Medic2Medic Podcast

Episode 200: Jake Jones is a Paramedic in the UK and has written a book called "Can You Hear Me" Jake Jones is his penned name and we discuss why he uses a pseudonym. EMS is Jake's second career. Why choose EMS? Jake answers this question and the reason why he chose EMS. Jake provides an insider look into EMS in the UK with this book. Each Episode (Chapters) in the book provides the reader with in...

Episode 199 is Greg Howard. Greg is the Director of Sales for emsCharts. Greg has over 15 years dedicated to the improvement of healthcare through data. Greg is also from Pittsburgh and we got to talk about our early careers in Pittsburgh and how our paths are very similar. We talk about his path in EMS, emsCharts start, and EMS data and what we should be using the data for. 

I am home recovering from rotator surgery. The other day I was lucky to catch the first 2 episodes of Emergency!. I got to thinking about that pioneering show. As I was listening to the politician try to convince Dr. Bracket to testify and called him a pioneer of Emergency Medicine. In this re-podcast, I had the honor to talk with a pioneer of EMS and Emergency Medicine Dr. Ron Stewart. I am doubl...

Episode 198 is Curt Varone. Curt has over 40 years of fire service experience and 30 years as a practicing attorney. Curt retired after 29 years as a Deputy Assistant Chief. Our discussion surrounds the arming of firefighters. Besides this hot topic, we talk about his career, his two books he wrote, and being an attorney.

Episode 197 is Safe Call Now. Michael Maini and Dan Phillips are part of this Peer Support driven program. Michael and Dan have extensive law enforcement experience and each has their own story that leads them to Safe Call Now.  Safe Call Now is a confidential comprehensive 24-Hour crisis referral service for all public safety professionals and their families. Michael and Dan discuss their careers...

Episode 196 is Eric Chase. Eric's story is a fascinating one that has helped him to find his joy in life. His path through the Army, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and EMS is just part of the story. After having a heart attack in his 30s to suffering a cardiac arrest a few years later and how he bounced back from obstacles is worth the listen. Find out how he did this and found his joy that led to...

Mental health and wellbeing of EMS, Police, Firefighters, and Telecommunicators continues to be a subject that we either talk about or ignore. The public safety arena is making small inroads.  Here is a re-podcast of Dan DeGryse who is making a difference.  Episode 104: Chief Dan DeGryse from the Chicago Fire Department joins the podcast this week. Chief DeGryse has 28 years with CFD and holds the...

Episode 195: David LaCombe is the Vice President of Prehospital Programs at Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) a partnership between the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical.  David worked in Emergency Medical Services for 25 years as a paramedic, educator, and senior leader.  David is leading a breakthrough effort to double survival from witnessed out of hospital cardiac arrest. We...

Episode 194: Ben Clincy is a full-time paramedic as well as a writer/artist and the creator of the popular comic strip “EMScapades". He’s also the star of the “EMScapades: OFF DUTY” podcast and a stand-up comedian who’s performed in clubs, colleges, theatres, bars, and other venues nationwide for more than 14 years. Clincy discusses EMS, life as a comedian, behind the scenes of one of his gigs, th...

Episode 193 is Ernesto Rodriguez. Chief Rodriquez is the Chief of the Austin-Travis County EMS service in Austin, Texas. He has over 38 years of experience in EMS. Chief Rodriguez is one of six Improvement Advisors in the nation who specialize in emergency medical services and has completed training through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. He has introduced improvement science to Austin-T...

Episode 192 is Tammie Bullard. Tammie is a Paramedic in Perth, Western Australia. Tammie is also the author of the book "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (GBU) Paramedic". Her passion for paramedicine is getting people talking about the guts of their role. Not talking up the impressive things they’ve done, not talking over and over about the things that frustrate them, but talking openly and honestl...

Episode 191 is Jonathan Studnek. Jonathan is currently the Deputy Director of Operations for the Mecklenburg EMS Agency. In this position, he is responsible for leading the deployment and utilization of over 350 EMTs and paramedics as well as over 40 tele-communicators. Jonathan is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and overseeing a comprehensive strategy for performance improveme...

