with access to care and other issues. Hmmmmmm...we already have an organization that collects that data. It's called the AMERICAN Dental Association. And to top it all off, the IOM does not intend to have any private practitioners on their panels. Wouldn't want to get any input from the folks that are actually out there in the trenches. You guys have helped make medicine the morass it is today. Stay out of my world!</div><div></div><div><br /><br />From Dr. Robert Tankersley, President of the ADA to the membership:<br /><br /><em>Dear Members,<br /><br />The American Dental Association is very concerned over a recent decision by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to exclude private practice dentists from two panels it is convening to study oral health care delivery in the United States.<br /><br />At the behest of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, IOM will begin studies (one on a national oral health initiative and one on access to services) in March. These studies could help drive national policies on improving access to oral health care.<br /><br /><br />ADA leaders met Friday with IOM representatives, including Tracy Harris, the director of the studies, to discuss the aims and makeup of the panels. We made it clear that the ADA supports the IOM's efforts to examine access issues in general and that we wish to work positively with the IOM as they conduct the studies. We stressed that including private practice dentists on both panels was essential if the reports were to have any credibility with the practicing dentists who ultimately deliver the vast majority of care. Also, IOM representatives were informed that the ADA accumulates vast amounts of data, some published, some not on both the public and private delivery systems that the IOM may find quite useful in their study. The IOM emphasized that both committees will be impartially evaluating published data in order to reach their conclusions. However, we urged the IOM to include private practice dentists on the panels, as they will be deeply involved in the implementation of any IOM recommendations.<br /><br /><br />Ms. Harris offered the ADA and the American Dental Education Association the opportunity to meet with the president of IOM to further discuss the two studies. Staff in the Washington Office is pursuing this meeting and writing a formal letter to the panels asking them to reconsider the membership composition of the panels. I will keep you abreast of developments.<br /><br />Below are links to the two IOM studies. Within these links, you have the opportunity to email comments to IOM about the need to include the private practicing perspective on both committees.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Study on an Oral Health Initiative </em></div><div><em></em></div><div><br /><em>http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/OralHealthAccess.aspx<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><br />Ron Tankersley, D.D.S.<br />President<br /></em><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><a href="http://www.iom.edu/Activities/HealthServices/OralHealthAccess.aspx"></a>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-48629292226592741152010-02-21T18:15:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:17:30.562-08:00Prevent TailgatingJust ordered one of these for the Jeep. Hopefully our local EOD guys have a sense of humor!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5672/claymorecoll2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 470px;" src="http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5672/claymorecoll2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-82436648037443987672010-01-30T05:28:00.000-08:002010-01-30T09:50:10.969-08:00Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ScQ_zasmb2xqr6FXcc4yZZsxgA2tJ-IXHCG3GW0fP7td57_DfdtduDlUFY35_qUOh8tlaPa1Al4nrw0hA9m0KsPeoaPSqT4qcGQDCXVcxRwtaIwNmvrM1adbJZGJAcSsdZpcwVGbXR8/s1600-h/jeepsnow2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ScQ_zasmb2xqr6FXcc4yZZsxgA2tJ-IXHCG3GW0fP7td57_DfdtduDlUFY35_qUOh8tlaPa1Al4nrw0hA9m0KsPeoaPSqT4qcGQDCXVcxRwtaIwNmvrM1adbJZGJAcSsdZpcwVGbXR8/s320/jeepsnow2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432591200685464338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqiBaj0Afsx_Ly_k1dfMqnEYRizyQut9WmF1eBGOoZiZhQmTNHAQK3saHvhX5UAZMQ9r_Sx2LEO7t42yeCakqa7xt4G0m1EP0I9GR4MvPIjQAoYKFhtCZGiBgZeGcm_qaPu0SYebB5F4/s1600-h/jeepsnow1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqiBaj0Afsx_Ly_k1dfMqnEYRizyQut9WmF1eBGOoZiZhQmTNHAQK3saHvhX5UAZMQ9r_Sx2LEO7t42yeCakqa7xt4G0m1EP0I9GR4MvPIjQAoYKFhtCZGiBgZeGcm_qaPu0SYebB5F4/s320/jeepsnow1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432591195923850034" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNILCGlKevEfGLP0o1hCXFtoVFNu__P28C300Hw9Dfd5vkcaSL6LDwBAtN6F054IokjMKOrp7YjNHON32puoy9C0UHnLmtdv-5gR4qa1C0NRMYoTnBm7lNHbCvRGTs5XBShghn3ugykWw/s1600-h/snowjeep.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNILCGlKevEfGLP0o1hCXFtoVFNu__P28C300Hw9Dfd5vkcaSL6LDwBAtN6F054IokjMKOrp7YjNHON32puoy9C0UHnLmtdv-5gR4qa1C0NRMYoTnBm7lNHbCvRGTs5XBShghn3ugykWw/s320/snowjeep.