trauma gadgets

[tinaree123]

I work in a hospital on the navajo indian reservation. We are not classified as a trauma center but tell that to all the traumas we stabilize and turf elsewhere. We are a mash unit. We get unimaginable MVC, A&B, GSW, penetrating wounds, cardic, burn, drug ingestion patients delivered to our door via chopper, EMS, POV, even horseback. We stablize and ship elsewhere but due to our rural location, we often sit on patients for hours/days sometimes until we've stabilized enough to go to our own ICU (or morgue). We often have transport issues like weather too bad for choppers, no transport crews available, no lights on our runway (so no night fixed wing). We have no nuero and often have no ortho on call. we also often run out of things like blood tubes, male end caps, sterile gloves, nebulizer masks, pacer pads, xray film, etc. Your basic mash unit, LOL. But this week we were told we are being handed a large budget for some equipment to deal with trauma. So I was hoping some of you would be able to tell me what you use and like or would put on your dream gadget list. We already have a blood/fliud rapid infuser, portable ultrasound and a fiberoptic layringescope. We have asked for MADs, a transilluminator and possibly a larger stryker (does anyone know of a good one) for all the increasingly morbidly obese patients we are seeing. Does anyone know of a better, easier lifter than a hoyer we could look at? All your help would be greatly appreciated.

[mwboswell]

Hey, I read your post - sounds like a definitely INTERESTING setting to work in to say the least!!!!

Are you guys a "federal" hospital with federal funding under the Public Health Service????

What kind of trauma training/education do you get? TNCC?

Thanks!

-MB

[tinaree123]

yes we are federal civilian employees but we also have commissioned corp and travelers. I keep certs in acls, pals, apls, tncc, enpc, and nals.

[paranurse]

How are you fixed for airway stuff? Bougie? Scopes? Vents? Touch base with some of the flight services and see what is common for them (especially if they transport your patients outside). If you are close I could suggest some contacts.

[mwboswell]

Where do you get your TNCC and ACLS training from?

[tinaree123]

Where do you get your TNCC and ACLS training from?

our hospital offers it but classes are constantly canceled due to the fact that education only offers it on their own schedule and won't work with the er to try to keep us up to date. there are 2 private hospitals who offer classes and i usually go there. our current medical director keeps us certed in pals and apls since he loves apls.

[tinaree123]

How are you fixed for airway stuff? Bougie? Scopes? Vents? Touch base with some of the flight services and see what is common for them (especially if they transport your patients outside). If you are close I could suggest some contacts.

bougie is a good idea, we don't have portable vents but that becomes resp depts problem ( remember goverment and confusing illogical budgets). we are looking at a remote monitored laryngascope ( we currently use a fiber optic)

ps we are shiprock nm

[mwboswell]

our hospital offers it but classes are constantly canceled due to the fact that education only offers it on their own schedule and won't work with the er to try to keep us up to date. there are 2 private hospitals who offer classes and i usually go there. our current medical director keeps us certed in pals and apls since he loves apls.

you can email me privately if we need to see about coming out there to do a TNCC class or any other training we do. we can do it on your schedule. just let me know.

[paranurse]

Glydescope or similar could beneficial. Try the vendors for a loaner or offer as a site for research. We have used alot of equipment this way (long term test drive). Maybe a tour of the bigger facilities locally might be helpful as well. (UNMH ED, Lovelace, Presbytarian, San Juan.) If I can help, let me know. I work and fly from ABQ and Grants.