To the OP, you'll be making a big mistake if you rush IFT calls. It's easy to make a mistake: take the patient to wrong location, not have the proper information, paperwork, and/or signatures to bill the patient's insurance, etc. Often these patients are not acute either so there is little reason to be in such a rush. I aim to be on scene for about 20 minutes.
I usually get the patient's demographics and billing information from their face sheet.
Get their medications and allergies from their medication administration record (MAR). If the MAR is large, I'll attach a copy of that to my paperwork and document "Refer to attached paperwork."
Review their chart to look for their past medical history (PMH). If it's large, I'll attach to my paperwork and document "Refer to attached paperwork."
Always attach a copy of the patient's facesheet to the prehospital/patient care report (PCR). If it's a wait and return, it'll be two separate PCRs and require two of everything such as facesheet.
Check the facesheet to see if the patient has Medicare or MediCal insurance. If so, have the sending RN fill out a Physician Certification Statement (PCS). If it's MediCal, it needs to be signed by a physician.
Get a report from the sending RN. I'll verify where the patient is being transported to, ask why they are they being transported there, why can they not stay, why do they require an ambulance, and are they a full code. Those are very important to document for billing.
You should ask the sending RN other questions that pertain to the patient eg if they are on a 5150 hold (California's 72-hours psychiatric hold), ask the RN: Why was the patient placed on a 5150 hold? Do they have suicidal ideation (I often hear RNs say "SI" literally)? Do they want to harm others? Are they gravely disabled? Did they have a plan (suicide)? Have they had psychiatric care before? How many times before? Were they calm and cooperate during their stay? Do they require restraints? Document and report these to the receiving staff.
If they have a Physician Orders of Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) or a Do Not Resuscitation (DNR) form, I'll check if it's valid, and ask for a copy of it to attach to my paperwork. In Santa Clara County, I can honor a DNR without having the original, but I need evidence (eg copy of DNR). In Alameda County and Contra Costa County, the original DNR needs to stay with the patient to be honored.
Santa Clara County EMS - Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) / Advanced Directives - Policy 604
If the patient is being transported for psychiatric care, check that I am being sent with the original 5150, it's correctly filled out and signed, and ask for a copy to be attached to my paperwork.
I am unfamiliar with other companies doing this, but my company wants me to make every effort to get a copy of the patient's ID (eg driver license) and proof of insurance.
I'll get the sending RN's last set of vitals from the EMTALA form the patient is being sent with, or from the RN's chart prior to transport.
Introduce yourself to the patient, and ask 'em what do they like to go by (that's how you assess person). Try small talks while preparing to transfer the patient to the gurney eg "How long have you been in the hospital?" (that's how you assess place and time). Those are example questions. It's really easy to obtain person, place, time, and event without being awkward. This is the time to get the history of present illness (HPI). Common basic questions for HPI are OPQRST for (chest) pain and PASTE for shortness of breath.
Use the mnemonics as needed. For example, if the patient was hit by a car, it's probably inappropriate to ask 'em the onset, probably quality, radiating, and time of pain. Add as needed like those 5150 questions I shared. Note: Patients and family members may be uncomfortable with you asking some questions, it might be better to wait until you're in the back of the ambulance.
Do a quick visual exam. If they are wearing a jacket or sweater, have the remove it. It'll be easier for you to do a quick visual exam, and it'll be easier to do vital signs during transport. You can give the patient a blanket and turn on the heat during transport if they are cold; keep the jacket/sweater off. For 5150s, the sending facility will sometimes forget to remove the patient's IV, and the receiving facility will not accept the patient unless the IV is removed. Common things you'll see in IFT are: IVs, peritoneal dialysis, perm cath, pacemakers, AV fistulas (palpate for a thrill), scars, colostomy bags, g-tubes, and PICC lines.
My company wants me to always assess and document their respiratory, neurological, and circulatory status.
...
Well, I am getting too lazy to finish this. I have a ton of work to do. Maybe later? :[
