Our turn to teach

In addition to working I also volunteer on the Brooks Ambulance Service as an EMT-B.  I became an EMT after a scare with my youngest daughter and didn't want to be put in a situation where I didn't know what to do.

One thing that I have learned is that keeping a calm demeanor during high stress situations is crucial to be able to deliver the best patient care.  In addition to administering proper patient care you must be able to communicate with any facility in which you will be transporting your patient.  I was taught from the beginning that you must paint a picture of what will be coming through their doors so that they are ready to receive your patient once you arrive.

Once you are about four to five minutes out from your intended destination you will contact the hospital.  This is when you will give information about your patient.

Start by indicating you are in route to their facility, whether male or female, age of patient and the primary medical reason for transport.  You now move on as to how your patient presented on your arrival on scene and then how the patient presents currently.  You indicate the last set of vitals and then let the hospital know what type of procedures have been conducted on the patient, such as glucose reading, what type of O2 delivery you may have the patient on, and is there an IV established and where anatomically it is located as well as what kind and what rate of fluid you are delivering. 

If our patient is in pain you need indicate in your report what number the patient has indicated the pain is on a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being no pain at all and 10 being the worst pain ever.  You need to also indicate if the patient has self administered any medications prior to EMS arrival and any medications you as an EMS provider has given the patient and did the patient improve after medication was administered.
You need to report all medications the patient is on currently and any allergies if applicable.

Once you have reported all pertinent information you ask if the person receiving information if they have any questions or instructions for you.