Sorting Out Our EMS Research Priorities

I’d like to pose a question to you. Perhaps this is one of those questions that I should be happy to be asking. The entire idea of me needing…or even wanting to ask this question bodes well for the future of EMS. So *deep breath* here it goes. What are the most pressing questions that EMS researchers should attempt to answer? The reason I’m asking this question today is because of a string of comments I’ve recently received regarding EMS research. As an example, Bil (yes, one L) recently left a great comment on my post about the face flick as an assessment tool. Bil has done some thinking about appropriate use of painful stimuli and shared an excerpt of his previous writings. Bil is obviously a thoughtful and well educated EMS provider. But Bil also leads off his comment with a very common question. One that brought me to my question. Follow me on this. Bil writes, “I would be curious to know what data or research/evidence exists about a facial flick. I like the concept but I am sure there is a right and a wrong way to effect the corneal reflex.” And that got me thinking. My first thought was, yes, perhaps we should investigate the most appropriate means to stimulate the corneal reflex and then educate our EMS providers to use this method exclusively. The truth is, like so many other things in prehospital care, I’ve adopted the face flick as an assessment tool because I’ve used it and I find it clinically useful. But I can find ...
Source: The EMT Spot - Category: Ambulance Crew Authors: Tags: Skills The Big Get It slider Source Type: blogs