Voice Recorders

[dschambers3]

Hello everyone! I was wondering do any of you use voice recorders while your on calls, to help on your documentation? I have considered doing this because I am always worried about forgetting to write something down. Is this to close to HIPAA violation? Thanks?

[firecoins]

I suppose if you deleted the recordings once you wrote the report, it might be alright.

I have toyed with taking pictures of vehicles to show doctors at the ER so that they better assess the patient.

[akflightmedic]

Well personally I would not recommend a voice recorder. At what point are you going to be speaking into this thing, or do you mean something that continuously records your entire interview?

How do you think the patient will feel about it? You should also inform them at the start that they are being recorded as well. Now I don't know about you, but I have run across many patients in precarious situations that would extremely object to being recorded. I also would never get some vital information pertinent to their exam or history had I been recording.

Also, if this is some sort of questionable patient (crime, assault, rape, whatever) and the police know about your recording, or your service knows of this practice, the possibility exists that your recordings could be declared as evidence. I certainly do not want any recordings of me in a court of law ever. It has been a scary enough experience when just my reports were there and I was testifying.

It seems like a very bad idea. I would just practice over and over with your exam questions, and eventually you will formulate a pattern that works for you, one that flows every time.

Practice practice practice. It is ok to be nervous and none of us were doing the perfect, error free patient interview from the get go.

As for taking pictures on scene, this is a bad idea for a couple reasons.

1. Possible privacy invasions/complaints

2. Loss of control of the photos ( you share with a buddy, they get on the net, then see #1) This has already happened unfortunately

3. It does NOT help the doctor perform a better exam. The doctor should perform the same exam for every patient regardless of how the vehicle looks.

Damage of a vehicle is not a good indicator of injury. I have had multiple roll overs where they walked away, and then I have had fender benders with critical patients.

The Level I trauma center I used to transport to asked us specifically to STOP bringing in Polaroids because they did not want to tunnel vision their assessments. They wanted to do a complete and detailed exam every time with no preconceived notions of what potential injuries may exist by glancing at a picture. It did nothing for them or their assessments.

Newer cars are made to crumple to absorb impact, so a low impact, no injured patient may still present as the most awful wreck you ever seen until you delve deeper into your exam and realize the pt is ok.

Older cars were heavier and did not crumple, so while the car may look undamaged, the patient probably is not, as they absorbed the impact with their bodies.

[Topher38]

I dont think he mean't Record the entire call, I think he mean't. Something like this.


Hit record: "The patients Base line vitals are, blah blah blah blah"

Personally I just have a little sticky paper on my leg or I write on the back of my glove.

Ive never seen anyone use a voice recorder. But I have heard of people doing it.

[firecoins]

Originally Posted by Topher38

Ive never seen anyone use a voice recorder. But I have heard of people doing it.

Isnt that the important part?

[Topher38]

If you are involved with a VFD you could check with them or do some research on your area's Rules with documentation.

[firecoins]

Originally Posted by akflightmedic

Well personally I would not recommend a voice recorder. At what point are you going to be speaking into this thing, or do you mean something that continuously records your entire interview?

How do you think the patient will feel about it? You should also inform them at the start that they are being recorded as well. Now I don't know about you, but I have run across many patients in precarious situations that would extremely object to being recorded. I also would never get some vital information pertinent to their exam or history had I been recording.

Also, if this is some sort of questionable patient (crime, assault, rape, whatever) and the police know about your recording, or your service knows of this practice, the possibility exists that your recordings could be declared as evidence. I certainly do not want any recordings of me in a court of law ever. It has been a scary enough experience when just my reports were there and I was testifying.

It seems like a very bad idea. I would just practice over and over with your exam questions, and eventually you will formulate a pattern that works for you, one that flows every time.

Practice practice practice. It is ok to be nervous and none of us were doing the perfect, error free patient interview from the get go.

As for taking pictures on scene, this is a bad idea for a couple reasons.

