certems

Dwayne is correct. As the information came to us, the doctor involved (and, I assume, the doctor's staff) was working the code when EMS arrived. The doctor continued working the code for some time before releasing the patient to EMS for transport to the ER. Technically, the doctor was providing a higher level of care than EMS. However, in this case the patient needed to go to the ER (even higher level) stat. To do that, either the doctor had to turn the patient over to EMS or go along with them to the hospital. Sometimes "higher level of care" isn't the BEST possible care. Possibly another thread, but even someone with a LOT of training, etc., who hasn't done something often (or recently) should let someone with more experience (and possibly less formal training) do the work. How many of you have been in an ER where the nurses - and possibly the doctors as well - would call for the paramedic working there (those where a paramedic is on the ER staff) to do a particularly tricky stick? The paramedic may not be the "highest trained" but is probably the one with the most experience in doing sticks under less-than-optimal conditions. Shouldn't the standard be "best interest of the patient?"

Telephone call from doctor's office to ER I heard when doing my clinicals. The phone was answered in the ER by my preceptor (on speaker). CALLER: We have a code in Dr Xxxxx's office. ER: Yes, ma'am? CALLER: Can you come get him? ER: Please call 911. We don't do take-out. - - - - - Took about thirty minutes to get the patient to the ER; the people in the doctor's office wouldn't let the EMS crew have the patient. Was about a half-block from the ER.