Bluto_Blutarsky

You can as some have pointed out assist the patient with their medication. I would caution you to 1) Never forget to verify the blood pressure of the patient. Systolic > 100 2) Ask the patient if they have taken any drugs for erectile dysfunction, like Viagra or Cialis. 3) Verify the 5 R's of giving a drug. 4) If med control is available, contact them. 5) Get a SAMPLE history You were cautioned by one person responding about carrying a personal jump bag. If you have a personal jump bag and you are my only hope of surviving and first on scene, be a "good Samaritan" -- help me out. If ALS has issues and wants to swat all the BLS away, so be it. In rural areas (like where I live) you would be thankful for the help and your smiling face. Good luck with your practicals and your testing.

I am a volunteer EMT-B in a very small town in Upstate New York State. I responded to a call for GSW. Per the New York State Police, the scene was safe; we treated the patient, and then airlifted the patient to the nearest trauma center. I was contacted by the New York State Police the same day regarding things I observed at the scene. I had no problems answering questions about the scene. When the Investigator asked questions related to the patient’s ability to understand the questioning by another Trooper on scene, I refused to answer the investigators question. Part of my assessment of the patient is the GCS scale and the pt A&Ox3. In my opinion any statements made or disclosed by the patient that I contain in a PCR should be kept confidential as well – in my opinion. For example: recreational drug use. I maintain that the information contained in the PCR is confidential and Law Enforcement may obtain this information via a subpoena. There are proper channels for this information to be obtained. It is my opinion that any document I create related to Pre-hospital treatment setting is a part of the hospital record and private, especially in light of HIPPA. I need a reality check and am I taking the issue of privacy too far? Finally, I was asked a hypothetical question by the Investigator: if a patient disclosed to me that they consumed alcohol or recreational drugs, would I disclose this information to a police officer after being asked? I stated no I would not, if it was contained in the PCR and relevant to the patients treatment. The information conatined in a PCR may be obtained via a subpoena and I could freely speak, once a subpoena had been issued to me personally. I was told that in 23 years, he had never had an EMS provider refuse to provide information to law enforcement. If he were on scene and the patient had done drugs, I was lead to believe that this is something that would have been revealed by the EMS provider. feedback please???

Does your wife know you are now a ""pick-up man" again? Mrs. Buddha might not like that!