Episode 190 is Dan Cohen. Dan has been with Williamson County EMS for 14 years. He produces distributive education and manages media. His EMS journey began like many of his generation, watching "Emergency". Dan takes an unusual path into EMS as becoming a photojournalist first for Time, Forbes, and BusinessWeek. Dan is blending videography and Paramedicine to tell the story of EMS in Central Texas...

As the podcast moves towards the 200th episode, I thought it would be worth the trip back to episode 157. In this episode, my wife takes over the podcast. We talk about my career, the podcast beginnings, and I answer questions submitted by my guests and listeners.

Episode 189 is Drew Anderson. Drew and I met at EMSPRO19 and I heard his presentation and asked Drew to be a guest. Our discussion involves EMS providers health which includes just not mental health, but our physical well-being. We touch on suicide within public safety and prevention. Drew also discusses body mechanics, bringing more help to a call to assist, posture and how we approach a patient...

Episode 188 is Catherine Counts. Catherine discusses her role with Seattle Medic 1, research, and why she is involved with EMS. We also discuss what EMS should be doing to improve EMS research. Catherine interests include health care policy, quality improvement, and of course EMS. Catherine received her PhD and MHA from Tulane.

Episode 187 is AJ Heightman and Mike McEvoy. AJ and Mike talk about journalism in EMS, the new approach for JEMS, EMS in general and lots more. AJ is joining the podcast for the 3rd time and talks about his new exciting role with JEMS. Mike is the Executive Editor for JEMS and discusses his new role and his path to JEMS. Mike is the EMS Coordinator for Saratoga County, NY and a nurse clinician in...

Episode 186 is Richard Gasaway. Richard talks to us about the importance of situational awareness in EMS. Our discussion takes a look at the science behind situational awareness and what influence a dispatch to an incident may influence in our thinking. Richard will take us through the process and provide a few tips on how to be better prepared. Richard is widely considered a trusted authority on...

Episode 185 is Nancy Magee. Nancy has been active in volunteer EMS for 20 years. Is there a volunteer crisis in EMS? You will be intrigued by our discussion on this topic. We also talk about the keys to recruiting and retaining volunteers in EMS. Nancy's career path into in EMS is unique and experience in her previous ventures provides building blocks for her EMS career. As a self-employed busines...

Episode 184 is Ron Romano. Ron is the Chief of the City of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services. Ron started in EMS as EMT in 1975 with Perman Ambulance Service becoming a Paramedic in 1977. In 1978 is when he was hired by the City of Pittsburgh. Ron tells us what job he applied for initially and a simple question by Director Cannon changed his life. We discuss his career, leadership, Pittsburgh...

Episode 183 is Jerry McCormick. Jerry and I discuss workplace safety as well he explains the definition of an active shooter. We also discuss his law enforcement career and what lead him to become an expert and speaking and training organizations in workplace safety all over the world. Jerry delivers transformational training and keynote seminars in the area of security for advancing peoples’ live...

Episode 182 is Kevin Collopy. Kevin is the clinical outcomes manager for New Hanover Reginal Medical Center in Willington NC. Kevin oversees the program's research, education, risk management, and quality assurance. Kevin regularly speaks across the United States and has taught emergency & wilderness medicine on 3 continents. He's an author of over 150 articles and book chapters. As you will hear...

Episode 181 is Oren Barzilay. Oren is the President of FDNY EMS Local 2507. Recently, the Mayor of New York made interesting comments about the EMTs and Paramedics that serve the residents and visitors of NYC. Oren discusses his thoughts regarding the pay comments made by the Mayor. We discuss how Oren made it to New York from Israel, his start in EMS, EMS in NYC, being part of FDNY, as well as in...

Episode 180 is ESO Metrics with Drs Brent Myers and Remle Crowe. An interesting podcast this week as my guests discuss the ESO Metrics Project. Performance metrics are becoming increasingly valuable in the healthcare industry as well as in EMS. Brent and Remle will take us through the project and discuss what metrics are improving, declining, and staying the same. Do you wonder how the item list i...

Episode 179 is Mary Chiesa and Amy Shick. The two sisters have created the AEGIS Neonate Medical Wrap. AEGIS helps facilitate safe hands-free skin to skin bonding to reduce the risk of infant falls, help increase successful breastfeeding rates, and standardize proper infant positioning as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. AEGIS was named a Top 10 Hot New Product this year at EMS T...