336 – SLP by day, EMT by night: How Emergency Medical Tech Training Enhanced This SLP’s Practice

Swallow Your Pride Podcast

As an SLP, you’re most likely to see a patient when they’re medically stable…but what if you could also be there from the start of their medical emergency?

What if you were part of the team who hops in the ambulance, assesses how critical someone’s condition is, and provides the first attempt in stablizing their health until you can get them to the hospital?

That’s what Eleanor Smyser, M.S., CCC-SLP, A-EMT does!

Eleanor is both an advanced emergency medical technician (EMT) and medical SLP, and she’s here today to share her experiences and how her training as an EMT has crossed over into her life as an SLP - and vice versa!

Join us as we discuss…

the importance of understanding airway management and patient stability
the value of interdisciplinary collaboration
Elanor’s personal story about her son's emergency, highlighting the critical role of emergency medical services (EMS).
how combining SLP and EMS expertise can enhance patient care and outcomes
a call for SLPs to broaden their medical knowledge.

Tune in and share your thoughts!

Get the show notes at https://syppodcast.com/336

Timestamps

Eleanor's Journey into EMS (00:02:52)
First Experience in EMS (00:03:53)
Training During COVID (00:04:08)
EMT Training Insights (00:05:42)
Integration of EMT Knowledge into SLP Practice (00:06:33)
Importance of Patient Stability (00:07:29)
Holistic Patient Care Perspective (00:09:02)
Data Points for Decision Making (00:11:22)
Airway Management Equipment Overview (00:13:29)
Basic Airway Devices (00:14:21)
Super Melodic Airway Devices (00:15:13)
Introduction to Supergalactic Airways (00:17:24)
Traditional Intubation Methods (00:18:15)
Emergency Cricothyrotomy (00:19:21)
Personal Experience with Son's Emergency (00:19:29)
Calmness in Crisis (00:21:01)
Importance of Familiarity in Emergency Services (00:21:53)
Lessons Learned from Emergency Situations (00:22:38)
Building Relationships with EMS (00:23:11)
Understanding Patient Emergencies (00:25:13)
Teamwork in High-Stakes Situations (00:27:22)
Communication Skills from EMS Experience (00:30:29)
Importance of SLPs in Medical Teams (00:32:26)
Encouragement for SLPs to Explore EMS (00:34:01)
Eleanor's Sabbatical and Work Schedule (00:35:08)
Volunteer Shifts and Work-Life Balance (00:36:04)

The post 336 – SLP by day, EMT by night: How Emergency Medical Tech Training Enhanced This SLP’s Practice appeared first on Swallow Your Pride Podcast.