1. Possible privacy invasions/complaints

2. Loss of control of the photos ( you share with a buddy, they get on the net, then see #1) This has already happened unfortunately

3. It does NOT help the doctor perform a better exam. The doctor should perform the same exam for every patient regardless of how the vehicle looks.

Damage of a vehicle is not a good indicator of injury. I have had multiple roll overs where they walked away, and then I have had fender benders with critical patients.

The Level I trauma center I used to transport to asked us specifically to STOP bringing in Polaroids because they did not want to tunnel vision their assessments. They wanted to do a complete and detailed exam every time with no preconceived notions of what potential injuries may exist by glancing at a picture. It did nothing for them or their assessments.

Newer cars are made to crumple to absorb impact, so a low impact, no injured patient may still present as the most awful wreck you ever seen until you delve deeper into your exam and realize the pt is ok.

Older cars were heavier and did not crumple, so while the car may look undamaged, the patient probably is not, as they absorbed the impact with their bodies.

all good points. This why I have thought about it but haven't done it.

[skyemt]

Originally Posted by Topher38

If you are involved with a VFD you could check with them or do some research on your area's Rules with documentation.

HIPPA rules are for everyone, not just VFD...

unless a person plans on erasing the info at the end of every call, HIPPA is clear about what has to happen to private patient info.

you should do research into the HIPPA regulations to familiarize yourself with them.

for example, a person shows up at the station, says he was transported by your agency last week, and wants his PCR. what do you do?

[skyemt]

Originally Posted by akflightmedic

Well personally I would not recommend a voice recorder. At what point are you going to be speaking into this thing, or do you mean something that continuously records your entire interview?

How do you think the patient will feel about it? You should also inform them at the start that they are being recorded as well. Now I don't know about you, but I have run across many patients in precarious situations that would extremely object to being recorded. I also would never get some vital information pertinent to their exam or history had I been recording.

Also, if this is some sort of questionable patient (crime, assault, rape, whatever) and the police know about your recording, or your service knows of this practice, the possibility exists that your recordings could be declared as evidence. I certainly do not want any recordings of me in a court of law ever. It has been a scary enough experience when just my reports were there and I was testifying.

It seems like a very bad idea. I would just practice over and over with your exam questions, and eventually you will formulate a pattern that works for you, one that flows every time.

Practice practice practice. It is ok to be nervous and none of us were doing the perfect, error free patient interview from the get go.

As for taking pictures on scene, this is a bad idea for a couple reasons.

1. Possible privacy invasions/complaints

2. Loss of control of the photos ( you share with a buddy, they get on the net, then see #1) This has already happened unfortunately

3. It does NOT help the doctor perform a better exam. The doctor should perform the same exam for every patient regardless of how the vehicle looks.

Damage of a vehicle is not a good indicator of injury. I have had multiple roll overs where they walked away, and then I have had fender benders with critical patients.

The Level I trauma center I used to transport to asked us specifically to STOP bringing in Polaroids because they did not want to tunnel vision their assessments. They wanted to do a complete and detailed exam every time with no preconceived notions of what potential injuries may exist by glancing at a picture. It did nothing for them or their assessments.

Newer cars are made to crumple to absorb impact, so a low impact, no injured patient may still present as the most awful wreck you ever seen until you delve deeper into your exam and realize the pt is ok.

Older cars were heavier and did not crumple, so while the car may look undamaged, the patient probably is not, as they absorbed the impact with their bodies.

the ER's in our area REQUIRE us to bring polaroids of MVA's..

there is no "loss of control" issue, as the pics are left with the ER.

has NOTHING to do with them performing an exam, but has EVERYTHING to do with helping them to understand the mechanism.. why do we look at the damage? why do we inspect the interior? to determine what the mechanism is and where it should lead us.
since the ER doc is not there to see it, what better way to help relate mechanism that to show photos. I'm sure they will be able to decide if it helps their assessment or not.

i'm sure it was unintended, but your post implies that mechanism is unimportant, and you will do the same exam no matter what.

[Topher38]

The ER's in your area Require you guys to use polaroids of MVAs?

Thats pretty cool. Thats a good idea too.