What meds do you look for?

[TreySpooner65]

I work as an EMT in an independent living retirement facility. We also have AL and SNF on campus however I do not respond there.

My department head has asked me to create a form for the FD and ambulance who respond to summarize the patient and give them the important information. I'm using the form the FD has as a template but under the medication and allergies it simply has boxes for Unknown, None, and Other. I'd like to list some medications for ease. I want to avoid specific medications (such as Coumadin) in case the patient is on a different drug or a different name (such as Warfarin) to avoid mistakes. In stead I am putting "blood thinners".

Can you think of any other categories that YOU would want on this form? I will also leave a space for Other and room to write.


Same question for allergies.


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[Shishkabob]

Put the most used ones, such as asa, Metoprolol, lisinopril, etc. Same with allergies, pcn, iodine, tape etc. Then have a decent sized line space for both to put ones not on the list.

don't just put categories as that accomplishes nothing since they still have to write down the specific one.

 

[tssemt2010]

a list of all the medications the patient takes would be nice, but blood thinners, lasix, anti depressants, i could go on forever, any meds that could alter our treatment in any way shape or form, i know its a broad list but not only does it help us out, but it will help out the hospital as well.

 

[STXmedic]

Just leave some empty lines and write them down. There are way too many meds and variations of similar meds to have a short catch-all list. And do not just put "blood thinners". They still need to fine out Which anticoagulants the patient is on.

 

[medicdan]

I strongly reccomend you have standard format, but customized "face sheets" for each resident, including, at minimum patient demographics, dob, ssn, insurance info, nok/family contact info, current pmh (specific conditions, dates of surgeries), current meds (with dosages if possible), and code status.

I understand and believe strongly in the independant living model, but also believe the facillity has a responsibility to maintain current records on their residents. It easy for the pcp/geriatric specialist to update these whenever they see patients, and maintain a copy on the resident's refrigerator and front desk.

Good Luck!

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[Brandon O]

If you had anticoagulants, antidiabetics, and perhaps one or two others as broad categories -- or even specifically the warfarin and insulin -- that'd flag a ton of the pharm-related issues out there. I know hospitals that click boxes for these at triage ("Patient on anticoagulants").

Frankly even the EMT who slept through 99% of the drug lecture should know that Coumadin is warfarin and the common insulin brand names, even if they don't know about things like dig dosages. This is low-hanging fruit. (Anyway, a broad category can actually require greater knowledge, since the provider has to actually know what Coumadin, Lovenox, and heparin are rather than just scribbling the names down.)

 

[TreySpooner65]

Let me clarify, we keep an emergency packet in each unit. It included a ALL medications, history, contact, insurance info etc.. However a lot of it they don't need so we also want to provide a summarized list of just what they NEED to know at a glance.


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[STXmedic]

Let me clarify, we keep an emergency packet in each unit. It included a ALL medications, history, contact, insurance info etc.. However a lot of it they don't need so we also want to provide a summarized list of just what they NEED to know at a glance.


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The responding unit may not need it, but that does not mean that the hospital doesn't want to have it.

 

[exodus]

A list of ALL medications and dosages would be appropriate along with ALL allergies and ALL medical history.


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[Aidey]

Let me clarify, we keep an emergency packet in each unit. It included a ALL medications, history, contact, insurance info etc.. However a lot of it they don't need so we also want to provide a summarized list of just what they NEED to know at a glance.


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Honestly, don't bother with the summary. What information is pertinent varies depending on what is going on. I personally prefer to have as much information as possible, I will decide what I need and don't need as part of my assessment.

 

[Veneficus]

I work as an EMT in an independent living retirement facility. We also have AL and SNF on campus however I do not respond there.

My department head has asked me to create a form for the FD and ambulance who respond to summarize the patient and give them the important information. I'm using the form the FD has as a template but under the medication and allergies it simply has boxes for Unknown, None, and Other. I'd like to list some medications for ease. I want to avoid specific medications (such as Coumadin) in case the patient is on a different drug or a different name (such as Warfarin) to avoid mistakes. In stead I am putting "blood thinners".

Can you think of any other categories that YOU would want on this form? I will also leave a space for Other and room to write.


Same question for allergies.


