RE: The Email That Started it All

June 9, 2005

I don't care for some of the patronizing I see on the various lists

either, and this person may have some valid points. However, all

credibility is lost by the anonymous nature of the post. Who is this

person? What credentials do they posess? Do they attend the

meetings/events/forums they vilify Dr. Bledsoe for failing to attend?

May I ask this person to identify themself and give us an idea as to

affiliation/credentials? Or is that too much to ask?

Roy Strange, EMT-P

> It truly amazes me that this forum continues at this rate, poking

fun at ones that really care about the well being of their patients.

You know, I rarely look at the emails here and debate each time that

I open my mail wheather to stay on this list server or to be removed.

I don't know about most of the folks here, but some of you should

just be on an instant messenger so you can make each other glow in

your little worlds. It seems that the ones that frequently post, poke

fun at folks, their spelling and try to degrade their posts, are the

ones that have too much time on their hands. Do you work? do you have

a life? do you have a family? do you spend time doing other things?

Those of us that have had experiences with the posters know that they

really do not have a voice where it counts. Bledsoe, why do you not

show up at air provider meetings through out the state? Why are you

not involved in GETAC meetings? Why are you not at the state level

lobbying for your causes? It is obvious that you have lost your

creditability with the ones that are doing the right thing. I think

that you would be welcomed into any RAC meeting through out the

state. Now, would you be willing to be there? I doubt it, that is

where you can make a difference, you hide behind the computer and

your publishings, never coming out to confront the ones that you bash

day in and day out. I have read your texts, in fact I remember when

you were a Paramedic on the streets of Ft.Worth, and the admiration

that lot's of folks had for you becoming a DO, now when your name is

mentioned in the RAC's, GETAC and Air Provider meetings throughout

the state people get this blank look and say things like, " are you

serious " , " do you really believe that he is serious " or you just get

the roll of the eyes. Well, good luck, keep the faith and remember

you will get respect when you shoe respect.

> >

> > From: " Bledsoe " <bbledsoe@e...>

> > Date: 2005/06/08 Wed PM 01:34:41 CDT

> > To: < >,

<Paramedicine >,

> > <ems-l@n...>

> > Subject: The Email That Started it All

> >

> > ----Original Message-----

> > From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

> > Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003, 12:21 PM

> > To: 'bbledsoe@e...'

> > Subject: concerning information

> >

> > dear mr bledson,

> > i wanted to write you a letter concernin your article about

exploding ems

> > myths....

> > i was given the article by a lifetime board member of the

ambulance service

> > i have been actually a part of for 20 years. i have been an emt

for 20 years

> > and i am presently crew chief and an active president of the

cisd/cism team

> > for our area which i have been a part of for over 10 years. my

paying job

> > is a 911 dispatcher for police, fire & ems which i have been

doing for over

> > 17 years.

> > when i was given the article i was quite taken back by it...

not sure

> > exactly how to take it.... then i decided the only was was to

just be

> > very upset!!!

> > alot of the information in your article was very untrue. with

all of my

> > diffrenet experiences, i have watch several of them really happe,

with a

> > good outcome several times!!! you have written your article

because you

> > have a right to your opinions. did you ever stop to think about

the damge

> > it could cause, with those people who are not really sure about

what they

> > should or should not do? or maybe some of the new people

involved in

> > emergency services that maybe don't call for a helicopter when

they should

> > or run with red lights and siren when they should or get a

cism/cisd

> > intervention when they should.... because they were on the

edge of not

> > knowing what to do and your article pushed them over the wrong

edge? what

> > is going to happen then mr. bledson? maybe you don't care?

> > i , like alot of people, read all the fire and ems magazine that

set around

> > the stations..... alot of people are going to read your

article..... i

> > would say that most probably wont agree with it. i persnoally

hope your

> > myths article will be the one that everybody does not read. mr

bledson i

> > don't mean any disrespect at all, i am just very upset be i that

being all

> > that i am and doing all that i have done to help people. and then

poeple

> > like you can right an article like that!!!!

> >

> > NAME WITHELD

> > XXXXXX, Indiana

> >

> > -------------------------------------------------------

> > And you wonder why EMS does not get the attention it deserves.

Only today I

> > got a dirty email saying the reading level of my textbooks is too

high and

> > we need to lower it. Jeez, I am going to quit and be a farmer

(or a

> > pirate).

