Some tips on being a helpful part of an emergency scene:
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Make an effort to control your emotion and stay calm
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Answer questions as directly and accurately as possible with relevance to events of the incident.
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Do not crowd the scene, speak-over others, direct or demand providers.
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Please remember, this is our daily job and professional field of practice.
When our providers arrive they need to collect some important information from you. You can expect one of our providers to request the following in addition to events of the emergency.
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Personal Demographics
Name, age, date of birth, address, phone number, social security number, primary care physician’s name.
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Medical History
Major medical conditions (heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes). Past medical problems (heart attacks, strokes, surgeries).
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Current Medications
We must be aware of all current medications – Names & dosages.
Including over-the-counter and herbal/holistic medicines/supplements.
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Allergies to Medications
Any known allergies or sensitivities. (The specific type of reactions)
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All of this information must be obtained quickly & upon contact, as it serves to complete our assessment of the condition and is needed to safely continue the treatment course. The most accurate and effective way to communicate a majority of the information to your provider is a pre-written list printed on a simple piece of paper or a flash card.​
Pennsylvania Department of Health Protocols - 170-BLS Patient Destination - Ground Transport Statewide BLS Protocol.
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Purpose:
A. This protocol shall ensure that when a ground ambulance agency transports a patient in the prehospital setting the patient is transported to the most appropriate receiving facility, while considering the patients' s preference.
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Policy:
1. Transport to closest hospital: Patients transported by ground ambulance shall be transported to the closest receiving facility unless any of the below exceptions apply. For the purpose of this protocol, a reference to “closest receiving facility” shall be construed to mean the licensed acute care hospital that is closest to the scene in terms of estimated drive time.
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2. Patient choice exception: There may be many reasons why a patient may choose one facility over another, these may include but are not limited to, preexisting relationship with a physician, a receiving facility, a medical service (e.g., a dialysis service), or a health insurance plan. Transport by ground ambulance to a facility other than the closest receiving facility is permitted if the patient or other person with legal authority to act for the patient (hereafter “legal representative”) expresses a preference for transport to a different facility. In the case of veterans, it is acceptable to transport a patient to a veteran’s hospital that has an emergency department if the facility meets other requirements of this patient choice exception. This is subject to the following:
a. The ground EMS crew may advise the patient or the patient’s legal representative that he/she has a choice in destination, but the ground EMS crew may not suggest to a patient that a more distant facility would be better for the patient, except for the conditions covered by specific exceptions in this protocol. The exact level and capacity of any given licensed acute care facility may change due to circumstances unknown to the EMS provider, therefore it is not appropriate for the EMS provider or the EMS agency to exert their preference into the patient destination decision.
b. The patient’s choice must be reasonable. EMS agencies are not required to transport patients to more distant facilities to accommodate a patient’s choice if the additional transport distance is not reasonable. EMS agencies should have a policy that defines which receiving facilities are within a reasonable transport distance from their usual 911 response area. Such a policy should balance the patient’s right to choose a facility that is not the closest with excessive transport times that substantially decrease the ability of the EMS agency to provide 911 coverage for their usual response area. ​​
Hospitals within reason of LPEMS:
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Jefferson- Montgomery (Stroke, Cardiac)
CHOP - KOP (Pediatrics)
Paoli Memorial (Trauma, Stroke, Cardiac)
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