MonkeyArrow
Forum Asst. Chief
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Disclosure: This narration is not a reflection of my opinion on the matter. It is merely a recollection of facts as I was it happen. I was not on the medic crew, and do not have all the facts of the situation.
I was working in the ED today. Our ED is set up where ambulances park in the bay, unload their patients, and wheel them inside "sitting the wall" while one partner (the one with the MDT) goes to check in with registration, get a destination/room number, etc. Anyways, so today, an ALS crew came in with a lady who was screaming and writhing in pain and general discomfort. She was complaining about pain, stating she was cold (with 2 blankets on her), generally groaning and mumbling in angst. The EMT with the patient didn't seem to try to comfort or alleviate any of the patient's concerns. After about 5 minutes of this constant complaining by the patient while things were still being situated, the partner with the patient kind of threw one of the blankets over the patient in a way that covered her face, considering that she was in a semi- fetal position on the gurney. Anywho, point being after she got into a room and was evaluated by a doctor, she was administered pain meds IV. Approx. 10 mins. post med administration, patient was doing much better and was no longer complaining of pain, and became drowsy. BTW I don't know what the CC was or what the diagnosis was but vital signs remained stable throughout- no contraindications to field analgesia that I know of. Also, seems like this patient may have been through the system a few times before.
We have sheets and blankets and blanket warmers in the ED readily available. The crew was an ALS unit capable of administering pain meds in the field. No IV access by EMS. (No O2, no cardiac monitoring, no etc.)
I was working in the ED today. Our ED is set up where ambulances park in the bay, unload their patients, and wheel them inside "sitting the wall" while one partner (the one with the MDT) goes to check in with registration, get a destination/room number, etc. Anyways, so today, an ALS crew came in with a lady who was screaming and writhing in pain and general discomfort. She was complaining about pain, stating she was cold (with 2 blankets on her), generally groaning and mumbling in angst. The EMT with the patient didn't seem to try to comfort or alleviate any of the patient's concerns. After about 5 minutes of this constant complaining by the patient while things were still being situated, the partner with the patient kind of threw one of the blankets over the patient in a way that covered her face, considering that she was in a semi- fetal position on the gurney. Anywho, point being after she got into a room and was evaluated by a doctor, she was administered pain meds IV. Approx. 10 mins. post med administration, patient was doing much better and was no longer complaining of pain, and became drowsy. BTW I don't know what the CC was or what the diagnosis was but vital signs remained stable throughout- no contraindications to field analgesia that I know of. Also, seems like this patient may have been through the system a few times before.
We have sheets and blankets and blanket warmers in the ED readily available. The crew was an ALS unit capable of administering pain meds in the field. No IV access by EMS. (No O2, no cardiac monitoring, no etc.)