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432524974962929410" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I know you folks up Nawth aren't impressed, but 4 inches of snow in Virginia Beach is a show stopper! That's Mrs DocV being towed on the boogie board. Is she a great wife or what? All the other mothers in the neighborhood were shocked. <em>"It's toooo dangerous!"</em>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-75869119225190195702010-01-02T21:29:00.000-08:002010-01-02T21:31:39.699-08:00White House Reveals Obama is Bipolar<object width="480" height="430"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swf?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FCYCLICAL_OBAMA_article.jpg&videoid=97382&title=White%20House%20Reveals%20Obama%20Is%20Bipolar%2C%20Has%20Entered%20Depressive%20Phase" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed src="http://www.theonion.com/content/themes/common/assets/onn_embed/embedded_player.swf"type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="480" height="430"flashvars="image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theonion.com%2Fcontent%2Ffiles%2Fimages%2FCYCLICAL_OBAMA_article.jpg&videoid=97382&title=White%20House%20Reveals%20Obama%20Is%20Bipolar%2C%20Has%20Entered%20Depressive%20Phase"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/video/white_house_reveals_obama_is?utm_source=videoembed">White House Reveals Obama Is Bipolar, Has Entered Depressive Phase</a>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-1567669736563152952009-12-17T04:15:00.000-08:002009-12-17T04:20:27.778-08:00Plugging in-looking for recommendationsFor any of you healthcare folks out there that may read this, I have a request:<br /><br />What electronic device can you not function without at work?<br /><br />PDA<br />Blackberry<br />iPhone<br /><br />What software/apps do you recommend? The only one I am familiar with is ePocrates. Any others? Is there anything along the lines of an electronic scutbook?<br /><br />Thanks for your time!<br /><br />R/<br /><br />DocVDocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-47880584420513339362009-12-04T17:57:00.001-08:002009-12-04T18:14:51.823-08:00Job Hunting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNQPcgwxac67G_1N05BY_gGfANFjRLSnhxm_tMQTYgOdKXKWEc3LDPTyK2xDhK5cSNdRuX1tRWhCMGRx7B0Vd8LPKTRJ9VNiJDxdqJuNv7KmgV7yPMsA_g6zbZhr-WY1efl0hCxSppCA/s1600-h/mouth.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 242px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411565839810945682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNQPcgwxac67G_1N05BY_gGfANFjRLSnhxm_tMQTYgOdKXKWEc3LDPTyK2xDhK5cSNdRuX1tRWhCMGRx7B0Vd8LPKTRJ9VNiJDxdqJuNv7KmgV7yPMsA_g6zbZhr-WY1efl0hCxSppCA/s320/mouth.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Wow...I haven't had to actually find a job for 25+ years. Putting together a CV, phone interviews, in-person interviews, salary and benefit negotiations, cost of living and quality of life decisions, new state licensure. It's </div><div></div><div>been interesting.</div><div> </div><div>I purposely decided not to hang up my own shingle and have been looking at group practices or staff positions. They have run the gamut from Medicaid mills on up. </div><div> </div><div></div><div>I have had 2 serious offers so far. One is from a private group of physicians who own their own hospital and have a small in-house dental practice. I am strongly considering that one. The other position at a state hospital just had it's funding pulled as a cost saving measure. So much for that. </div><div></div><div>Off to a third interview on Monday. We'll see how that goes. </div><div><br /> </div><div>The bait shop is still a consideration. Maybe I'll add a marina... ;-)<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-50127982655649780242009-11-05T15:51:00.000-08:002009-11-05T15:55:49.581-08:00On the R.O.A.D<em>R</em>etired <em>O</em>n <em>A</em>ctive <em>D</em>uty. I used to make fun of those guys, now I am one! My official retirement orders have been approved. Now I need to spend my last few months on active duty looking for a new job. 3 interviews so far. One at a hospital in Pennsylvania, one in North Carolina, and a group practice in North Carolina.<br /><br />Or maybe I'll buy a bait shop.DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-4758431426750711432009-10-16T16:48:00.000-07:002009-10-16T16:48:29.771-07:00Don't Be Dragging Us Down!<a href="http://docsontheweb.blogspot.com/2009/10/ive-got-it.html#links">M.D.O.D.: I've got it!</a><br /><br />ETOTHEPI,<br /><br />Do you really want to unleash the fury that is a bunch of angry people armed with small, sharp instruments?DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-69750906832875750972009-10-15T14:27:00.000-07:002009-10-15T14:31:50.541-07:00Just the Facts...Joe Friday schools Obama<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UbC6B5sjA9Y&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UbC6B5sjA9Y&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-66921507996936757722009-10-11T09:05:00.000-07:002009-10-11T17:15:30.865-07:00Dentistry Succumbing to the Mid-Level CrazeYou are going to get what you pay for. We're headed back to the Barber-Surgeon days....