dr-exmedic.com

Two little factoids make the article I’m reading hysterical and/or frightening (I’m still not entirely sure which).  First, Pittsburgh EMS has a reputation (at least among neighboring services) for walking patients to the ambulance unless they are truly unable to do so–e.g, are unconscious, have no legs, etc.  (I’ve seen at least one crew walking a patient into the hospital holding his own IV bag.)  Second, I’ve always been told how important it is from a legal perspective to have a patient properly secured in the back of an ambulance, by which people generally mean on the cot with all straps buckled.

The article is a study of prehospital seizure management by Pittsburgh EMS, and there isn’t too much striking about the results:  protocol compliance was low, ”though patient-specific care appeared appropriate.”  The study predates the PA statewide protocols, and thoughtfully includes what was then the current Pittsburgh EMS seizure protocol.  The protocol is pretty standard (ECG, IV, check blood sugar, D50 or glucagon if needed, diazepam), except for a note at the bottom:

Patients who are transported to the hospital for evaluation and have had a seizure within the past 3 hours are to be transported on the stretcher.

It suddenly explains so much….

Filed under: EMS, Medical Humor