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- Jun 27, 2006
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As far as docs riding...I know two of the docs at the ER ride with local volunteer agencies as medics. Both started out as paramedics, and keep doing it because they love the job. One of them does it sporadically, but the other has a weekly duty night. As far as what their level of care is, they can only practice up to paramedic standards when they are in charge (one of them got his wrist slapped by the hospital for assuming he had standing orders for more MSO4 than state protocols said he did as a medic). However, if they are not providing any patient care, as in are the driver or a second medic on scene but won't be riding it in to the hospital, they can act as a ER doc in the capacity of being able to give orders to the medics (so instead of calling the ER for an order for more MSO4, they just ask the guy who's standing next to him). But if they provide any care enroute to the hospital, they still need to call the ER to get a "second opinion." And at no point in time are they allowed to perform any treatments that go beyond the state/local protocols for paramedic.