Sent from my iPhone

All medications are important. Not only can they be diagnostic, but polypharmacy, interactions, OD, and side effects can all cause a patient to require intervention.

For example, while motrin may sound benign, long term motrin can result in GI bleeding and renal injury of varying levels.

I just saw a patient yesterday who was suffering from pseudoephedrine OD, because he had self dx sinus pressur esecondary to allergy and as his symptoms worsened he just kept taking more and more, longer and longer.

Incidentally, he had no evidence of allergy or sinus. (WebMD fail)

As part of the medical community, you are expected to be knowledgable and professional. "blood thinners" is for lay persons.

Simply keeping an updated med list on each patient, with the dx for administration, the dose of medication, and when administered (even by self) is going to be much more helpful to all than a limited list of check boxes or blank lines.

Honestly if a patient comes to the hospital with an incomplete or inaccurate list of meds, they were simply better off bringing the bottles. I can get considerably more information off of that. Like the name of the doctor who prescribed them and the pharmacy that filled them. Which allows me to actually get more detailed info if needed.

 

[Handsome Robb]

Honestly if a patient comes to the hospital with an incomplete or inaccurate list of meds, they were simply better off bringing the bottles. I can get considerably more information off of that. Like the name of the doctor who prescribed them and the pharmacy that filled them. Which allows me to actually get more detailed info if needed.

As well as compliance/abuse with Rx meds.

Altered PT:

Me: "Sir do you take your pain killers as prescribed?"

PT: "Yes!"

Me: "Then why is this bottle of 30 oxycontins empty when it was filled yesterday?"

PT: "Uh...."

Me to my partner: "Will you start me a line please and pass me some narcan, I think we may need it in a bit."

 

[Veneficus]

As well as compliance/abuse with Rx meds.

Altered PT:

Me: "Sir do you take your pain killers as prescribed?"

PT: "Yes!"

Me: "Then why is this bottle of 30 oxycontins empty when it was filled yesterday?"

PT: "Uh...."

Me to my partner: "Will you start me a line please and pass me some narcan, I think we may need it in a bit."

I like nothing more to be told by a patient they are taking their htn medications and I find a full bottle that was filled years ago.

 

[Tigger]

All medications are important. Not only can they be diagnostic, but polypharmacy, interactions, OD, and side effects can all cause a patient to require intervention.

For example, while motrin may sound benign, long term motrin can result in GI bleeding and renal injury of varying levels.

I just saw a patient yesterday who was suffering from pseudoephedrine OD, because he had self dx sinus pressur esecondary to allergy and as his symptoms worsened he just kept taking more and more, longer and longer.

Incidentally, he had no evidence of allergy or sinus. (WebMD fail)

As part of the medical community, you are expected to be knowledgable and professional. "blood thinners" is for lay persons.

Simply keeping an updated med list on each patient, with the dx for administration, the dose of medication, and when administered (even by self) is going to be much more helpful to all than a limited list of check boxes or blank lines.

Honestly if a patient comes to the hospital with an incomplete or inaccurate list of meds, they were simply better off bringing the bottles. I can get considerably more information off of that. Like the name of the doctor who prescribed them and the pharmacy that filled them. Which allows me to actually get more detailed info if needed.

This is the best idea. I want to have a list of all the patient's medications, not just the one's that have been arbitrarily deemed to be important. While it's true that this won't exactly affect my care of the patient, if I need medics it might affect their care, and the hospitals around here at least want to know every medication that the patient is taking.

I respond fairly frequently to a facility like the OPs, with its own "EMS staff." At the gate of the facility a member passes me a form with the patients address (there are several buildings), medications, and past medical history. I can skim this real quick on the way to the patient to get a better idea of what we'll be dealing with. It's great.

 

[VCEMT]

Keep it simple. Allergies, history, and meds. The majority of time, the facesheets at con homes and assisted living are the best report. For some reason, 2 RNs and 2 LVNs standing in the doorway of a patient's room, can only point fingers at one another.

 

[exodus]

Keep it simple. Allergies, history, and meds. The majority of time, the facesheets at con homes and assisted living are the best report. For some reason, 2 RNs and 2 LVNs standing in the doorway of a patient's room, can only point fingers at one another.

I love facesheets with the pt's history and reason for staying at the facility all on them!