Profess EMS

In this episode I sat down with Bodie, an Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP), for a deep dive into the realities of high-acuity street medicine. Operating solo out of a rapid response vehicle, Bodie provides a firsthand look at jumping into "Red and Purple" emergencies— from major traumas and cardiac arrests to supporting local SWAT operations with advanced procedures like surgical cricothyrotomies.

Bodie unpacks his unique career trajectory, starting as a military combat medic in his early twenties before transitioning to civilian roles as a Primary Care Paramedic and eventually an ACP. Drawing on his four years as an EMS educator, he tackles the critical gap between "black-and-white" classroom learning and the ambiguous "grey area" of real-world application.

In this episode, we cover:

• The day-to-day logistics of working solo in a specialized tactical EMS role.
• Why tiered EMS systems are crucial for preventing career stagnation and burnout.
• The challenges of transitioning from military trauma care to civilian paramedic practice.
• Why new graduates must get comfortable being uncomfortable on the road.
• Advice for young paramedics on ignoring veteran pushback and aggressively pursuing advanced certifications early in their careers.

Welcome back, everybody. 

We had a bit of a hiatus due to some projects at Master Your Medics, but we are now returning for regular episodes!

Today, I sit down with my friend Eric Stemple. In fact, he really showed me the ropes and got me into EMS. Eric, a clinical educator in West Virginia, is focused on making our deliveries cleaner and more engaging as educators to better connect with students. 

Eric and I talk about our adventures on the road and how we’re still growing as providers and educators in our EMS field.

Where does EMS fit in the fire service?

Today, I'm joined by a special guest, good friend Jennah Marsh, who has a very similar background to mine and who currently works as a firefighter/paramedic. 

We're going to discuss the pros and cons of private EMS and fire-based EMS, and how the pathways of getting into EMS factor into the overall picture.

Produced by Master Your Medics

"They say opinions are like butts. Everyone has one, and most of them stink, but I'm gonna share mine anyways. 

"EMS is making some rapidly progressing advances in clinical care, but with those advancements, we definitely are not seeing an influx of providers, so I wanna pretend that I am king of the world and I'mma tell you my opinion and what I would do to change EMS."

-Ben

Produced by Master Your Medics

Welcome back to the show, with me, I have Alexis of the super fabulous 22 at the Lips podcast. 

So we decided that we wanted to get together and collaborate on the topic and the infamous phrase “those who can't do, teach.”

It's a very big pet peeve of mine, it's a phrase that really has no true foundation. 

So Alexis and I kind of have a similar background, but the opposite is why we came here. Alexis began in education and then went into EMS (and is now getting the EMS education side of things), where I began on the EMS side and then transitioned into the full-time education side.

-Ben

Listen to Ben and Alexis’s thoughts on the latest episode of the Profess EMS podcast wherever you listen or on the Profess EMS Youtube page!

Produced by Master Your Medics

https://www.masteryourmedics.com/

Right now, a hot topic in EMS is the use of lights and sirens. Ben's friend, Dr. Dusty Lambert, joins to talk about the pros and cons of using lights and sirens, their opinions and how you can use what they discussed to improve your education and teaching for the future of emergency vehicle operators.






Produced by Master Your Medics

“I was doing some self-reflection on myself as an instructor and what I could be doing to improve the way I teach. Then I started thinking about people in the field and why, at this point, they are making mistakes in the field. Then I started realizing that some of those issues are caused by a lack of initial education.”

So, where does initial education fail us?







Produced by Master Your Medics

Somebody asked me, "What are some things you know now that you wish you knew then?" So, it got me thinking about some things from my first years as a paramedic that I should have known then or how the things I was taught evolved.

Geoff Murphy joins me to discuss things we wished we knew when starting in EMS.






Produced by Master Your Medics

So, one thing I really wanted to talk about was the concept of instructor pitfalls. In EMS, we always learn from our mistakes as providers, but I think the same is applicable to us as instructors.

So, what are some things you think are pitfalls for instructors?


Geoff Murphy joins me to break down and share personal stories of instructor pitfalls.




Sponsored and produced by Master Your Medics.

I’ve been asked more times than I would like to count “how long should I be an EMT” or “what can I do to get ready” regarding entering a Paramedic program. I wish there was a secret recipe of what is needed as a one-size-fits-all approach, but there simply isn’t. EMS is a fast-paced industry and so are the academics. You wouldn’t start a treadmill on a fast speed and just hop on, right? No…. because you’re going to faceplant. You get a feel for the speed and get your legs moving and timing down before you commit…that’s academic momentum. Acid-base balance is wayyyyy easier to figure out than a life-school balance…. Sometimes the hardest part is just figuring out how to be a student.