Writing about emergency medical services, most specifically the events that can shape a career, is a mine field. That mine field has claimed a good friend and colleague today.
Due to pressures from people who do not understand what we do Mark Glencorse is making the decision to discontinue his world famous and award winning website 999medic.com.
In a release today Mark cites perfectly understandable reasons for stepping away and I still support him 100%.
It was reading his posts about how EMS was so different outside the US that got me inspired to change my own system. Forget that he was the one who dreamed up what would become the Chronicles of EMS when he reached out to an anonymous blogger in the states who hid behind a cartoon character. Mark is a trusted voice in the pre-hospital field and for reasons they can not explain, people around him want him shut down.
Patient privacy is a serious concern. So serious agencies the world over are willing to take the risk of having uninformed rescuers so that a little old (he was really only 25) woman (no it was a guy) I ran last shift (it was 3 years ago) on that dark night (it was a rainy morning) with the unique EKG can be protected.
Medic999 was the voice of a nation, a system, a different way of doing things that made me a better Paramedic and hopefully, because of his inspiration, a good supervisor as well.
There is no bad guy here. Please don’t blame Mark or his service, I’ve been there, they are good people looking out for their population.
No, the enemy here is fear. Fear of the ability to share information in real time without a 3 month vetting process. Social media, whether the establishment likes it or not, is here to stay.
We are not the ones they need to be worried about. The ones who are irresponsible online are policed by us, the community, and when something seems too close to the truth we call them on it and we get results.
Gone are the days of posting pictures of patients, gone are the days of making inappropriate comments while on duty. Use this event as a lesson that we are having an impact and as such share a responsibility to use it properly.
Mark will still be around on twitter and facebook, but his daily sharing of life saving tips and tricks will have to wait until this kind of forum is better understood.
I feel like a piece of the future of EMS has died today and that makes me sad. It also makes me want to prove that people like Mark, the Ambulance Drivers, the Michael Morses, the countless authors of EMS books and articles who draw on experiences to teach us all are doing the right thing, not endangering the privacy of someone who screamed for an ambulance for a broken finger at the top of their lungs in a busy subway station.
Since I have no blogger flag to lower on this day, I will place a black band on the banner for a bit in memory of Mark’s contributions to making EMS blogging a legitimate way to gain information and insight for both new and old providers alike.
Be well, Mark.
Also on The Happy Medic…
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That's truly sad and it makes me angry. The politics and narrowminded a** covering in this field never cease to amaze me. The fact that they could take somebody out with a high profile and nothing but the best intentions really speaks to how deeply rooted and destructive it is to our field. Who ever is responsible for this should be ashamed, but I'm sured they aren't. I hope this doesn't mean the end of what you all are trying to accomplish with Chronicles of EMS. Keep fighting the good fight to enlighten our industry because once again here is proof of how badly we need it.
Sadness… pure sadness
Brother, I've always been impressed with your ability to take a negative situation and cast a different light on it. I'd be mad as hell if I were you (and you may very well be), but the quiet confidence and professionalism you display inside this post is inspiring. I know Mark is proud. Both of you and of the work he began with you. You are a credit to your agency, EMS at large, and (slightly less importantly) the blogging community.
I will miss Mark and his insights on the blog platform, but I have faith it won't be the last we see of him.
Grl,
Keep in mind, no one is shutting Mark down, he is doing this on his own terms, on his timetable. Mark is in control and is making a sound decision based on the situation he is in. Who knows, one day we'll all be shut down, but mark did the right thing and protected his family first.
Nothing can stop CoEMS unless readers like you let it go away. We'll be here as long as you let us.
HM
Thanks buddy. Nice new layout BTW. I needed a distraction, as you now understand.
very sad news indeed.
If nothing else this is yet another reason we need CoEMS to succeed. For Mark
I just sent mark an email. It makes me very sad that this has come about. in every service across the planet that are people that just live to make others lives more difficult and make themselves look good at the expense of someone else. I am very impressed with the project and look forward to more.
The best of luck to you as you move on. You will be missed.
My Brother, Thank you for the post and the support during the period when only you, Ted and I knew this was coming.I dont need to tell you how much of a wrench this has been, but you know you cant shake me off that easily. I am still here, will still be commenting and tweeting and sticking my nose into CoEMS Business, and will still be working my arse off to get a spot in the UK for you and Ted to come and show the rest of the world what the UK NHS Service has to offer.Time to plan that family holiday for sometime in the next couple of years matey.Speak to you soon.
It is always sad to loose a good source of insight and information. Rarely does one find a relatively good use for the internet especially today. While there may be a temporary black hole from the passing of his blog, his posts will live on, and no doubt his influence has already planted itself and began to grow. Eventually this replace what is missing right now and the internet will make it possible to continue spreading the ideas and professionalism your and his website have promoted.
Tough decision, good luck, stay safe. All blogs have an expiration date. Platforms like Twitter and FaceBook challenge the blogger and in some ways make it easier to connect easier with your readership.
I'm just out of the hospital after a few days' stay and was looking forward to catching up on my favorite blogs. I am so bummed about Mark ending his blog, not only for myself, an outsider who enjoys peeking into the world of EMS, but also for Mark, Justin, the EMS community and all others who have or would have benefitted from his blog.
No matter whatever Justin or Mark has said on their blogs, I have never seen anything less than professionalism and a commitment to providing the best patient care, likely both things on which administrators and other office-bound decision-makers are sadly out of touch. (If it makes you feel any better, higher education has that same out-of-touch group of leaders.)
Chin up, Mark. I will miss your blog but am looking forward to seeing you in other spot on the Net.