The Street Saint: Emergency at the Emergency Services

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Publisher:  Algora Publishing
Number Of Pages:  240
Publication Date:  2002-08
Sales Rank:  4689903
ISBN / ASIN:  1892941813
EAN:  9781892941817
Binding:  Hardcover
Manufacturer:  Algora Publishing
Studio:  Algora Publishing
Average Rating:  4


A veteran paramedic decries the declining standards within the commercial ambulance corps and hospital emergency rooms. In a dramatic semi-autobiographical volume he points out several factors driving the decline (abuse and overwhelming of the system by Medicare/Medicaid patients and other non-emergency patients; and the way fiscal requirements distort how the services are run



Download Description:

A veteran paramedic decries the declining standards within the commercial ambulance corps and hospital emergency rooms. In a dramatic semi-autobiographical volume he points out several factors driving the decline -- abuse and overwhelming of the system by Medicare/Medicaid patients and other non-emergency patients; and the way fiscal requirements distort how the services are run.



Review:

Interesting perspective, but soft and in need of editing.

Most EMS books focus on the visceral aspects of the job. Purdy's book incorporates interesting tales and commentary during a career in EMS, but comes up drastically short in clarity of story.

The recurring metaphor is the idea of the patient as sinner and medic as saint. This metaphor makes for confusing and contrived prose. While the message has great potential, it chokes under the weight of weak editing and spastic flow.

I wanted to like this book. The thoughtful discussion on the author's choice of pre-hospital care versus a second career as a physican are memorable. Cliched writing and the autobiographical dillution take away, rather than add to, the overall idea.

There's a good book here, but its buried. That pre-hospital care and the whole system of emergency medicine has been driven into the toilet is worthy of discussion. Unfortunately, this isn't a discussion medium that will be noticed.

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