Police or EMS matter?

[vc85]

I was just curious, having worked in both the EMS and law enforcement fields (primarily as a civilian), what would happen in this case in your jurisdiction.


You get called out for "assist the police". Once on scene, you are told the police just rescued someone from a kidnapping and they want you to evaluate. You do and everything checks out, no medical complaints, vitals are stable and within normal limits. PD then asks you to transport to the hospital for reunification with family and to have evidence collected from their body (again no medical complaint). Would your agency transport, or have a supervisor explain to PD that "walking crime scenes" go by police car.

 

[Rialaigh]

Transport by EMS for "medical evaluation". Also, quite frankly, we really maintain an excellent working relationship with our PD. If they ask us to do something we generally do it, if we ask them they oblige as well. If for no other reason then to continue to cultivate that relationship we would transport out of courtesy. In this situation generally an officer would accompany us as well (either in the ambulance, or following directly behind to meet us at the ER).

 

[DesertMedic66]

Transport by EMS for "medical evaluation". Also, quite frankly, we really maintain an excellent working relationship with our PD. If they ask us to do something we generally do it, if we ask them they oblige as well. If for no other reason then to continue to cultivate that relationship we would transport out of courtesy. In this situation generally an officer would accompany us as well (either in the ambulance, or following directly behind to meet us at the ER).

This.

 

[vc85]

Thanks for the help.

In most of the cases I hear of, the PD transports to the police station for certain purposes and then either the parents or a detective transport to the hospital for other evidence collection, but I guess that just depends on local policies.

I would like to ask this, would your answer change if the EMS agency was a volunteer agency (that might not be able to get a second rig out) and the hospital with the forensic nurse was 30 minutes out of district? My answer would be no, you treat/transport the patient you have not a hypothetical one

 

[medicdan]

On the other hand, do you really want to stick this otherwise "innocent" person with a bill, and no complaint? Depending on your service and area, that's a $300-$1000 bill for a service that could be more efficiently provided elsewhere.

I wouldn't want to jeopardize a good relationship with PD, but would be much hapier to do so if I knew the "patient" wouldn't have to pay.

 

[exodus]

Transport for evaluation of assault / sexual assault. There is a medical complaint there. While PD COULD transport her, there is a complaint.

 

[vc85]

That's a good point. The agencies in my area are all volunteer so billing isn't an issue.

I would guess that any bill would be covered by crime victim compensation. Although I'm not sure if they could turn around and say it is "not medically necessary" and refuse payment.

 

[ZombieEMT]

I would do the transport, but just to have the situation without argument. There are many instances in which PD could (or should) do a transport but turf it to EMS. For example, many psychological patients are medically stable.

At my volunteer department, police do not have an issue transporting a patient if there is not current medical need for an ambulance. I want to clarify that my opinion is that, not everyone who might need a hospital needs an ambulance. Many times, the ambulance is just a taxi, that in reality a police officer can handle. Cops here are generally very good and work well with EMS. They are always helpful and go out of the way to assist.

At both paid departments, police are almost useless. They would have us take someone by ambulance just because they do not want to.

The main problem that I have is the waste of resources. At one job, we only have on one ambulance from 12a to 8a but PD has on at least 6 patrol cars and a supervisor. An ambulance for an unnecessary transport leaves the township without coverage, where one cops goes and there are still additional units.