RedAirplane
Forum Asst. Chief
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In a couple months I'll be moving from my current role as a volunteer event medic to a volunteer on a "real" 911 ambulance.
One of the biggest things I'm nervous about is trauma -- most people seem to think medical is harder, and perhaps it is at the ALS level, but for me at the BLS level, I feel much more in control of medical emergencies than trauma emergencies. I can talk, hand hold, reassure, and solve the problem by asking really good questions, as opposed to having to deal with blood, bandages, and backboards. I also really enjoy taking patient history and asking about their previous medical complaints, which is not something you get to do if it's an unconscious patient, or if the patient is so severe that you're focused narrowly on ABCs.
Some people had highly recommended the PHTLS course, and since I don't see much trauma on the event side, I thought it would be a good idea for me to brush up on that side of things, so I'll be taking a PHTLS course next month.
I've started reading the first few chapters so far, mostly about the trauma system. It highlights the need for transport to a trauma center because at an "ordinary" hospital the delay to get all the specialists into the ER and then activate the OR would be super lengthy.
However, I have a question about my particular case. I live 30-45 minutes by ground from a trauma center with no helipad and no suitable LZ nearby. Alternatively, there is a further trauma center about 45-60 minutes by ground or 25 minutes by air. However, I live across the street from a pretty big hospital, that, while it isn't a trauma center, has every other specialty under the sun--including STEMI/PCI, referral center for CVA, etc.
Suppose my primary complaint was a head injury and that I was entrapped beneath something for 30-45 minutes. Protocol would dictate I get transported to the trauma center. However, if the nearby hospital has the specialties needed for my case, and in the time I was entrapped could page all of those doctors and free up the facilities needed, why wouldn't the protocol be to have that happen and take me there? If that could be coordinated, wouldn't it save me time?
(This is hypothetical, I am not actually expecting to become entrapped with head injury any time soon).
Thank you.
One of the biggest things I'm nervous about is trauma -- most people seem to think medical is harder, and perhaps it is at the ALS level, but for me at the BLS level, I feel much more in control of medical emergencies than trauma emergencies. I can talk, hand hold, reassure, and solve the problem by asking really good questions, as opposed to having to deal with blood, bandages, and backboards. I also really enjoy taking patient history and asking about their previous medical complaints, which is not something you get to do if it's an unconscious patient, or if the patient is so severe that you're focused narrowly on ABCs.
Some people had highly recommended the PHTLS course, and since I don't see much trauma on the event side, I thought it would be a good idea for me to brush up on that side of things, so I'll be taking a PHTLS course next month.
I've started reading the first few chapters so far, mostly about the trauma system. It highlights the need for transport to a trauma center because at an "ordinary" hospital the delay to get all the specialists into the ER and then activate the OR would be super lengthy.
However, I have a question about my particular case. I live 30-45 minutes by ground from a trauma center with no helipad and no suitable LZ nearby. Alternatively, there is a further trauma center about 45-60 minutes by ground or 25 minutes by air. However, I live across the street from a pretty big hospital, that, while it isn't a trauma center, has every other specialty under the sun--including STEMI/PCI, referral center for CVA, etc.
Suppose my primary complaint was a head injury and that I was entrapped beneath something for 30-45 minutes. Protocol would dictate I get transported to the trauma center. However, if the nearby hospital has the specialties needed for my case, and in the time I was entrapped could page all of those doctors and free up the facilities needed, why wouldn't the protocol be to have that happen and take me there? If that could be coordinated, wouldn't it save me time?
(This is hypothetical, I am not actually expecting to become entrapped with head injury any time soon).
Thank you.