Who owns the scene in San Diego? We do.

[exodus]

From our protocol booklet for San Diego:

"Authority for pt health care
management in an emergency shall be vested in that
licensed or certified health care professional which may
include any paramedic or other prehospital emergency
personnel, at the scene of the emergency who is most
medically qualified specific to the provision f rendering
emergency medical care" Ca Health and safety code,
division 2.5, chapter 5, section 1798.6(a)

So the paramedics or EMT's are in charge of the care and management of the patients. So if that being said, it can be interpreted as: "If we need something to happen to make it safer for us to treat these patients, by law we are in charge of that action."

 

[Shishkabob]

Being in charge of pt health care =/= scene management.


What that PROTOCOL(not law) specifically states, is that when it comes to the patient and what skills you do to treat them, is up to you, not to the judge walking by, a teacher with first aid experience, or any of that.

It does NOT state you control flow of traffic, who can be on the scene, or any other part of scene management.

 

[JPINFV]

It could also be read as any board certified emergency physician, emergency PA or emergency NP that shows up is ultimately in charge. Besides, I've always found collaborating to be more important than worrying about who's on first [in charge].

 

[Veneficus]

From our protocol booklet for San Diego:



So the paramedics or EMT's are in charge of the care and management of the patients. So if that being said, it can be interpreted as: "If we need something to happen to make it safer for us to treat these patients, by law we are in charge of that action."

This has been argued for years between EMS and the fire service.

I agree that the purpose of extrication and scene control where patients are involved should be considered part of patient care, but as usual there are few who agree with my thinking.

In giving the fire service its due, there are few EMS only providers who do have the knowledge and training to properly be in charge of a rescue of anykind. If an EMS provider is not properly trained and educated, a collaborative approach with fire in charge (as they should be able to best protect providers) is probably the best way.

But fire has to remember to take into account EMS concerns and it probably would be a good idea if they realized some of us were firefighters at one time too, so we have some clue.