MERGINET.News: February 3rd Issue Online!

["Richard Bilger" <rbilger@merginet.com>]

We're pleased to bring you the latest additions to
MERGINET.News (February 2002 Vol. 7, No. 2).
You can view this issue online at:

http://www.merginet.com/newsroom/


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FROM THE EDITORS:
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Your latest version of MERGINET is now available. We’re getting a lot of
compliments on our site redesign launched last month. If you haven’t already
seen it, come take a look! This issue introduces two new section names:
"Take A Look" and "Education Station" -- with more to come next time. We'd
love to have your feedback, so take a moment to let us know what you think.

Of course, content remains our priority, and February has some great reading
for you. We introduce a new MERGINET writer, Dave Williams from Austin,
Texas, who has researched the question, “Does this patient need to be
backboarded?” We also introduce Linda Honeycutt, the EMS clinical content
editor for HealthStream|EMInet, who explains the relevance of continuing
education; watch for her regular clinical column to begin next month. Also,
Mona Vanek is back with some astute observations on the subtle art of
professionalism.

Our product reviews continue with Dick Clinchy’s assessment of Laerdal’s
Speedblocks™ Head Immobilizer. And Syd Canan returns with a review of the
timely book, “Understanding Terrorism and Managing the Consequences” by Paul
Maniscalco and Hank Christen.

Among MERGINET’s regular columnists, you’ll find Mike Taigman’s book review
on “The Project 50,” and you can chuckle at Vic & Vern as they rail about
“defibullation.” Tom Scott brings us up to date on rural mileage pricing (a
topic which even he admits is dry, but which is nonetheless important for
billing offices). In Management Matters, you’ll find an interesting piece
for administrators on slowing absenteeism by Lauren Simon Ostrow and an
article for managers by John Becknell on what satisfies medics. Finally,
Valerie DeFrance offers a profile on a 9-1-1 neurosurgeon in Bogotá,
Colombia who could really use your help.

As always, we welcome your comments, concerns, and compliments. We reply to
everyone who writes. Send email to publisher Richard Bilger at
rbilger@merginet.com or to Kate at editor@merginet.com – be in touch!

Welcome to February 2002!
Kate Dernocoeur, Chief Editor
Laura Bennett-Kimble, Managing Editor

New in this issue!

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Feature Articles
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>> To Board or Not to Board? Clinical Assessment Criteria as an Indicator
for Spinal Immobilization (02-03-02)
by Dave Williams, MS(c), LP
"Medic 6, priority 2, traffic injury, in the parking lot, 601 North Lamar
Blvd." ... As you pull up to the scene, you note minor to moderate damage to
both vehicles. The drivers are walking around, but they complain of injuries
and desire transport by ambulance to the hospital.

>> Why We Need CE: An Introduction (02-03-02)
by Linda Honeycutt
With this article, we introduce a new feature at MERGINET.News. After this
introductory article, we will run a short, helpful CE article once a month
and provide links to Healthstream|EMInet, where you can earn continuing
education credits online. So go ahead — have some fun and learn a thing or
two, to boot!


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Medic Life
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>> Ambulance Crew Members and Professionalism (02-03-02)
by Mona Vanek
Conflicts within caregiver teams cause emotional injuries. Because technical
competence is not enough, ambulance crews must interact as dispassionate
professionals to work through their differences to amiable solutions. How?
Read on...

>> Runnin' Red: What's your Priority? (02-03-02)
by Vic & Vern
Hey gang, most of the time, as you know, we like to be upbeat and not
complain. But, probably like you, we get ultra tired of people
mispronouncing EMS terms and codes! Right?


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Educators Corner
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>> The 9-1-1 Neurosurgeon (01-03-02)
by Valerie DeFrance
As a leader in the Colombian Prehospital and Emergency National Program, Dr.
Andrés Rubiano, a neurosurgeon, is frequently occupied with delivering and
improving emergency medicine education in Colombia. He could use your help.


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Take A Look
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>> PRODUCT REVIEW: Laerdal's Speedblocks™ Head Immobilizer (01-03-02)
by Dick Clinchy
In my early days in prehospital emergency care, if we thought about
immobilizing someone's head, we thought sand bags were the thing to use.
Since then we've seen a plethora of devices. Now, Laerdal seems to have
taken the best of all those ideas to create its Speedblocks.™

>> BOOK REVIEW: A Timely Book about Terrorism ( 02-03-02)
by Syd Canan
Timing is everything, and the release of this book in July 2001 eerily
preceded the atrocities of September 11. Written by two of the industry's
most knowledgeable and field-experienced disaster/terrorist specialists, it
is a "must read" for anyone in emergency service these days.

>> BOOK REVIEW: The Project 50 ( 02-03-02)
by Mike Taigman
Several years ago I attended a four-hour business presentation given by Tom
Peters at the Paramount Theater in downtown Denver. People like me who'd
paid $90 a ticket filled all 6,000 seats to hear the business gospel
preached by guru Peters. He took the stage and said, "I pride myself on
never having had an original thought.


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Management Matters
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>> How Will the New Medicare Fee Schedule Affect Your Rural Mileage Charges?
(02-03-02)
by Tom Scott
When the new Medicare Fee Schedule is implemented on April 1, Medicare will
pay a premium for mileage for trips originating in a rural zip code. This is
a great opportunity for rural providers to increase revenues, which is what
the members of the Negotiated Rule Making Committee intended. But it isn't
that simple...

>> For Managers:
What Satisfies Medics? (02-03-02)
by John M. Becknell
A recent Harris poll found that three factors most determine job
satisfaction: having control over one's work, using one's talents and
skills, and receiving sufficient recognition and appreciation. Consider
these three factors within an EMS context.

>> For Administrators:
Fight Overtime Costs by Slowing Absenteeism (02-03-02)
by Lauren Simon Ostrow
When Warren, Michigan, Mayor Mark Steenburgh presented his FY2001 budget
last year, he blasted what he called a "conspiracy" of firefighters who were
bilking taxpayers.

More online!

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Click here: http://www.MERGINET.com/newsroom/

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MERGINET is a service designed to provide resources, news, education and
fun to the all in EMS, Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medicine. Updated daily.
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