Inter-facility transports

[ppasemtbohio]

i work for a private ambulance service and we do have those transports where pts get up and walk to the cot just as good as you and me and the only reason their being transported by ambulance is because they send him with a hepwell or nothing at all. but they way the company i work for we run 1-2 basic trucks 1-interm. truck, 1 medic truck during the day plus two 24-medic trucks we do the all transport for the small local hospital 4-nursing homes plus 911 for 4 townships in the county when we get busy its so fustrating when your the only medic truck available and you get tide up on taking someone to a higher level of care hospital thats 45-60 mins away for migrains, diareaha, and nausia when they could just take themselves or have some family member take them that are sitting with them are just going to be following right behind you anyways.

[CBEMT]

I really can't say it any better than he did.

Oh wait. I could say it in English. :roll:

[LJROO]

I work for a "Transport" company whose largest source of income is BLS IFT's. I strongly believe that this is a job that should be handled by 2 qualified EMTs. I have personally had more than 1 dialysis patient "code" on me and I was sure glad to have the appropriate training. While it may not be often that I use the full scope of my training during these transports, I am believe these patients deserve prepared, qualified transportation services.

[Just Plain Ruff]

ok, so what as an EMT can you do for a dialysis patient who "Codes" on you?

By your reasoning, they actually should be transported by 2 Paramedics who can actually do something more than bag the patient and perform CPR.

[akroeze]

ok, so what as an EMT can you do for a dialysis patient who "Codes" on you?

By your reasoning, they actually should be transported by 2 Paramedics who can actually do something more than bag the patient and perform CPR.

I agree, what more can an EMT do in a code that a first responder can't? Heck, a first aider would provide virtually the same care!

[VentMedic]

ok, so what as an EMT can you do for a dialysis patient who "Codes" on you?

By your reasoning, they actually should be transported by 2 Paramedics who can actually do something more than bag the patient and perform CPR.

At least they will hopefully have enough training to recognize something is not right and drop the pt off at the door closest to the ED or make contact with a medical person inside the building to anounce the pt's arrival.

We usually find dialysis patients dead by the back door to the dialysis center along side the hospital that had be dropped off by tranport vans. But, depending on the service, the drivers do not always have an obligation to escort the pts inside the building. They would also be leaving a lot of other pts alone in the van.

The number of dialysis patients that ambulances transport is relatively small compared to the number of the dialysis patients a center might see per day. Our center is not that big but we can do 25 patients at a time and is open from 0600 - 2300 six days a week fully staffed. There is a crew on Sundays that can still do 10 patients at a time. The patients that do come by ambulance have been determined to need that service because it is not always easy to get qualified for that service. However, you as an EMT or Paramedic may not have access to all of the medical records and the patient may not be a good historian due to their illness.

Now, from a previous post, NH patients are "institutionalized" for all practical and legal purposes. The State has taken control of their lives, possessions and freedom. If there is not a family member around to oversee their legal stuff, the courts appoint a guardian who may have no personal relationship with them. They do not have a choice in how they are transported. They do not have a choice in who gets their dog or cat or many times any of their personal belongings. If they could they too would be happy to have the freedom to take a taxi instead of being carted around in the back of an ambulance like a piece of meat. It is humiliating for someone who has been independent all their life.

[VentMedic]

when we get busy its so fustrating when your the only medic truck available and you get tide up on taking someone to a higher level of care hospital thats 45-60 mins away for migrains, diareaha, and nausia when they could just take themselves or have some family member take them that are sitting with them are just going to be following right behind you anyways.

And you're judging who, when and why gets transported?

[Just Plain Ruff]

Ventmedic, that was just my point during my rant.

Who are we to judge who we transport to the hospital on doctors orders or just the patient wanting to go.

To them, we are their ride to the hospital and to judge them is human but to make a big deal out it is just counterproductive and will make you a cynical or negative medic over a period of time.

[jjones1418]

And you're judging who, when and why gets transported?

Ventmedic, that was just my point during my rant.

Who are we to judge who we transport to the hospital on doctors orders or just the patient wanting to go.

To them, we are their ride to the hospital and to judge them is human but to make a big deal out it is just counterproductive and will make you a cynical or negative medic over a period of time.

I think Vent was pointing out spelling mistakes, questioning the validity of the OP's decision of who or why gets transported.

[tinshee]

by the way people it only takes one paramedic and a competent partner to run a code