> >

June 9, 2005

Roy:

Don't worry about it. Unsigned emails are simply sent for their inflammatory

nature--the author too embarrassed to sign them. About 3 years ago I was

sitting with Jim Page in California lamenting the fact that I was in a

rut...all that I was writing and presenting was standard medical talks. He

said, " Why don't you take on something more controversial? " He said, " The

only way EMS will evolve is that if a few sacred cows are eaten. " He

suggested taking on CISM, SSM, and PUMs. The rest I came up with through my

own research. Jim warned me to be prepared to take some heat (including ad

hominem attacks like this email) and I was. The series was published and it

caused quite a stir. Interestingly, the vast majority of the letters were

positive (probably 90%) and of the negative letters, virtually all came from

those with a vested interest (financial, emotional) in the item being

criticized. Now, two years later people in EMS no longer take things at face

value. There was recently a thread on " critical thinking " which is exactly

what the myths series was about. Consider this:

Myth # 1: MAST (this was already debunked and used as an example)

Myth # 2: Thrombolytic therapy for stroke (it is still not a standard of

care although the literature has been more positive)

Myth # 3: CISM (This has been debunked and the lay media have now picked up

on this and have run numerous stories about problems with the practice. I

have been interviewed by the Chicago Tribune and CNN on this issue as well

as other papers. The mainstream psychology journals have thoroughly trashed

the practice.)

Myth # 4: Lights and Sirens (This was picked up and circulated by several

RACs and EMS agencies and practices started to change--particularly on the

east coast).

Myth # 5: Steroids for Spinal Cord Injury (a peer-reviewed position paper by

NAEMSP and others put this myth to rest)

Myth # 6: Medical Helicopters (this is probably what upsets " flymedic1 " .

Over 3 years ago we started publishing information about medical helicopter

safety and overusage. Today, the FAA and numerous agencies are investigating

the industry. There have been numerous articles in the Wall Street Journal,

New York Times, and numerous small town papers and TV stations. Medicare and

other payers are no refusing to pay for non-critical helicopter usage. Most

importantly, instead of publishing this on email and trade magazines we have

been publishing in peer-review journals [Journal of Trauma] which should

eliminate much of the criticisms.)

Myth # 7: SSM (This too has been debunked and people starting to challenge

it at every turn. In Canada, it has become a big deal. I have done

interviews for both the Toronto and Ottawa papers).

Myth # 8: PUMs (MAST nearly collapsed and received a cash transfusion. Rural

Metro pulled out of MedStar. Other programs are having problems. No new PUMs

in 20 years.)

Thus, Jim was right. Somebody must be listening. Book sales are up. Magazine

editors want more articles.

By the way, " flymedic1 " is quite misinformed. I am on the GETAC Medical

Directors committee and was at the last meeting in Austin. I interact 20-30

times a year with field personnel. I co-chaired the CEB for the United

States Special Operations Command. I am working with the International

Association of Flight Paramedics (on almost a daily basis) and have been

invited to air medical events (but have had previous commitments). I didn't

see " flymedic1 " at any of the conferences in Illinois, Colorado, California,

Wyoming, Florida, Washington, West Virginia, Oregon, Idaho, South Dakota,

Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire, New

York, and so on. He or she must have missed it when I taught a lecture in an

intro paramedic course in New York state. How about the two lectures at

EMStock? He or she was not at the dinner in Austin with the Texas State

Representative where we talked about problems with Texas EMS. Who is really

hiding behind their computer and writings?

E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP

Midlothian, TX

My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy!

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/

concerning information

> >

> > dear mr bledson,

> > i wanted to write you a letter concernin your article about

exploding ems

> > myths....

> > i was given the article by a lifetime board member of the

ambulance service

> > i have been actually a part of for 20 years. i have been an emt

for 20 years

> > and i am presently crew chief and an active president of the

cisd/cism team

> > for our area which i have been a part of for over 10 years. my

paying job

> > is a 911 dispatcher for police, fire & ems which i have been

doing for over

> > 17 years.

> > when i was given the article i was quite taken back by it...

not sure

> > exactly how to take it.... then i decided the only was was to

just be

> > very upset!!!

> > alot of the information in your article was very untrue. with

all of my

> > diffrenet experiences, i have watch several of them really happe,

with a

> > good outcome several times!!! you have written your article

because you

> > have a right to your opinions. did you ever stop to think about

the damge

> > it could cause, with those people who are not really sure about

what they

> > should or should not do? or maybe some of the new people

involved in

> > emergency services that maybe don't call for a helicopter when

they should

> > or run with red lights and siren when they should or get a

cism/cisd

> > intervention when they should.... because they were on the

edge of not

> > knowing what to do and your article pushed them over the wrong

edge? what

> > is going to happen then mr. bledson? maybe you don't care?

> > i , like alot of people, read all the fire and ems magazine that

set around

> > the stations..... alot of people are going to read your

article..... i

> > would say that most probably wont agree with it. i persnoally

hope your

> > myths article will be the one that everybody does not read. mr

bledson i

> > don't mean any disrespect at all, i am just very upset be i that

being all

> > that i am and doing all that i have done to help people. and then

poeple

> > like you can right an article like that!!!!

> >

> > NAME WITHELD

> > XXXXXX, Indiana

> >

> > -------------------------------------------------------

> > And you wonder why EMS does not get the attention it deserves.

Only today I

> > got a dirty email saying the reading level of my textbooks is too

high and

> > we need to lower it. Jeez, I am going to quit and be a farmer

(or a

> > pirate).

> >

June 9, 2005

There's a very, very large overreaction.

