Protocols, protocols, protocols...facepalm.

[mycrofft]

1. Are there books for sale for ambulance companies that have boilerplate protocols?
2. What types of factors on scene do you think most often make protocols look, well, stupid?

I am not against protocols, but they are not infallible.

 

[hippocratical]

2. What types of factors on scene do you think most often make protocols look, well, stupid?

When they frequently contradict each other. Old and new protocols mix and everyone has a different idea of what the actual protocol now is. Add to that the published protocols that are designed to clear up confusion.... yet they have typos in that make more confusion.

My current issue: Alberta Health Services guidelines for Pediatric CPR - 15:2 for 5 cycles or 2 minutes at 100 compressions/min.

15:2 does not take 2 minutes. It takes 1. It's half of 30:2.

So some examiners / instructors say 15:2 for 5 cycles, some say 15:2 for 10 cycles.

Oh FFS...

 

[usalsfyre]

Protocols that don't keep up with modern medicine. They should be reviewed quarterly IMO.

 

[JPINFV]

Protocols that don't allow crews to exercise judgement.

 

[truetiger]

Luckily our protocols are considered more of a "guideline." We can vary from protocol as long as we document why, its not out of our scope of practice, and it's not completely off the wall.

 

[Imacho]

1. Are there books for sale for ambulance companies that have boilerplate protocols?
2. What types of factors on scene do you think most often make protocols look, well, stupid?

I am not against protocols, but they are not infallible.

If you have an iPhone you can download the Protocols app. $10. but you can have access to every states, county's protocols in the the nation. Ant they're updated immediately once an update is available.

 

[emt junkie]

If you have an iPhone you can download the Protocols app. $10. but you can have access to every states, county's protocols in the the nation. Ant they're updated immediately once an update is available.

Just curious how this app would work for Texas since every service has their own protcols? Seems like not a very good app for Texas IMO.

 

[STXmedic]

Just curious how this app would work for Texas since every service has their own protcols? Seems like not a very good app for Texas IMO.

It's actually quite nice. Individual agencies upload their own protocols and the company puts them in the Apps format. I've got both of my agencies protocols in there for quick access.

 

[firecoins]

my protocols explicitly state to use clinical judgement.

 

[Nervegas]

It's actually quite nice. Individual agencies upload their own protocols and the company puts them in the Apps format. I've got both of my agencies protocols in there for quick access.

I just grab the indexed/tabbed protocol binder that is sitting in the cabinet right behind the captains chair in the box. Why spend money on something that is already indexed and free? Plus, I don't think my agencies protocols would be out in the public domain anyway.

 

[STXmedic]

I just grab the indexed/tabbed protocol binder that is sitting in the cabinet right behind the captains chair in the box. Why spend money on something that is already indexed and free? Plus, I don't think my agencies protocols would be out in the public domain anyway.

I prefer to not lug around a huge protocol book into the house of every call. Why not spend money, it's not expensive. And the protocols are indexed and make for extremely quick and easy access; much faster than hunting through a binder. Even if I had the binder, I'd still go for the app first. Just my opinion

 

[Nervegas]

I prefer to not lug around a huge protocol book into the house of every call. Why not spend money, it's not expensive. And the protocols are indexed and make for extremely quick and easy access; much faster than hunting through a binder. Even if I had the binder, I'd still go for the app first. Just my opinion

True that, I guess we are spoiled and have a beautifully designed and laid out protocol binder that is only an 1" thick lol. Plus, a smaller notebook version in the bag already.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Agreed on the iPhone protocol app. Works great.

 

[mycrofft]

An experience with "professional judgement".

If you use it and it works, you can get in trouble for not following the protocol. even if the outcome is good and the protocol was off target.
If you use it and things go bad, and even if there is no specific protocol, you get in trouble for not using proper judgment, or for not following some related protocol.
If you use the protocol and things go bad, instead of citing a bad protocol, you get in trouble for not using professional judgement.

In the wrong hands, "professional judgement" is just a noose and a cover for bad protocols.