they forget to take their beta blockers and get worried when their BP goes to 228/90. You need to know enough to see past things that are non-emergent, do an accurate and detailed assessment and only transport people who really need it. Of course if they demand to go then so be it. Always make them sign a refusal though and give them good medical consultation.
Many paramedics I talk to say, "You don't want to be the paramedic that brings every call to the ER." Maybe sometime, when people obviously aren't in any need of emergency care, you develop rapport with the patient and explain you can take them if they want to go, but everything seems ok. I know its tough to do, but I guess only seasoned medics do this type stuff.
You're kidding, right? You consider this BP nothing to worry about? Was the patient symptomatic? Regardless of it being the patient's fault that they forgot to take their beta-blocker, it is no reason to blow off a situation that may need to be addressed such as a systolic BP of 228. PO beta blockers will not work immediately and if this BP has been sustained for any length of time you shouldn't just tell them to take their pill and call a doctor. If the patient was on beta blockers there is a good chance their BP may have been an issue in the past and this may not be something to write off as BS. Sometimes people who are elderly or even those with various disease processes regardless of age do forget to take their meds. Not everyone is noncompliant or looking to abuse the system. Even if they didn't take their beta blockers because they were "feeling better", that is no reason to cop an attitude with the patient to where it can skew your medical judgment.
Just getting a patient to sign are refusal does not release you from liability especially if you document a systolic BP of 228. Of course if it was only your partner that witnessed you taking the BP, you could lie and say the BP was 128 on your paperwork to justify your nontransport of the patient.
Last edited by a moderator: