jefftherealmccoy
Forum Crew Member
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I recently moved to Idaho where I have encountered a very different view of patient transport than I am used to. I was wondering what the view is elsewhere and if anyone shares the same view as either of the two states I've worked in.
So in my previous state (won't mention where) it is the general concensious that when a person calls 911 for an ambulance, they go to the hospital. Even if you get there and there is obviously no problem, they are a frequent flyer, or they don't want to go. I was told by an instructor, "It is your job to convince them to go if they call us. No matter what." This is the CYA attitude that is taken on by most people. I worked with at least 5 different departments around the state while I was in medic school and all of them take the same approach.
In my current department it seems that the Paramedics are a lot more comfortable in telling people there's nothing wrong with them and there's no reason for them to go. And in some cases straight up telling them that they are not going to take them, period. This is partially because we have a medical director who is very confident in our assesment skills and except in rare cases we can't deny a patient who says "I want you to take me to the hospital."
Is there a general attitude in your states or departments that follows one or the other? Or something different?
So in my previous state (won't mention where) it is the general concensious that when a person calls 911 for an ambulance, they go to the hospital. Even if you get there and there is obviously no problem, they are a frequent flyer, or they don't want to go. I was told by an instructor, "It is your job to convince them to go if they call us. No matter what." This is the CYA attitude that is taken on by most people. I worked with at least 5 different departments around the state while I was in medic school and all of them take the same approach.
In my current department it seems that the Paramedics are a lot more comfortable in telling people there's nothing wrong with them and there's no reason for them to go. And in some cases straight up telling them that they are not going to take them, period. This is partially because we have a medical director who is very confident in our assesment skills and except in rare cases we can't deny a patient who says "I want you to take me to the hospital."
Is there a general attitude in your states or departments that follows one or the other? Or something different?