<br /><br />A while back I wrote about the emergence of mid level practitioners in my field (dentistry).<br /><br /><a href="http://docv-downinthemouth.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-mid-level-practitioners-emerge.html">http://docv-downinthemouth.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-mid-level-practitioners-emerge.html</a><br /><br />Alaska and Minnesota have begun to license such practitioners. In my opinion, the argument for and against is very similar to the controversy that goes on about PAs and NPs. Once again, I see the the problem not being their breadth of knowledge, but their depth.<br /><br />While very little in my world is life threatening, there are those occasional "Oh @#$%!!!" moments especially with medically compromised patients. The very population that most of these mid level providers will treat is also the population that has problems with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and so forth. I can teach just about anyone to pull a tooth or plug a filling but you have to remember that tooth is attached to a human being. You have to be ready to deal with the complications. Not all of dentistry is a mechanical art and that difference is what you pay me for.<br /><br />Another blog on the subject:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/08/armed-to-the-teeth-t.html">http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/08/armed-to-the-teeth-t.html</a><br /><br />And a really great blog, "The American Way of Dentistry:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2229633">http://www.slate.com/id/2229633</a>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-84926940435825524462009-09-17T09:32:00.000-07:002009-09-17T09:33:25.832-07:00A Little Slice of LifeOnly in America....<br /><br /><a href="http://peopleofwalmart.com/">http://peopleofwalmart.com/</a>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-57381129151936593492009-09-17T04:14:00.000-07:002009-09-17T13:03:29.234-07:00Access ProblemsOn the Buckeye Surgeon's blog, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2760353953251845523&postID=6887089455401358985">https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2760353953251845523&postID=6887089455401358985</a> is a discussion about a prisoner that was given a reprieve from his death sentance (lethal injection)because they were unable to get venous access. If that is a problem, why not go the IO route?<br /><br />My understanding is:<br /><br />• IO access is a safe and effective route<br />for accessing the central vascular system<br /><br />• IO access is similar to central line access and carries<br />less risk of complications. (At least in theory)<br /><br />• IO is the first alternative to IV<br />in adult cardiac arrest patients<br /><br />Just a thought....DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-70523773736885130102009-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:002009-09-07T15:32:58.544-07:00Blogger's BlockWow. I didn't realize how challenging it would be to maintain a blog. Is there such a thing a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">blogger's</span> block? I am in awe of the the folks who write the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">blogs</span> that I frequent and their ability to come up with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">interesting</span> stories and observations. I should have stayed in EMS...there's better stories there. Now that I am on shore duty, dentistry is just the same old grind. I had hoped to make a better impression....<br /><br />Okay, enough of the puns. My retirement papers are in, 9 months to go on active duty. I have to find a real job now. Maybe I ought to renew my EMT-P certs!<br /><br />Anyway, I'll try to keep plugging away at the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">blog sphere</span>.DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-27385803651234178152009-07-23T18:17:00.000-07:002009-07-23T18:26:45.856-07:00Another "Back in the Day" story...American Iron<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB">I was waxing nostalgic with friend about the good ol’ days when Cadillac made ambulances and </span><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB">Plymouth</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"> had the corner on police cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Specifically the Fury III with the 440....darn thing was like being on rails, you couldn't make the rear end slide out from under you. The deputies used to turn the air cleaner cover upside down....just to hear that WHOOOOOOMMMMM when the secondaries opened......Shazam!!!!