Comments on: BLS vs. ALS vs. Cutting Costs http://buyempblog.com/2009/04/bls-vs-als-vs-cutting-costs/ EMS Blog Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:51:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John Pitman http://buyempblog.com/2009/04/bls-vs-als-vs-cutting-costs/comment-page-1/#comment-132 John Pitman Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:36:39 +0000 http://www.buyempblog.com/2009/04/bls-vs-als-vs-cutting-costs/#comment-132 I disagree that ALS providers don't make a difference. My station is 1.5 hrs from any ED by ground, 30 min by air. We make a huge difference in CHF, COPD, chest pain, etc. We do not transport cardiac arrest patients. We work them for 20-25 minutes, and then contact med control for permission to cease efforts. In an urban area with an ED 5 minutes away, I can see your point. But then again, if you have an asthma attack on the 4th floor, wouldn't you want a treatment while you were being carried to the unit? I agree with using BLS units for BLS calls, but don't eliminate all ALS units. I disagree that ALS providers don’t make a difference. My station is 1.5 hrs from any ED by ground, 30 min by air. We make a huge difference in CHF, COPD, chest pain, etc. We do not transport cardiac arrest patients. We work them for 20-25 minutes, and then contact med control for permission to cease efforts.

In an urban area with an ED 5 minutes away, I can see your point. But then again, if you have an asthma attack on the 4th floor, wouldn’t you want a treatment while you were being carried to the unit?

I agree with using BLS units for BLS calls, but don’t eliminate all ALS units.

]]> By: Edward http://buyempblog.com/2009/04/bls-vs-als-vs-cutting-costs/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Edward Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:03:27 +0000 http://www.buyempblog.com/2009/04/bls-vs-als-vs-cutting-costs/#comment-131 Your question of whether “(is) it better to have both BLS and ALS ambulances and not take a chance on saving someone’s life that really needs ALS?” is in itself a flawed question. Your question makes assumptions that ALS will save someone’s life over BLS. The fact is that multiple retrospective, prospective meta-analysis and clinical trials have shown that in fact outcomes are essentially the same if not improved with BLS intervention vs. ALS. We would like to think that having individuals with additional training and resources would provide an advantage in regards to pre-hospital patient outcomes. However, the facts clearly show otherwise. Therefore the answer is clear; BLS is the solution to both budgetary responsibilities without compromise on patient outcomes. I think Dr Richard Saitz summed it up best by saying “Social psychology literature suggests that people cling to belief even in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. But, as physicians and scientists, we should embrace change when new evidence consistently contradicts our prior beliefs and clinical practice.” Edward Ye Emergency Medicine Boston MA Your question of whether “(is) it better to have both BLS and ALS ambulances and not take a chance on saving someone’s life that really needs ALS?” is in itself a flawed question. Your question makes assumptions that ALS will save someone’s life over BLS. The fact is that multiple retrospective, prospective meta-analysis and clinical trials have shown that in fact outcomes are essentially the same if not improved with BLS intervention vs. ALS.

We would like to think that having individuals with additional training and resources would provide an advantage in regards to pre-hospital patient outcomes. However, the facts clearly show otherwise. Therefore the answer is clear; BLS is the solution to both budgetary responsibilities without compromise on patient outcomes. I think Dr Richard Saitz summed it up best by saying “Social psychology literature suggests that people cling to belief even in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. But, as physicians and scientists, we should embrace change when new evidence consistently contradicts our prior beliefs and clinical practice.”
Edward Ye
Emergency Medicine
Boston MA

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