Three things that I dislike to do as a Paramedic

Just curious, how many people here would be willing to refuse transport to a patient where they would be personally named in the malpractice suit if an adverse event occurred? (and please don't get into a technical "according to the law, it doesn't matter" because emotions often override the law when it comes to malpractice).
 
9 times out of 10 I go to the closest hospital. Usually only go to the patients choice if they have a specialist there. Ie cancer treatment or cardiac care.
 
We are NOT going to refuse transport..The system is broke but one alone is not going to fix it. We can be on our way and transfer the patient over to the hospital much quicker and less liability than to stay and discuss why we will not take them.
 
I refuse transport probably once a shift. A few of the perks of where I'm at: No-load (refuse transport), taxi vouchers, and the ability to go to the closest hospital instead of bypassing 15 of them. I do wish we could have alternate facilities. We can get PD to take patients to in-patient psych facilities, but we still can only go to the ED.
 
20 year olds on Medicare that use us as a taxi. Had one call got there. Cheif complaint was that she needed a ride to the bank.

Running calls at the state prison where I pay them to pay me to take them to the er
 
Vegeta182 said:
20 year olds on Medicare that use us as a taxi. Had one call got there. Cheif complaint was that she needed a ride to the bank.

Running calls at the state prison where I pay them to pay me to take them to the er
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Did you take then to the bank? Or the er?
 
System abusers that know all the right things to say to guarantee they get transported.
Anyone who has more than one bag with them (or, God help me, a bike that can't be left behind)
Fire "medics" who think they actually know what's going on. How about you just carry my bags and let me take care of the patient, okay?
 
JPINFV said:
Just curious, how many people here would be willing to refuse transport to a patient where they would be personally named in the malpractice suit if an adverse event occurred? (and please don't get into a technical "according to the law, it doesn't matter" because emotions often override the law when it comes to malpractice).
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My service gave PMs the authority to pronounce death and refuse transport. The usual refusals were on the "I'm bad off sick and I needs you to take me to the hospital" complaints. No, I don't was my reply. Then came the "I gots Medicaid. You gotta to take me". Again, I told them no. I filled out a run sheet and they got billed for a BLS call. Medicaid supposedly won't pay these.
 
MackTheKnife said:
The usual refusals were on the "I'm bad off sick and I needs you to take me to the hospital" complaints. No, I don't was my reply. Then came the "I gots Medicaid. You gotta to take me". Again, I told them no. I filled out a run sheet and they got billed for a BLS call. Medicaid supposedly won't pay these.
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Do you mean that the patient was subsequently transported by a BLS unit? If so, how is this distinct from triaging a patient to a BLS unit?
 
We turned them over to a private service if they wanted or told them to call a cab.
 
STXmedic said:
I refuse transport probably once a shift. A few of the perks of where I'm at: No-load (refuse transport), taxi vouchers, and the ability to go to the closest hospital instead of bypassing 15 of them. I do wish we could have alternate facilities. We can get PD to take patients to in-patient psych facilities, but we still can only go to the ED.
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How does SAFD no-load work? Do you call a private ambulance and be on your way or ?
 
RocketMedic said:
How does SAFD no-load work? Do you call a private ambulance and be on your way or ?
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A quick call to med control (not med direction, there's a difference for us) for approval, then they get told they're not an appropriate candidate for the ED and they need to follow up with their PCP. No calling for a private or anything. A second option is a taxi voucher; we'll call a taxi for them, give them a taxi pass, then leave.
 
We can't refuse but we triage to multiple Urgent Care style practices. Unfortunately it's not something we can "force" on someone, if they're dead set on the ER that's where they go.
 
I just wish we could take psych patients directly to PES rather than to the ED.
STXmedic said:
A quick call to med control (not med direction, there's a difference for us) for approval, then they get told they're not an appropriate candidate for the ED and they need to follow up with their PCP. No calling for a private or anything. A second option is a taxi voucher; we'll call a taxi for them, give them a taxi pass, then leave.
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Having to write reports and get creative to get them paid. Even if it is a BS call, when need to find some reason they need an ambulance.

Lack of uniformed practice when it comes to training, protocols, and medications available.

Out of town transports. I do 1-2 a shift.
 
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