170
EMR
EMT
AEMT
Paramedic
Extended
EMS Transportation
EMT
1.
The decision to transport should be a crew decision, with the patient’s best interest in mind.
The highest
trained, in-charge person is ultimately responsible
. The patient has the right to refuse treatment and
transport as described under the Patient Rights section.
2.
The patient’s condition and their needs should help determine method of transportation and destination.
Consideration should include, but not limited to, need for Paramedic versus time to closest hospital, number
of crew on your vehicle, and appropriateness of closest hospital.
3.
Medical helicopter transportation shall be considered on policies set forth under the Helicopter
Transportation section.
4.
During transport, treatment shall continue and reassessment of the patient shall continue.
5.
All patients with acute mental status changes that have any life threatening complaint or condition are to be
transported to the hospital by EMS. A person with altered mental status cannot refuse transport if they have
a condition that is a threat to life or limb.
A suicidal patient has a life threatening condition and is not
considered to be in a normal state of mind
; therefore
all suicidal patients should get transported to the
most appropriate facility for evaluation
. If they have a medical condition that requires treatment or
monitoring then EMS must transport.
EMS cannot legally take an alert, oriented, and medically
competent person against their will without a civil commitment (pink slip), even if they express
suicidal tendencies.
Family and friends are not to transport suicidal patients once EMS has gotten involved,
unless the patient refused care and there is no pink slip. In any situation that a patient with altered mental
status or suicidal/homicidal tendencies tries to refuse care, get law enforcement involved immediately.
AEMT
1.
All guidelines for EMT’s shall apply to AEMT’s.
2.
If IV’s are in place, they are to be monitored.
Paramedic
1.
All guidelines for EMT’s and AEMT’s shall apply to Paramedics.
EMS Transportation