Dr Brackett parked his car in the hospital's parking lot while one of his paramedics struggled to get out of bed. Johnny walked slowly and stiffly to his bathroom to take a shower. He stepped into the shower and allowed the HOT water to not only warm up his muscles but used the pressure of the water to massage his back. His back muscles began to relax, releasing the tension that had built up overnight. Taking Aspirin and using heat pads were the main objectives of his day. Dr Brackett made his way into the ER to start another day. Overnight charts were inspected and his first coffee was consumed. His main objective for the day was to have a long talk with Dr Kourie about the Paramedic Program and its importance to the hospital.
Dr Kourie walked out of his superior's office unimpressed with the information that had been explained to him. He had sat for over an hour listening to Dr Brackett outline the Paramedic Program and the importance of paramedics out in the field. The information only reinforced his beliefs; that paramedics were overtrained firemen, a belief that he assumed that many of his colleagues agreed with. The head of Rampart's Emergency was unaware of the growing opposition and unfounded concerns of some fellow doctors that fire fighters trained in rescue were being allowed to become paramedics as opposed to, what they believed only college educated men should be allowed to become paramedics.
The base station reinforced Dr Kourie's beliefs, as the paramedics constantly suggested treatment before he could give instructions. He would order alternate drugs just to contradict the paramedic. The longer the paramedics dealt with the doctor the quicker the suggestions for treatment stopped. Paramedics out in the field lost their confidence and capacity to effectively evaluate their patient. Soon paramedics began to feel like puppets whose strings were being controlled purely by the doctor. By the end of the day paramedics who worked out of Rampart not only felt unimportant but was questioning the importance of their job.
Dr Kourie, in one day, managed to break the intellectual and emotional commitments of the paramedics. His condescending comments and lack of trust in the paramedics diagnosis of patients made the especially newer paramedics second guess themselves causing them to lose their self confidence. When patients were brought in later in the day Dr Early was the first to notice the lack of mutual interaction between doctor and paramedic. He could almost liken it to the days of rescue. If it wasn't for the IVs administered in the field, it may as well have been, judging by the lack of communication between the receiving doctor and the paramedic.
Dr Brackett spent most of the day in meetings, unaware of the gradual disruption of his paramedic program. When he finally made an appearance in ER it was only to collect his belongings, as he was due to pick Dixie up from the airport. He didn't notice the frowns on the faces of his doctors and paramedics; driving to the airport and where to park his main focus. With the next day off, the growing breakdown of rapports between doctors and paramedics had time to grow in intensity and establish a stronghold. Dr Kourie was the only doctor who seemed to be happy with the whole situation.
Johnny arrived for shift with a slight limp, a back displaying spectacular bruising but feeling much better. As long as he kept moving everything worked fine. He quickly changed and joined Roy in the kitchen for coffee. He was greeted by his fellow crew members and the outgoing C Shift. Johnny noticed the unhappy faces of C Shift's paramedics and thought they must have ended the shift on a bad run, not knowing they had bore the brunt of two days of working with Dr Kourie.
"How's the leg and back?" Roy asked Johnny, checking his gait as he walked over to the table to sit down.
"I'm ok...still a little stiff if I stay still for too long" Johnny replied as he grabbed the paper.
"Staying still shouldn't worry you Johnny" said Chet after only hearing part of the conversation.
"Ha ha" Johnny replied and continued to read the paper. Roy frowned not liking the fact that Johnny wasn't one hundred percent.
"We should do our checks Johnny" Roy told his partner, using the prompting to check his partner over more thoroughly. He held back and deliberately walked behind Johnny as they left the kitchen. Roy could see the stiffness in his partner's gait but it didn't look incapacitating. He would trust Johnny's judgement knowing that his partner would not risk other's lives just to work.
Roy checked supplies and Johnny did the calibration. He smiled when Dixie's voice answered and he welcomed her back. In the background Dr Kourie heard the interchange and recognised the paramedic's voice. He knew the head nurse was highly respected so would have to be careful around her just as he would around Dr Brackett.
Roy and Johnny's first call was to a household accident. A car had pinned a woman to the side of her house, the handbrake had slipped causing the car to roll back down the driveway. It was established that she had broken her leg. Johnny called it in and gave the vitals to Dr Kourie. He was about to add that they were splinting the leg and request to start an IV when Dr Kourie's voice interrupted him. 'Squad 51 splint the leg and transport as soon as possible' came over the biophone. Johnny asked if he wanted them to start an IV and administer MS for the pain. 'Squad 51 administer 5mgs of pethidine...you have your instructions. Repeat them back' came Dr Kourie's sharp request.
