Last weekend was the long awaited and very much anticipated premiere of the Chronicles of EMS. If you don’t know about the Chronicles of EMS or “CoEMS” as it’s come to be, then you best be sending some clickage over HERE. This is not going to be a review of the of the weekend or of CoEMS, there are other bloggers, websites, and magazines for that. Rather this will be my own personal account of the weekend and the event. Who I met, where I went, and what it all means to me.
I will say this however. What Mark Glencorse, Justin Schorr and Ted Setla have created with CoEMS and where it will take our profession is amazing. And I could not think of a better or more needed time for this to be happening. I am very proud of them and everyone involved with the project. I am also very happy and privileged to be contributing to the “EMS 2.0″ movement.
So lets begin.
Thursday the the 11th
I arrived in San Francisco around 6pm and checked into the eclectically furnished and rather posh Frank Hotel. This was a great location that Justin and Ted chose for the event. Last year I spent a lot of time in San Francisco, and I was happy to be back. After I was settled in and all of the phone calls back to base had been made, it was time for dinner. After a series of emails, tweets, skypes and phone calls. I realized that I was the only one there, and thus would be dinning alone. I ordered take away from a restaurant down the block from the hotel, and wile walking back remembered what it was like to be in a proper city again.
After dinner and a few more phone calls, I skyped with Ted Setla for about an hour. We talked about his projects, past, present and future. We also discussed plans for the premier the next night and so on. At around 12:30am I saw a tweet by Chris Kaiser (Paramedic/firefighter and author of Life Under The Lights) saying that he had landed in San Francisco. He checked into the hotel and we made plans to go out for some late night nosh and conversation. we met in front of the hotel, and it was the first of many meetings and friendships of the weekend. He was accompanied by his lovely wife Gina, a Paramedic student and firefighter herself. We went to a late night diner around the corner and were very quickly talking to each other as if we had been friends for years. It’s easy to chat when you share a life of EMS, but Chris and Gina were different. And as I was soon to find out, so was everyone I would meet this weekend.
Friday the 12th, and premier day.
Here it was, nearly a year in the making. And it started with me heading out to the airport to pick up the charming “Ms Paramedic“ and host of the GenMed Show Natalie Quebodeaux. She and I think and feel very much the same way on a lot of subjects. And we are both very passionate about our careers, and being part of the change in medicine.
On the way back to the hotel, I tried to give some what of a tour through the fog and getting a bit lost. Later we met up with the Kaisers and Greg Friese (of Every Day EMS Tips and host of the EMS Educast) for lunch. Once again conversation was easy, and managed to fine it’s way back to EMS or education.
In the Lobby of the hotel, Natalie and I ran into Ted Setla and Sam Bradley. Sam (and I mean this in a good way) has been a Paramedic for longer then I have been alive. Nearly two decades of that career were spent in my home town, Running calls on the same streets as me. In addition to her many, many other accomplishments, including to help author my EMT text book. She is also someone who inspired my to start writing. (Thank you Sam)
Show Time
6pm and dressed to impress, I met Ms Paramedic in the lobby and together we entered the “room F” for the pre party and meet and greet before the premier. We were met at the door by Mark and Justin, Ted was in the corner surrounded be laptops and cameras. ( I think he’s more comfortable that way ) I Then met Chris Blair ( a medic with SFFD) and his fiance Amy. “Chris I’m sorry we did not speak longer”
Food, Drink and chatter filed the room as bloggers met podcasters. Medics met Doctors. And very quickly we all realized that the Hollywood illusion of celebrity bloggers, podcasters, authors and speaker was just that, an illusion. We are all one and the same, professionals on a mission you might say. In the very large world of EMS, there is only a small percent active in the movement of EMS 2.0. And a large amount of that small percent was in that room. The energy was exciting and palpable. I was Home.
The Chronicle of EMS delivered as promised. A raw, unbridled look into this countries Healthcare crisis and the emergency services state of emergency.
After the show there were congratulatory toasts, interviews and more schmoozing to be had. I had a great time meeting and speaking with so many wonderful and enthusiastic people . I spoke with A.J Heightmen the editor and chief of JEMS Magazine, and also Kris Kaull of EMS1.com. And yes I’ll be honest, I was a little starstruck
Now it was time for dinner. And I was graciously invited to dine at Farallon with Chis Montera (host of the EMS Garage) and his wife Amy, Dr Wesley and his charming wife Karen, Chris and Gina Kaiser, Greg Friese, Sam Bradley and her friend Dr James Brasiel (a former Paramedic him self) and of course Natalie. It was a delightful experience. The food and drinks were great. As some of you my know, I’m a vegetarian. And despite that fact that Farallon is a sea food restaurant, The staff was very accommodating. “Thank you Mr waiter, I’m sorry I don’t remember your name.” We talked about family, NASCAR, Superbowl commercials, education, and of course medicine. I even got into a friendly debate with Dr wesley about scope of practice and rural vs urban EMS. (one of many highlights of the evening)
After dinner it was back to the hotel bar for drinks and more great conversation with Natalie, Sam, The Kaisers and Dr Brasiel. (How one wishes the night would never end)
Saturday the 12th
I left San Francisco early to drive over 300 miles to attend the wedding of a very dear friend and ex partner/crew mate. We danced, we laughed, and we hugged. Later myself and another friend and crew mate, Had the DJ play some songs from our days on the ambulance together as sort of a send off to the groom. He loved it, and in all the years I’ve known him I don’t think I had ever seen him as happy as he was that night. The wedding was beautiful, I am so happy for them and I wish them the best.
During the wedding I got word of a lunch back in San Francisco. Rumor had it that some of my new friends were a bit disappointed I would not be attending. I was still on a bit of high from the past 36 hours and thought, why not? when would I have this opportunity again? After all Mark was flying back to England right after lunch, and he was someone I did not spend much time with and wish I had.
Sunday the 13th
So, back in the car and another 300 and some odd miles later I was back in San Francisco. I had Lunch with Justin Schorr and met his “Happy” family of wife Kim, and his two daughters Eliza and Morgan. The Kaisers were also there as well as Natalie. Unfortunately, Mark had to leave for the airport sooner then expected (until next time my friend) But even so, it was still a great afternoon and a one of a kind weekend.
(I am still recovering)
***Want to new more about The Chronicles and EMS 2.0? Listen to my interview on the GenMed Show.***
. It was a wonderful experience of both personal and professional growth, and something a recommend everyone attend at least once. But this post is not about the event, or the speakers, or the podcasts, blogger meetups, or even the “shhhh, super secret high-viz, bluetooth enabled airway adjunct/C-Spine translator backpack gurney, that is going revolutionize the way we…”
