She called us because she was in severe pain. I didn't ask why she didn't have somebody drive her to the hospital when I found her lying in the front seat, didn't even think about it. Her husband and kids were standing next to the car, you could tell they were concerned. We wheeled our stretcher over to the car, transferred her to it and got her into the truck and did our things.
I am not a saint by any means. The words, "only sick people get the stretcher" have been uttered by me hundreds of times to various people who not only are looking for a free ride across town, but also want to take a nap on the way. I have no trouble walking a patient with no injuries and perfectly normal vital signs through the triage area and into the waiting room. I am not past standing somebody in the corner, but I just hadn't thought of that one.
She is my patient until the receiving facility signs my report. We sometimes transfer the patient to the hospital stretcher, or wheelchair, or seat in the waiting room, or this latest, stand them in the corner, then give the report. Depending on circumstances we leave the patient on our stretcher while giving the report, then transfer them to the appropriate spot, in the appropriate chair, bed or gurney.
I'm still thinking about the lady from my last post, http://rescuingprovidence.com/2011/07/05/slammed/ A thousand appropriate responses have come to mind now that the incident is over. I should have completely ignored the person on the phone who told me to take the patient to the waiting room. I should have immediately found a stretcher for her and put her on it. If I failed to do those things, I at least should have told Young Nurse Ratchet to go away and found somebody with half a brain and an ounce of compassion, and have them do an assessment before telling her to get off the stretcher and stand if she couldn't sit.
But, not wanting to make waves, and always wanting to be "the good guy," I went along to get along. Problem is, I wasn't the "good guy," to the only one that mattered, the patient. To her, I was one of the douchebags, even though we had done everything right up until our last act, the one she will remember.
From this day forward, the patient in my care will be treated appropriately by everybody while in my care, and until I am out of sight.
That's right, everybody look at the bad guy!
Amen to that!!
The way it should be! Its hard to have to bite your tounge to a nurse in a nursing home or when triage at the hospital is being stupid. Thankfully, R.I.H. is always really good to us in EMS.
<i>She is my patient until the receiving facility signs my report.</i>
The federal government begs to differ. The patient is theirs once they are within 250 yards of the facility. I get a laugh out of those states or agencies that have a policy about a nurse having to sign for a patient. They've obviously confused EMS with UPS.
I've often wondered what it takes to impress the nurses in that place to the point where the patient actually gets something resembling medical care.
So far, "unresponsive" seems to be it- followed, of course, by biting remarks about other facilities that we should have/could have gone to.
About the only thing going for them is that you don't need an FBI background check to get linen and supplies.
I hear you, Michael. It just nags at you after something like that. You're right, ask for someone with 1/2 a brain and an ounce of compassion. I'm sure your patient knew you did not approve of the situation. You can't go back, so just be ready for the future.