"Rampart, splint the leg, administer 5mgs of pethidine and transport as soon as possible" replied a dejected but trying to maintain his professionalism paramedic.
'10-4 Squad 51' replied Dr Kourie smirking at the unseen paramedic on the other end of the line.
Johnny helped Roy with the splint and followed the ambulance in the squad. He shook his head. Dr Kourie had the ability to make him feel like a school kid. He wondered if anyone else had been made to feel that way or if it was just him. Having only a simple background made him feel inferior and that would cause him to act arrogant. Over the past year he had been able to control it but Dr Kourie was not making it easy for him to maintain that control. He knew Roy would become annoyed with him if he let his clash with Dr Kourie's personality interfere with their job. He swallowed down his pride and promised himself to act professional with Dr Kourie and not lose his temper. Little did Johnny know that he had played right into Dr Kourie's hands?
Johnny held back when Roy walked the agitated patient into the treatment room. Dr Kourie waved Roy off and smirked at Johnny who was standing back out of the way. He knew the doctor had deliberately aimed the smirk at him to put him in his place; the IV had not been needed. Johnny bowed his head and re-evaluated what he had thought should have been done in the field. Roy walked up to him and frowned "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Roy..." he lied still scowling at the HT he held in his hands. Roy continued to stare at him "I guess...I know...I should" Johnny took a deep breath and tried to gather his thoughts. "I guess I shouldn't just assume a thing...that's all" he replied and walked back out to the squad. Roy shook his head not understanding his partner's ramblings. He walked over to nurse's desk to welcome Dixie back to work.
Dixie saw Roy approaching her and smiled. "Hi there" she said in her usual seductive voice.
"I just wanted to say welcome back" said Roy smiling.
Dixie looked past Roy after nodding "Where's that partner of yours?" she asked.
"He's with the squad, acting strange" said Roy.
"So what's new" replied Dixie chuckling.
"Nothing I guess..." Roy turned to leave "Nothing at all" he stated and held his arms out from his side.
Dixie continued to chuckle at Roy's affirmation.
Dr Brackett approached her, seeing her chuckling he asked "What's so funny?"
"Guess?" she replied. Dr Brackett looked around and shrugged. "It involves one particular squad" she hinted.
"Roy and Johnny..." Dixie nodded. "What are they up to know?" he asked.
"Oh the usual...Roy looking confused with his partner...not knowing what's going on in his head" Dixie replied nonplussed.
Dr Brackett cleared his throat; he hadn't told Dixie about Johnny getting hurt and him driving the paramedic home. "I've been meaning to tell you..."
"That Johnny got hurt and was left to his own devices and that you ended up driving him home" Dixie said smugly.
Dr Brackett frowned "Yeah, how did you find out?" he asked indignantly.
"Unlike you doctors...us nurses actually talk to each other" she said casually.
Dr Brackett pressed his lips together "Well at least he got home safe n sound" he replied not allowing Dixie to accuse him of neglect.
"Mmmhmm" Dixie replied knowingly. Dr Brackett scowled at her, she could make him feel very guilty and he hated it.
"I've got work to do" he stated and turned to walk back to his office.
"Oh Kel..." he turned around "Thanks for looking after Johnny" she said and smiled. Dr Brackett turned around and shook his head. She did it again he thought.
He was unaware that one of his best paramedics was returning to his station feeling a little less than adequate as a paramedic. His confidence that was experiencing a tiny crack was enough to cause concern if anyone had been taking notice. A battle of wills was going on in his head as he tried to maintain control of his temper. He really wanted to show Dr Kourie how capable he was but knew that would be seen as smugness by the doctor. He would have to hold back and allow the doctor to give instructions from now on; after all he was just the paramedic not a doctor, because maybe he was over stepping his mark.
Roy noticed the various emotions crossing over his partner's face. "What's wrong?" he asked not wanting a brooding partner for the rest of the day.
"Nothin" replied Johnny as he turned his head and looked out the passenger window.
Roy frowned slightly and tried to think of another question "Dr Kourie seems like one of those doctors that doesn't like to over diagnose. Don't you think?"
Johnny scowled at the window, he really didn't want to talk about Dr Kourie, and afraid his tone would give away his true feelings. He nodded in reply, playing it safe. Little did Squad 51 know, that similar conversations had been going on inside other squads over the past couple of days and that Johnny was one of many paramedics questioning himself.