I have a job, and some classes

So I've had some questions about what a "Health Promoter" does. Essentially they develop programs to increase awareness, compliance, safety and health in the community or industries they choose to work in. The reason I am in this track instead of say, Environmental/Occupational Health or Epidemiology, is that I plan to use this training and knowledge to make me a better Paramedic. I see the more progressive EMS systems in the country as taking a more public health oriented course in their future. I mean, why not? Trauma and chronic disease (the major reasons for EMS utilization) are public health problems. In some EMS systems, they are identifying at risk patients (usually "frequent fliers"), and developing programs to decrease their need to visit the Emergency Department. For example, a diabetic who is non-compliant with his oral medication and diet recommendations frequently calls 911 for low blood sugars and minor injuries related to his peripheral neuropathy (a complication of uncontrolled diabetes). If the EMS system preemptively came by his house at scheduled intervals and visited with him, they might prevent his need to utilize the EMS system for transport to the hospital. They might go over a checklist where they offer to check his blood sugar, look through his refrigerator to see if he has appropriate meal options. Check his supply of oral medication, and if low or depleted, offer recommendations on low cost prescription options ($4 prescription plans, etc.). They could also survey the house and try to eliminate trip hazards and make sure he has a pair of "house shoes" to prevent foot injuries, a precursor to diabetic ulcers and injuries that require amputation. All this could be done in an hour, and in that prevention visit, which probably costs the community $70, they could avoid a trip to the ED that would cost over $1400, which would also be charged to the hospital and the community if the patient is unable to pay (honestly, most patients that match this description can't). I could help develop those programs, after getting some Paramedic street cred.

/Rave.

So anyways, I have a job. I am a research assistant for a father-son professor team on campus. They teach in my department and I actually have classes from them both. I am researching articles describing experiments done to prove the ideas behind the upcoming changes in the First Aid Guidelines put out by the American Red Cross and American Heart Association. This is the first research position, so these first weeks have been about getting used to the searches etc. Later next week I will present what I have so far so I can restart it and do it the right way after they give me comments on what I have so far. It's going to be for a book used in First Aid Training. And I get to pick my hours. Sweet, but tempting to put in fewer hours than I need to, as I don't have "scheduled hours."

Classes are good. As I mentioned, I am taking classes from my employers (professors). They are both named Thygerson (said THUR-ga-son). The father teaches my Injury Prevention class, and the son teaches my Occupational Safety and Health class. Injury Prevention is being taught using a team learning approach. We take a test every class, once as individuals, once as teams. We do an application activity as a team every week, and starting next week, we will be doing team presentations on interventions to prevent specific injuries (in 2 weeks, my team covers Occupant Protection in Motor Vehicle Collisions, I am covering the "seat belt reminder light" and it's effectiveness in preventing injury). I am surprised how much I like this class as well as my Occupational Health class. I find the idea of being a safety manager at a company interesting. My other classes are the Public Health Intro class, which I have yet to get a seat in (I am enrolled, but there are exactly the number of students as there are seats, and no one scoots to the center of the aisle.) Also Program Planning and Evaluation, which is only once a week. The teacher is interesting, but his lectures are very scatter brained. I guess we'll see how I do on the first test... Aside from that I am getting credit for research, taking a Geology class for GEs and also taking the EMS Continuing Ed class.

Yup, I'm doing BYU EMS again. I am a "floating" supervisor this year, meaning I fill in where needed. I will be co-teaching some of the classes this year as well, specifically the Pediatrics Section. More on this later probably.

As far as fun stuff, I spent the night at a friend's cabin up near Sundance. I went last year for an EFY Counselor Clump, and just like last year it was a blast. Thanks Davis and Jenna for inviting me. Great night sky, clear crisp mountain air, and staying up till 4am talking to friends. It was great.

So that's the last week in a nutshell. Take care all!

Hey, I'm posting!

So since I last posted, I have shaken the former POTUS' hand, been in the West Wing twice, the Oval Office once, kept a fish alive for more than a few days (I'm on almost 3 months here), gone on a date(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), and gone contra dancing.  

So yeah, about the date.  As some people know, I haven't forayed into dating very much, so experience is light in this area.  I think it went well though.  I was running late (as always), and then we had some setbacks along the way, most of which included me getting lost.  Aaron was amazing though and got us through by having a friend with Secret Service connections reschedule our entrance time.  Kind of cool, eh?  Having a brother that knows someone with connections like that?   Chris, a bud from EFY (3 years running) who is doing military training in the area was great enough to accompany me with his date, Lyndsay, a nurse from the area.  My date, Kandi, was also an acquaintance from EFY this summer, works in the area for a company that does group and team building activities in an outdoor setting.

Here's a picture of it: we forgot a camera, so cell phones pictures are all that I have to treasure it...

As for the fish, his name is Botticelli (the bott part is pronounced like the word BOAT).  Here is a picture:

He is a good friend, and it is nice to have something else alive in the basement with me.  If you are curious, over the summer another Betta named Botticelli and I became friends, though I think his name was said "bott" and not "boat."  Anywho, this was (where else?) at EFY this summer, and at one point we thought he had died.  He floated at the top of the bowl for an hour, and then started swimming again... Later we deduced that the air bubbles from having his water changed from an aerated faucet made him buoyant.  It was traumatic nonetheless.

Coming up in some more recent installments, I talk about NREMT testing and results, and the exciting prospect of moving in April... Till next time, I will leave you with this cool video of contra dancing in Glen Echo park. (Skip to about 55 seconds to get to the good part, it is fun, and you actually pick it up kind of fast, more on this as I plan to go again).

In the tops of the mountains...

Stewart Falls - Provo Canyon - Near Davis' family cabin
Suffice it to say, I am having a blast out here in Utah. I will give better details in coming posts, but I am staying at Gpa. Bezzant's house right now. I have taken care of a lot of details for me to return to BYU next fall, and I have seen a lot of people I know and love out here. Namely, family, work friends (RAs, BYU security friends, and EFY COUNSELORS...), and a lot of guys that were residents when I was an RA. It has been great to see them become great men, and also see how the ways in which they haven't changed, which can be comical. Oh, and I have met up with a few people from BYU EMS, and things are really starting to take off for the program in a lot of ways. I feel like I could write term-paper sized posts about each of these areas. Things are going very well though. I feel sad I will be leaving.