When would you request a supervisor to a scene?

[DrParasite]

Kind of a simple question: when would you request a supervisor (ie, a person on shift in a dedicated supervisor's vehicle) to respond to a scene?

I'm not referring to when they would or should be included on the initial dispatch, or if you get into an MVC, but what would your criteria be for requesting an operational supervisor to respond to a scene?

 

[DesertMedic66]

I think this answer is going to vary greatly depending on how your specific company is set up.

My ground agency: our supervisors are mainly administrative and have no additional clinical capabilities. In 14 years I have never asked for a supervisor to respond to a scene. Depending on location of the scene it could take 2 hours for them to get on scene.

Flight agency: it’s not going to happen. Most of my direct supervisors live out of state. There also just isn’t any sort of a need to have them respond to a call.

 

[NomadicMedic]

When you need an adult.

 

[PotatoMedic]

Boiled down we have our supervisors respond to all cardiac arrest as they carry the Lucas. And anything that might require a formal ICS.

 

[CCCSD]

Only if I can’t handle it or need coordination of resources. In short: not often.

 

[ffemt8978]

Usually only when family members on scene were having issues with treatment plan or demanded one.

 

[MMiz]

As a BLS unit that responded to 911 calls, I can't think of a time I ever requested a supervisor on scene.

I'd call for one if I crashed the rig, my partner or I were injured, we had a MCI that required coordination, or there was a patient/family dispute that couldn't be settled.

Called them many times for smaller stuff like patient refusals, transport questions, and policy questions.

 

[DrParasite]

Called them many times for smaller stuff like patient refusals, transport questions, and policy questions.

That's what I mean... I've call them for sketchy refusals that were AMA, or if the patient's family was being disruptive... sometimes having a person in authority can help diffuse a situation... or at least get people to behave. Or if someone wants to file a complaint...

I've called on the phone if I needed to deviate from policy (IE, transporting to a hospital not in our list of approved destinations), or if there was possible child abuse/neglect situations, as well as when we needed to take someone against their will to the hospital due to a medical condition.

I wouldn't say it happens often, but for those who are carpet dwellers, I didn't know how often you were called out of your office.

Some of our road supervisors will also go on working fires, MVAs with multiple patients or entrapment, active chokings, rescue assignments, or penetrating trauma calls. And sometimes I think they will go as a first responder because they are bored. they aren't requested by the crew on scene, they just go for additional manpower.

 

[FredG]

In an ideal world, an EMS supervisor should go to any high priority call to assist the crew. For example, on a cardiac arrest, head to the scene to assist the crew by handling the family and getting demographics and history, letting the crew handle the patient. Basically, calm the scene down and support the family. For AMA situations, having someone show up with bars on their collar also saying they really should go is sometimes the extra push to get a patient to agree to transport.

I know it doesn't happen often, but an ideal supervisor is there to support the field crews and make their jobs easier, not to take over patient care or only be there when things go bad. It really should be a combination of support and administrative decision roles.

 

[NJEMT613]

When you need an adult.

Real

 

[E tank]

When you need an adult.

to reference another 'longevity' thread...when the ambulance crew just started shaving a minute ago and the age gap between command staff and troops is at least 10 years....surprised it doesn't happen more often and is a testament to the caliber of folks that enter EMS...

 

[NomadicMedic]

So, my perspective… I’m a chief, with a fly car.

I go to the call when the crew needs (and requests) help with a patient, family, facility or law enforcement.
I go when they request ALS and I am closer than another medic.
I go when it sounds like they may need an extra pair of hands. Either to move a patient or carry gear.
I go when it’s obvious a command officer can assist with operations.

Or if I’m bored and want to get out of the office.

 

[CCCSD]

I’m going with…. E. Bored.

 

[Tigger]

I called for a supervisor working at a city AMR op exactly once. Wasn’t cleared to RSI, they were, so they came and pushed the drugs and followed to the ED. The supe came more often than that, if you asked for cops emergent was a big one. Or if you got lost going to calls routinely, he might roll by. Working in the sticks I don’t think I ever called for the supervisor unless it sounded bad and he was coming anyway. Or I was on the flycar and he on the ambulance so I was backing him up.

I work fire now and we rarely go anywhere without an engine. So the supervisor is already there, which I guess is nice.