Comments on: Pre-Hospital Care-Pathways…

By: Kingmagic

Kingmagic — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 09:59:32 +0000

Interesting perspective. You will look back in years to come and realise how things have changed. I tried to leave a comment on your blog but the signing up process defeated me. I have your site in my favourites list and will add it to my blogroll.
Your question about violence at work was partly answered by ecparamedic. I agree that some people in the job bring it on themselves. I was told many years ago when I first started to speak to people how they speak to you in the first instance. A lot of people think that we will just take it and are surprised when we say “…fine we,ll f*&k off then” after been told to do so.
I,ve also replied to a post on Diagnosis NFI s blog reference stab proof vests.
I start weekend nights tonight so I will get plenty of jobs dealing with assaults and get some verbal abuse (at least), so I will probaly do a post on the weekends events.
Keep up the good work. ….Kingmagic (Purpleplus)

By: Trainee Paramedic

Trainee Paramedic — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 17:29:39 +0000

Hey there, i’ve just come to you’re blog through Carmelo’s. Its a good read. I’d be interested to know what you thought of mine if you wouldnt mind taking a look?
Thanks
TP

By: ecparamedic

ecparamedic — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:59:53 +0000

Interesting post, if you read my response to you comment on my site there may be a few answers from my perspective.

I honestly believe that ECPs should be the busiest resources out there and that seeing as the Control triage system doesn’t work with any degree of finesse a clinician should be sent out to ascertain an appropriate route to take. Obviously this is for jobs that aren’t ‘barn door’ life threatening, in which case why not respond the ECP alongside?

I’ve just come through the complaints proceedure after I left someone at home, the complaint was based upon the opinion of a St John first aider who had had no contact with the patient at all. No harm was caused to the patient (she still didn’t need to go to hospital), in fact I view keeping elderly patients out of hospital as beneficial to their health.

Instead of the usual Ambulance witch-hunt I was protected by something I do habitually, documetation and lots of it, including my thought process and written advice.

Sadly I see a lot of PRFs from colleagues that barely identify the patient, let alone record their clinical condition, observations, impressions, provisional and differential diagnosis and treatment plan. Some of the worst I see are from Trainee techs who are supposedly being mentored by experienced staff. Any ambulance chasing solicitor could pick holes in an instant and their asses will be in the sling.

By all means, leave the patient at home, do the paperwork right and get an ECP to follow them up for you. Job done.