procedures for motor vehicle accident

[AVPU]

A question in the practice section of my EMT-B book:

While u are starting CPR on the pt lying next to the vehicle a bystander runs up and states he is a doc and wants to help. What is your response?

two reasonable responses:

run it thru Med Con, stating he must follow your protocols (takes too long?)

let the doc take over

pretty basic I know, but my brain is stuck. Maybe I've been studying too long. Yikes!

[JPINFV]

Run it through medical control, ask his specialty, and ask for his card. Additionally, find out if he wants to run the show or just provide an additional set of hands. There's a few pitfalls. First off, is he an MD or DO? If not, then sorry, he can provide an extra set of hands, but he's not taking over. Second, remember. Unlike EMT-Bs, EMT-Ps, RNs, and RTs, MDs and DOs have unrestricted licenses to practice medicine. Their scope of practice isn't confined to when they are just on the clock and under medical control unlike most other health care providers (like, say, podiatrists, DPTs, etc).

[TransportJockey]

Here in ABQ you hand them a page from the protocol book that they read. It basically says that if you want to take over full care and violate protocols and standing orders you must ride in with the patient and complete all documentation. But I've never heard of it happening here. Most MDs here are like a lot of us when off duty and don't bother to stop

[LondonMedic]

I think I, and most of my colleagues, would be happy just giving a hand - remembering that we recognise our limits and that we are out of our normal working environment. If I was first on scene, that might be a little different. Depends on the job and depends what crew turns up.

That said, I'm quite happy if I don't notice anyone who might need a hand.

[AVPU]

So the first option sounds like it would be correct. But I wouldn't want to stop what I was doing to ctc med con. Assuming I have a partner who's available, have him do it ?

[LondonMedic]

Originally Posted by AVPU

So the first option sounds like it would be correct. But I wouldn't want to stop what I was doing to ctc med con. Assuming I have a partner who's available, have him do it ?

So you'd interrupt 2-person CPR? Why not just tell the doc to off?

What would you do if it was a paramedic or tech? Would you have to get grown-up permission for that?

[dave3189]

I have several friends that are Docs and I have tremendous respect for their education and talents. That being said, in an out of hospital trauma situation, I'd take an experienced EMT working on me over an MD any day of the week. The only exception to this would perhaps be an E.R. Doc. Without the tools and resources of a hospital environment, an MD can't really do much more than an EMT can. In the final analysis, EMTs are much more experienced and adept in treating patients in uncontrolled environments.

[AVPU]

So, if I encounter this sort of question on the NR, what would the correct answer be??

[TransportJockey]

Originally Posted by AVPU

So, if I encounter this sort of question on the NR, what would the correct answer be??

Somehow I doubt this question will come up on NR

[CAOX3]

I dont know where everyone worke but this rarely happens in my area.

And what exactly is an off duty MD going to do for the patient besides risk his medical lic. If he was towing a trauma center behind his car then maybe . Is his MD CPR going to be better then yours? I doubt it. If he wants to help out thats fine, but we are probably going to have at least twenty people on scene at a fatality. More hands isnt something we will need.

My answer would be unless he wants to ride into the hospital, give report and then sign mine. Thank you but its best if he just move on.