out of the Pennsic loop

it was I am pretty certain, the fact that there is no consistent base line standard for qualification....you could have it staffed by someone who was only CPR trained and had been good a patching up cuts on a simple level one shift....and then an ER tech who knew how to do considerably more another shift....but too much inconsistency in between. Coupled with the fact that PA has differnet licensing/accreditation standards than other states and vice versa so there is no gaurentee that you wouldn't be slapped with a medical malpractice suit if you treated someone and your license was not compliant with PA state regulations...which would then potentially create grounds for the SCA Inc to be sued for allowing you under the auspices of chieurgeons to treat someone who then went on to get worse....this way the chieurgeons are there to treat minor cuts and abbraisons, hydrate those at risk of dehydration and heat stroke, but they can pass off the serious issues that could easily bring liability into play if mis-diagnosed/handled to the EMS team who ARE PA Medical License compliant and thus remove the burden of legal liability from the SCA Inc.

Here is a cross post from the SCA-Chirurgeon list:
Unto the populace of the Known World, the attendees of Pennsic War
and
the Chirurgeons who serve both, does Lady Elizabeth Reed, Chirurgeon
in
Charge of Pennsic 37, send greetings.

Pennsic comes upon us with speed and certainty, and to better
plan
for this event I would like to make known a few changes that will be
in
place this year and the reasoning behind them.

After observing the difficulties of providing the high quality of

service on the battlefield that the populace expects from the
Chirurgeons and that we have come to expect from ourselves, please be

aware that I have decided that there will be no organized Pennsic
Chirurgeonate presence on the battlefield this year. I initiated
this
policy change; it was not handed down to us in any way. I firmly
believe in this.
Last year I observed that there were problems in the delivery of
first aid services on the battlefield due to the way that the
Chirurgeon/Northwest EMS teams worked together. Although the new
system
worked well in First Aid Point, it was not really well suited to the
faster pace of service required in the middle of battle. My feeling
is
that it is better to provide no service then bad service, so this
year
we are stepping back and allowing NWEMS to handle the field alone.
Chirurgeons are welcome to work as Chirurgeons at large,
and
are encouraged to work with their local groups or households. Such
Chirurgeons are expected to follow the policies of the Chirurgeons
handbook and should drop off any paperwork at First Aid Point at
their
earliest convenience. Chirurgeons are also encouraged to serve on the

battlefield in other capacities including as marshals if they are
warranted in that capacity.

As usual First Aid Point will be open 24 hours a day, however the

Chirurgeonate at Pennsic will not operate from 12 midnight until 8
am.
The last three Pennsic CiCs have proposed this change, and I am
choosing to implement it this year. The reason for this change is
that
we do not serve a significant number of people at night given the
amount
of effort we put into staffing those shifts. Overnight an Operations

Deputy will be on duty to handle administrative needs or
interdepartmental issues. NWEMS will be active 24 hours a day to
provide any care needed during the night hours.

Other changes will be minor, but will include a more robust "help

yourself" offering at the front of First Aid Point for those who want
to
DIY. We will also be moving our meeting area under the permanent
roof,
to make it a more convenient and integrated part of First Aid Point.

Lastly, we regret that we will no be able to offer showers to
volunteers this year. As was the case last year, use of the shower
trailer will be limited, due to among other things the rising cost of

propane. We are aware that the Chirurgeonate and the other Pennsic
departments run completely on volunteer labor, and we are very
appreciative of the work. I would be very interested in any
additional
suggestions for ways we can honor our volunteers.

I want to encourage everyone to come and give working at the
Pennsic
Chirurgeonate another chance. The theme for this Pennsic is
rebuilding. I hope you will look at it as an opportunity to create a

foundation for a better Pennsic Chirurgeonate in years to come. I,
and
the senior staff at Pennsic, fully and strongly believe that we (the
Chirurgeons and those who volunteer in a non-medical capacity) have a

place in the first aid needs of Pennsic. Let us continue do our jobs

with the professionalism I have come to expect from the Chirurgeonate.

I would like to thank in advance all those who come out and help us
make this year's Pennsic Chirurgeonate even better than last.