Cabulance Service Inc.

Ahh once again the Cabulance was out on the road. Female pt. with abdominal pain. Sounds like an actual call, the only problem is she was a pt. at the ER two days ago for the same thing. At which point she was told that she should follow up with her primary physician. Today she called his office and found out she couldn't get an appointment until the 5th of November. Ok I can overlook that, but they proceeded to tell her if the pain came back she should head to the ER and be evaluated. Wouldn't you know it. Suddenly her pain came back. 10/10 pain showing no real distress. She was able to walk out to the road and meet us, and then hop up into the ambulance to the cot and have a seat. Without a tear shed

Now I don't have a problem with doing these calls if they are legit. Although today it really didn't bother me Now had it been 2 AM then I might not have been so chipper. The saddest part about all this is the fact that we as EMS workers see it everyday and night. People who hold a gold card (Medicare) decide that they need to go to the hospital because they stubbed their toe on the coffee table. So they call 911 and say they need an ambulance. All hours of the day, all types of weather. We head out and pick these people up. Putting valuable ambulances out of service for those that really do have medical emergencies. Now don't get me wrong, I know there are those that have Medicare cards that actually need it. And that leave us alone and only call when they actually need an ambulance. Especially with all of the hard working Americans that are laid off that actually need to use it, but there are those that taint the system to ruin it for them. And unfortunately the ones that taint the system, that call for an ambulance all the time, make those that work in the system very prejudicial. I think that those that are "frequent flyers" or abusers of the system should have to take a quiz. And wouldn't you know it I already have a few questions in mind for this test:

1. If you are walking through your living room and the end table jumps out in front of you causing you to stub your toe do you:

    A. Call an Ambulance
    B. Call a taxi
    C. Put some ice on it and wait to see what happens

2. If you are carrying a grill at 3 AM at it slips out of your hands and you strain your back do you

     A. Call an ambulance and beg for some pain meds
     B. Call a cab and go to the ER and beg for some pain meds
     C. Put some ice on it and wait to see what happens

3. If you start feeling severe chest pain and you can't catch your breath do you

    A. Call an ambulance
    B. Call a cab
    C. Put some ice on it and see what happens

What do you think, if you have any ideas about how to make the test better leave a comment.