</span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Sigh! Those were the days! There was a time when the sweetest sound I ever heard was those secondaries opening up as the SO units crested a hill coming to bail my a** out. Hearing those WHHHHHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOMs followed by the sound of the sirens...it was like a cavalry charge!</span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">The call?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A Domestic with injuries...we didn't know what on the initial call... On our arrival there were lots of people (Sumdood’s Cousins I think) and lots of emotion. Some of the "Cousins" didn't want us to leave with the patient because they thought he would be arrested at the hospital. Some of the others wanted a piece of the patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Patient wanted to get the hell out of there before he got whupped up on more.</span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We got him loaded up quick, but the Cousins wouldn't move from around the rig. I tried to move forward slowly …no effect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>I gunned it a little and moved forward again. People started banging on the unit and smacking the windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A bigger crowd was gathering and the mood was rapidly getting ugly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The rig started rocking…then somebody bounced a beer bottle off the windshield. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">That was it!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I picked up the mike and said "Ambulance 3, requesting a 10-33 our location".<br /><br />Dead silence on the radio. I thought somebody ripped the antenna off. </span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Then dispatch came back and said "Ambulance 3. Repeat!"<br /><br />"Ambulance 3, 10-33 our location!!!" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Sheesh! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Was anyone awake?<br /><br />"10-4 Ambulance 3. 10-33 your location!"<br /><br />Then the hotshot tones started on the countywide. "Attention all units and State Patrol. Ambulance 3 has declared a 10-33 at..." and gave our location.<br /><br />About 10 seconds later, all the SO units on patrol marked on, the area trooper marked on from home! , a city unit marked on, then the deputies the next county over. Even the Fire Company marked on responding. About a minute (a very loooong minute!) later, you could hear the first units cresting the hill and screaming down into the hollow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Some of the crowd scattered when they heard the cavalry coming. The first few of those big Plymouths screeched to a stop…there was a moment of dead silence…then the smell of overheated asbestos and the clicking of cast iron cooling…the remaining crowd looked like a heard of dear in the headlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They scattered when that peculiar sound, known to strike fear in the hearts of all Sumdoods, floated through the air… the sound of the Supervising Deputy racking the slide of his </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB">Ithaca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"> and asking....</span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></o:p></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">"These boys givin' ya trouble Doc?" </span></span></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span></span><br /><p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span></span> </p><p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></span></span></span>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-41055227058012326992009-07-05T17:49:00.000-07:002009-07-05T18:04:14.727-07:00A Quiet PassingMichael Jackson, Farrah, Ed McMahon, Billy Mays...their deaths were splashed across the media. My Dad's wasn't. On June 22, at 4:50 pm, the finest man I have ever known quietly passed away. The man I admired and respected the most, whose opinion meant every thing to me was gone. There was no news media present, just my sister and I. There were no late breaking <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">announcements</span> on CNN, just tearful phone calls as I contacted the rest of the family.<br /><br />I guess I sound jealous or spiteful, but the world lost a wonderful man without knowing it. A man who worked hard, paid his bills on time, had a loving wife, three kids, and eight grand children. If more of the world followed his example, this would be a much better place to live.<br /><br />Good-by Dad. I hope I made the right decisions. I miss you.DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-48713962464516172022009-06-04T16:40:00.000-07:002009-06-04T17:11:45.807-07:00Medics, Nurses, ER Docs, Hospitalists, Anesthesiologists, and Surgeons; A Big Thanks to You AllMy Dad has multiple medical problems and, this past weekend, compounded them (no pun) by falling and sustaining an intertrochanteric fracture with a varus deformity.