I can understand people who don't agree with Dr. Bledsoe's views on

CISM or other issues. Not all agree with mine, yours, or anyone's. Have

an open mind to views counter to yours. I take that re-posting of an

unidentified person's e-mail to be rather amusing but do not take it as

though , or Wes, or anyone else is attacking someone. But you

certainly have now. And in an very undeserving way. There may have been

some " poking fun " at that post but your post takes this off the chart in

terms of a bashing. Bledsoe remains a man who has earned, and

keeps, a lot of respect. Your opinion and attack on him doesn't change

that.

Many EMS-related physicians don't choose to be present at GETAC or air

provider meetings (I believe Bledsoe is one who has participated a

lot over the years in organizations and committees). But if one chooses

not to we shouldn't bash them for that no more than when EMT's,

Paramedics, EMS educators, etc. don't attend. That's a choice each can

make and yet all are still entitled to their opinion. I don't have to

agree with everything says either but attacking as you have is

really senseless.

In the event your bashing of the good doctor has come about due to a

long shift, no sleep, and a lot of calls or flights - we've all been

there. This we understand. Get some good rest (seriously) and possibly

your thoughts won't be quite as harsh later. Good luck.

Don Elbert

Tyler

>>> flymedic1@... 6/8/2005 11:17:34 PM >>>

It truly amazes me that this forum continues at this rate, poking fun

at ones that really care about the well being of their patients. You

know, I rarely look at the emails here and debate each time that I open

my mail wheather to stay on this list server or to be removed. I don't

know about most of the folks here, but some of you should just be on an

instant messenger so you can make each other glow in your little worlds.

It seems that the ones that frequently post, poke fun at folks, their

spelling and try to degrade their posts, are the ones that have too much

time on their hands. Do you work? do you have a life? do you have a

family? do you spend time doing other things? Those of us that have had

experiences with the posters know that they really do not have a voice

where it counts. Bledsoe, why do you not show up at air provider

meetings through out the state? Why are you not involved in GETAC

meetings? Why are you not at the state level lobbying for your causes?

It is obvious that you have lost your creditability with the ones that

are doing the right thing. I think that you would be welcomed into any

RAC meeting through out the state. Now, would you be willing to be

there? I doubt it, that is where you can make a difference, you hide

behind the computer and your publishings, never coming out to confront

the ones that you bash day in and day out. I have read your texts, in

fact I remember when you were a Paramedic on the streets of Ft.Worth,

and the admiration that lot's of folks had for you becoming a DO, now

when your name is mentioned in the RAC's, GETAC and Air Provider

meetings throughout the state people get this blank look and say things

like, " are you serious " , " do you really believe that he is serious " or

you just get the roll of the eyes. Well, good luck, keep the faith and

remember you will get respect when you shoe respect.

>

> Date: 2005/06/08 Wed PM 01:34:41 CDT

> To: < >, <Paramedicine >,

>

> Subject: The Email That Started it All

>

> ----Original Message-----

> From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003, 12:21 PM

> To: 'bbledsoe@...'

> Subject: concerning information

>

> dear mr bledson,

> i wanted to write you a letter concernin your article about exploding

ems

> myths....

> i was given the article by a lifetime board member of the ambulance

service

> i have been actually a part of for 20 years. i have been an emt for

20 years

> and i am presently crew chief and an active president of the

cisd/cism team

> for our area which i have been a part of for over 10 years. my

paying job

> is a 911 dispatcher for police, fire & ems which i have been doing

for over

> 17 years.

> when i was given the article i was quite taken back by it... not

sure

> exactly how to take it.... then i decided the only was was to just

be

> very upset!!!

> alot of the information in your article was very untrue. with all of

my

> diffrenet experiences, i have watch several of them really happe,

with a

> good outcome several times!!! you have written your article because

you

> have a right to your opinions. did you ever stop to think about the

damge

> it could cause, with those people who are not really sure about what

they

> should or should not do? or maybe some of the new people involved

in

> emergency services that maybe don't call for a helicopter when they

should

> or run with red lights and siren when they should or get a cism/cisd

> intervention when they should.... because they were on the edge of

not

> knowing what to do and your article pushed them over the wrong edge?

what

> is going to happen then mr. bledson? maybe you don't care?

> i , like alot of people, read all the fire and ems magazine that set

around

> the stations..... alot of people are going to read your

article..... i

> would say that most probably wont agree with it. i persnoally hope

your

> myths article will be the one that everybody does not read. mr

bledson i

> don't mean any disrespect at all, i am just very upset be i that

being all

> that i am and doing all that i have done to help people. and then

poeple

> like you can right an article like that!!!!

>

> NAME WITHELD

> XXXXXX, Indiana

>

> -------------------------------------------------------

> And you wonder why EMS does not get the attention it deserves. Only

today I

> got a dirty email saying the reading level of my textbooks is too

high and

> we need to lower it. Jeez, I am going to quit and be a farmer (or a

> pirate).

>

June 9, 2005