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The Valley Hospital Emergency Services
Standing Orders / Communications Failure Orders
4
where standing orders are utilized, in accordance with the standards set. Cases that do
not follow the standing orders as set forth in this chapter or where contact is never
made with medical command shall be forwarded to the medical director for a
mandatory review.
Introduction – Pediatric Communications Failure Orders
The Communications Failure Orders contained in this book are for the use of ALS
crewmembers in the field when normal means of communication with medical
command, as well as secondary means of communication, have failed. As with the
standing orders, pediatric patients are defined the period of time beginning with the
29th day following birth up to, but not including, a person's 13th birthday. This section
will also apply where appropriate to neonatal patients, defined as the period of time
from the moment of birth up to and including the 28th day following birth. The
Communications Failure Orders are specific for advanced life support intervention.
These orders should not be implemented until all secondary means of communication
with medical direction have been attempted and have failed. This shall include
attempting to contact the back-up Medical Command Facility (St. Joseph’s Regional
Medical Center 973-977-8476). Since the primary means of communication with
medical direction is the cellular phone, the secondary means of communication with
medical direction are via Landline and HEAR Communications.
It is understood that if Communications Failure Orders are in use, the crew will have
completed all appropriate Standing Orders first. When Communications Failure Orders
are in use, the ALS crewmembers will not deviate from them in any manner relating to
procedure, drug, dosage, route of administration, or repetition of therapy. The only
exception will be that, a treatment may be withheld if the patient or family member
reports an allergy to the medication or therapeutic agent. Should the ALS provider
deviate from these protocols when they are in use, it will be considered
practicing
medicine without a license.
An EMS Charts Special Report must be completed within
the patient’s chart when Communications Failure Orders are utilized.
Standing Orders and Communications Failure Protocols are not to be used in the place
of medical command. It is imperative that the MICP/MICN establish communications
communication with medical command as soon as possible.