<br /><br />I have already thanked the actual individuals involved in his care, but wanted to post a big warm fuzzy to the all the professions as a whole because I know you guys don't get to hear "thank you" enough.<br /><br /><div>From the moment the 911 call was made to when Dad was taken off the vent and transferred from the ICU his care was phenomenal. His pre-op problems made him a poor surgical risk and he had some not unexpected post anesthesia problems so I know that his care had to be managed carefully.</div><div></div><br />I like to think karma or whatever actually endowed the medics with all the positive attributes of Amubulance Driver, Medic March, TOTWTYTR, Izzy, and EE, the nurses with the caring and compassion of Nurse K and Guitar Girl, the ER Docs, Surgeons, and Hospitalists with the wisdom of Scalpel, Grunt Doc, 911, and Happy, and the Anesthesia folks with the abilities of Anesthesoboist and Michelle.<br /><br />I never said a word to anybody or identified myself as a healthcare professional. For all anyone knew, I was just Mr. V's concerned son. (It wasn't until he was in the ICU post-op that one of the attendings recognized our last name. He had trained with my brother).<br /><br />So to all of you out there on the frontlines; THANK YOU from Mr. V and his son!DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-26308743248665169692009-05-02T13:27:00.000-07:002009-05-02T13:32:28.987-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_1Wzt8incU5osHDb5wFoyp2UtqQTblkGr3NqWo8KAGWmxX9j8A2wnc34R0ErleTa3QFIO9AgnHy_jEdPVYmpmL_4xQMcUsca1wYygtc46tGGNBO5a_cx-NasCFmoxqmmotQDEY_O8KY/s1600-h/1%2520SIG%2520P6-225%25209MM%25203_85IN%25202501901.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331327132382214466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_1Wzt8incU5osHDb5wFoyp2UtqQTblkGr3NqWo8KAGWmxX9j8A2wnc34R0ErleTa3QFIO9AgnHy_jEdPVYmpmL_4xQMcUsca1wYygtc46tGGNBO5a_cx-NasCFmoxqmmotQDEY_O8KY/s320/1%2520SIG%2520P6-225%25209MM%25203_85IN%25202501901.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The last time I took the kids to the range my daughter shot a newish Sig 239, single stack, 8 round, 9mm, at the range and really liked it. She spotted it at the rental rack and wanted to shoot it "because it looks like Ziva's (NCIS) gun!" (Despite the fact Daddy brought a .45, a Hi-Power 9mm, and a S&W 422 .22 cal) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For a 10 year old, she handled it well and kept her rounds in center of mass. I tried it and really liked it too.I got to talking to the range master and he said I ought to look at the Sig P6 (225) since I already have a 220 in .45 acp. The P6 is a West German police trade in gun. It is an older, 8 round single stack, 9mm that is basically a cut down 220. Sorta like what the Colt Commander is to the 1911. I found one at J&G sales for $411 total for a "hand select". There are other places that might have it for less but J&G had them in stock ready to ship, so I ordered it and it arrived today.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am very pleased with my purchase. It is a typical cop gun. Carried a lot and shot little. The innards are pristine. There is a little holster wear around the muzzle but that is it. For about half the price of a new 239 I've got what is shaping up to be a great carry piece. It digested everything put through it including some Wolff 9mm. It exhibits typical Sig workmanship and accuracy. The one I have was made around 1971. It has an alloy frame and steel slide.The only down sides so far are the cost of factory mags (~40.00) and the fact it is a single stack in a world of high capacity pistols. However, the plus is, because of the slim magazine, it conceals like a dream. It is very lightweight. My Blackhawk Serpa paddle holster and a leather IWB holster for the 220 both work with it. All in all, if you are looking for a good deal in high quality pistol I can recommend this. It's also kind of cool to have the "little brother" to my 220.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-10677659823698467022009-04-26T14:51:00.000-07:002009-04-26T14:56:34.294-07:00Thoughts on Pirates...I was off the coast of Somalia last year involved in some anti-piracy operations... if they can be called that.<br /><br />My thoughts on the current situation?<br /><br />When seconds count, the Navy is only hours away. Maybe it's time to start arming our merchants.<br /><br />Presley O'Bannon, Stephen Decatur, and William Bainbridge must be spinning in their graves. Does anyone remember what "...to the shores of Tripoli" meant?DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-52653955283256646782009-04-01T05:19:00.001-07:002009-04-01T05:39:25.961-07:00Sam's Club Practice?Well maybe not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sam's</span> Club exactly...<br /><br />I saw an ad in the Sunday paper by a local internist. For the "price of a daily cup of gourmet coffee" you could become an exclusive member of his practice and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">receive exceptional</span> access and good, old fashioned personalized care. He announced that he was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">currently</span> interviewing patients.