I'm new to EMS and know that at some point I'll have to call into CMED for an entry note. Here's the thing, what the hell do I say? It's a recorded line, so i don't want to be "that guy" who screws it up and annoys the ED nurse (learned fast, dont ever do that). Does anyone have a handy "script" that they use?
Hailing CMED
- Thread starter Jazzmands
- Start date
I'm sorry, what's CMED? Is that online medical direction? Or is that a hospital ring down?
Typically your protocols and policies will list exactly what they want you to say. For example:
Santa Clara County EMS - Hospital Radio Report - Policy 501
Alameda County EMS - Procedures > Reporting Format
Contra County EMS - Patient Reporting (Handoff) Guidelines
^^With all my recent posts, it should be pretty obvious the areas I have worked in, haha!^^
Sometimes the company/agency you work for will send out memos telling you what hospitals want in their ring down, what medical direction wants to hear, etc. based on QA/QI.
Your field training officers and education/clinical department should be able to help you with this also.
Typically your protocols and policies will list exactly what they want you to say. For example:
Santa Clara County EMS - Hospital Radio Report - Policy 501
Alameda County EMS - Procedures > Reporting Format
Contra County EMS - Patient Reporting (Handoff) Guidelines
^^With all my recent posts, it should be pretty obvious the areas I have worked in, haha!^^
Sometimes the company/agency you work for will send out memos telling you what hospitals want in their ring down, what medical direction wants to hear, etc. based on QA/QI.
Your field training officers and education/clinical department should be able to help you with this also.
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I'm going to assume CMED=hospital radio report.
You will be "that guy" at first. Even after more than a decade I'm still "that guy" sometimes. Embrace it, learn from it and move on. The nurses will get over it. If they don't, who cares? You don't answer to them anyway.
You will be "that guy" at first. Even after more than a decade I'm still "that guy" sometimes. Embrace it, learn from it and move on. The nurses will get over it. If they don't, who cares? You don't answer to them anyway.
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-Priority
-Age/Gender
-Complaint
-Stable/unstable
-Vitals (some places want them, others don't)
-Major interventions (drugs, intubated, etc)
-ETA
Like usal said, you'll F up from time to time. Who cares. If the nurse gets frustrated, they'll get over it.
-Age/Gender
-Complaint
-Stable/unstable
-Vitals (some places want them, others don't)
-Major interventions (drugs, intubated, etc)
-ETA
Like usal said, you'll F up from time to time. Who cares. If the nurse gets frustrated, they'll get over it.
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Your company should have a policy on when , where , why ,and how to use it.
I am guessing you are in the Boston area?
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guessing you are in MA.
Generally-
I have a : age/gender
:complaining of / with etc....
: vitals
: priority and ETA
Depending on the person on the other end I get asked for specific things, or if I am calling from my cell if the CMED radio is acting up sometimes I am interrupted after age gender c/c and just asked for an ETA.
Just watch and listen when you are riding to how the other guys do it. Depending on the hospital they might want certain things or a certain way to say it.
Generally-
I have a : age/gender
:complaining of / with etc....
: vitals
: priority and ETA
Depending on the person on the other end I get asked for specific things, or if I am calling from my cell if the CMED radio is acting up sometimes I am interrupted after age gender c/c and just asked for an ETA.
Just watch and listen when you are riding to how the other guys do it. Depending on the hospital they might want certain things or a certain way to say it.
Assuming you're in MA, here's my "script". Substitute northeast for whichever CMED you'd be calling
"Northeast CMED, Northeast CMED. (Company redacted) (unit #) requesting entry note to (hospital name)."
The CMED dispatcher will acknowledge the transmission and direct you to the appropriate radio channel.
After changing to the channel directed:
"(Company redacted) (unit #) standing by on (channel) for (hospital name)."
The hospital acknowledges, then I'd tell them something along the lines of:
"(Hospital name), (company redacted) (unit #) transporting BLS/ALS approx * minutes out with a ** y.o M/F patient presenting with ****. C-spined/IVs/12-lead(with rhythm)/on oxygen/etc. Vitals are *****. Any Questions?"
"Northeast CMED, Northeast CMED. (Company redacted) (unit #) requesting entry note to (hospital name)."
The CMED dispatcher will acknowledge the transmission and direct you to the appropriate radio channel.
After changing to the channel directed:
"(Company redacted) (unit #) standing by on (channel) for (hospital name)."
The hospital acknowledges, then I'd tell them something along the lines of:
"(Hospital name), (company redacted) (unit #) transporting BLS/ALS approx * minutes out with a ** y.o M/F patient presenting with ****. C-spined/IVs/12-lead(with rhythm)/on oxygen/etc. Vitals are *****. Any Questions?"
jefftherealmccoy
Forum Crew Member
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Really simple version a nurse once taught me. 59 seconds max.
Pt's age/gender
Pt's chief complaint/whatever is going to kill that pt. Don't sweat the little stuff
What intervention's you've done for the pt
Pt's vitals (if abnormal)
ETA
Done.
Pt's age/gender
Pt's chief complaint/whatever is going to kill that pt. Don't sweat the little stuff
What intervention's you've done for the pt
Pt's vitals (if abnormal)
ETA
Done.
Meursault
Organic Mechanic
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But practice your CMED reports, because when you need to use it, you generally really need to get it right* . Look at the references here, find/create a template that works for you, and practice actually saying it to another person. You can use the same template for phone reports.
Mostly, triage nurses get annoyed if you omit something really important (age, sex, CC, ETA, oh btw we're doing CPR) or, on the other end of the acuity spectrum, waste their time for someone who isn't sick. I try to keep my reports under a minute unless something's really complicated, but you need to be competent before you can be efficient.
*Or are dealing with a small hospital with silly policies.
OP, are you asking about the mechanics of hailing CMED, or the process of giving a pre-arrival notification? In addition to the models others have discussed, I have grown fond of the ASH-ICE model
Age
Sex
History
Injuries/illness
Condition, vitals if you wish, interventions
ETA
Age
Sex
History
Injuries/illness
Condition, vitals if you wish, interventions
ETA