20 Hour Transports

[WestSideBorderPatrol]

The service that I work for is having my partner and I transport an elderly pt. with dementia from Baltimore to Massachusetts. Its about 8 hours one way, then they want us to turn around and come another 8 hours home. That is 16 hours assuming we don't stop and there is no problems with traffic or things of that nature. Give us an hour for dinner, an 2 hours for rest stops either way (3 rests stops per way, each 20 minutes) and we're up to 19 hours. I really don't think that it's too safe having us do such a long drive without putting us up for the night in a hotel or motel, but we gotta do what we gotta do. :?

I guess my question is, what is your view on doing basically non-stop long haul transports? Have you ever done them? How did it go? Any idea's on how to make it safer or easier on my partner and I?

Thanks.

[Timmy]

Do you have planes for long non emerg transports? Your looking at all sorts of problems when you transport for that long like pressure sores ect.

[AnthonyM83]

Such long transports are very rare and they page them out in advance and pay them out as a 24 hour shift, which is actually our normal shifts, so not much different. I would guess that I'd get more sleep on such a transport than on a regular day of work. I would just try to get my sleep the night before and trade off sleeping and driving on the way back. Such a long transfer would really suck, though.

[WestSideBorderPatrol]

Yeah, I'm not sure about planes for the transport. I know that the patient's family contacted our service, and I guess that money talks. But as far as I know, our patient is going to be in a diaper for the trip, and it is a BLS transfer with my self and my partner being EMT's. We don't have experience or training to change her diaper, nor do we have a CNA onboard. This should be interesting... :shock:

[Timmy]

*rolls eyes*

[tonia]

I've taken several long trips. Along with breaks you really have to worry about the overall comfort of the patient. Stretchers aren't made for that.

[JPINFV]

Yeah, I'm not sure about planes for the transport. I know that the patient's family contacted our service, and I guess that money talks. But as far as I know, our patient is going to be in a diaper for the trip, and it is a BLS transfer with my self and my partner being EMT's. We don't have experience or training to change her diaper, nor do we have a CNA onboard. This should be interesting... :shock:

Wow, I guess that there's even things that a CNA can do that a basic can't [or won't]. That said, if you're in a van you probably won't have enough room to change a diaper anyways.

[Timmy]

If a patient requires that sort of care then a nurse should be on board.

[WestSideBorderPatrol]

Wow, I guess that there's even things that a CNA can do that a basic can't [or won't]. That said, if you're in a van you probably won't have enough room to change a diaper anyways.

Yea, it's not that we won't change her diaper, I'm sure we could draw straws for that, but our service doesn't want us changing her diaper and I don't believe that we're being provided with extra diapers. My supervisor said, "by the time they feed her in the morning and that goes through her, they should have a fresh dry diaper on and as long as she doesn't drink too much or eat too much you should be OK until you get up there". :?. I don't know about you, but I sure as heck cannot hold my bladder for 8 hours. If I have to go, then I'm gonna go. lol. The idea of a CNA or a family memeber coming with us was tossed around, but at last i heard it was just my partner and myself. This was totally a rushed operation and should have been planned out better.

[Icecuban]

My question is since you have no training for changing her and they don't expect you to preform that duty or have a CNA that can, couldn't that be considered neglect of ethical responsibilities referring to "serve the needs of the patient with respect for human dignity"? Personally I would feel embarrassed if I went to the bathroom on myself and couldn't have it cleaned up till I reached the hospital

I could be wrong I'm only a student