<br /><br />It's an interesting idea. I wonder how many people are going to take him up on it. What exactly he is offering. And, what his criteria for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">acceptance</span> into his practice are. I'll keep an eye on it. Any thoughts?DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-18178205890705182292009-03-17T14:46:00.001-07:002009-03-17T15:01:48.880-07:00On Behalf of a Grateful Nation...Why aren't more people talking about this!!!!<br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Obama</span> Administration announced Thursday a plan to start billing private insurance companies for war and service related injuries of their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">subscribers</span> who are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">veterans</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/VFW-Against-VA-Collection-Increase-Proposal-38578-1/">http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/VFW-Against-VA-Collection-Increase-Proposal-38578-1/</a><br /><br />That's great. The economy is bad enough as it is. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Veterans</span> have a high enough unemployment rate. Who is going to want to hire them if their insurance premiums are going to be more expensive for employers? Are they going to be in a higher risk pool? If they have to pay for their premiums how are they going to afford it? This is totally unacceptable!<br /><br />These men and woman sacrificed for their country, the mission of the VA as envisioned by Abraham Lincoln was to provide for those that "bore the brunt of battle"DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-84550679395424106232009-03-09T17:17:00.000-07:002009-03-09T17:37:33.621-07:00The Other Guy Started It......In The Happy Hospitalists blog is an entry about a dentist who is less than thrilled about paying more in taxes if she breaks a certain income threshhold.<br /><br /><a href="http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2009/03/when-you-tax-something-anything-you-get.html">http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2009/03/when-you-tax-something-anything-you-get.html</a><br /><br />To her it appears to be a "tipping point" ,as described by Nurse K, where the effort is no longer worth it. Anyway, what really torqued my lugnuts was a remark by David MD: "Any dentist earning more than $250,000 per year is not doing enough to see the poor that can't afford dental care. "<br /><br />Weeeeeeeeellllll David , me bucko! Since when did good works and morality get tied to income? Dentists have been smart enough not to get sucked into the managed care mess that afflicts most health care today. A Wall Street Journal article several years ago showed that the average general dentist made about 170K per year. And ya know what Davy? We give a lot of it back to the community. We don't need the government or a bunch of Birkenstock wearing, latte sipping, 10 year old Volvo driving, knee jerk, boo-hoo liberals telling us how to provide for the poor. I have spent the past two decades providing health care in some of the worst hell holes on this planet . I can't wait to retire and start making as much money as I can so I can go back to some of those places and do some more. The less the government takes from me the more I will be able to do good works with!DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-20042816940237168992009-03-01T16:58:00.000-08:002009-03-01T17:02:21.692-08:00Lettin' the Fox Guard the Chicken HouseKansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has accepted President’s Obama’s offer to be his HHS nominee according to news sources including The New York Times.<br /><br />Mmmmmmmm... She was also once the president of the American Trial Lawyers Association. And guess what? She has never treated a patient in her life. Sounds like a win/win to me!DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937363025955457430.post-42751193809487004222009-02-14T14:32:00.000-08:002009-02-14T14:34:39.126-08:00My Alter EgoMy Superhero Self!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXFVs-VXnUjNI8tMQP3ZAs1ooHpMEdNrYUXTN66AS63DFr71Xb9Tnm-DPtXJHSSeUYO9TBfva6isuuqdRWnTWR4JEyxyd7i-tNh_ACrtCq8ouGygy9r1Fqu6AL6LILtavsYxM84Sk-ik/s1600-h/MyHero.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302784907174693442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 149px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXFVs-VXnUjNI8tMQP3ZAs1ooHpMEdNrYUXTN66AS63DFr71Xb9Tnm-DPtXJHSSeUYO9TBfva6isuuqdRWnTWR4JEyxyd7i-tNh_ACrtCq8ouGygy9r1Fqu6AL6LILtavsYxM84Sk-ik/s200/MyHero.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Thanks to AD at a Day in the Life of an Ambulance Driver...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>DocVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16483040895334747291noreply@blogger.com0