EMS Patient Bill of Rights

[Michael]

"You have the right to trust the judgment of your provider." 8)

[explenture]

Adding some new ones:

10. The patient should not have to see or smell tobacco spit bottles/cups. [ Sure they shouldn't but holy cow take it up to the level of a right...?]

11. The ambulance should not smell like cigarettes or fast food. [Cigarettes yes. Fast food only if you are given a place to eat outside of the truck]

12. The ambulance should be spotlessly cleaned. [inside, and outside right]

13. The patient should not have to lay on the same sheet that several other patients have used (no, a sheet does not have 4 sides). [We change the sheet for each pateint. We typically put the sheet over the pillow and so don't change the pillow case. Should we be change the case?]

14. Patients have the right to the best response time, which means medics should know their territory like the fireman do. [see my post about right to evidence based treatment. If response times are proven to be irrelevant then why give people a right to them?]

15. The patient has the right to expect a properly equipped ambulance which at a minimum is ALS, with temperature controlled meds, IV pumps, biphasic monitors, 12 LEad, Capnography, thermometers, stair chairs, etc......

[Chief1C]

You have the right to [s:818ef31ddd]not call an ambulance and[/s:818ef31ddd] drive yourself to the ER.

[scubanurse]

Montgomery County has a Pt Bill of Rights posted but copied below:

2005 MCFRS EMS Quality Improvement

Patient’s Bill of Rights

The Patient and/or Patient’s Family has the right to expect and receive the

following from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service EMS Providers:

1. A clean, well-maintained, well-equipped, climate-controlled ambulance.

2. The closest available ambulance and first responder (when needed) dispatched to their

call for help with no unusual delays for any reason.

3. All responding personnel to be clean, neat, dressed in the appropriate uniforms, and

looking professional.

4. All responding personnel to be polite, compassionate, considerate, empathetic, soft-

spoken, respectful and well-mannered.

5. Transportation to the clinically-appropriate medical facility of their choice without

questions being raised regarding their ability to go by some other means, or any other

method of discouraging transport.

6. A clean stretcher with fresh sheets, blankets and a pillow and the appropriate medical

equipment brought immediately to their location; carried or wheeled as smoothly as

possible while the patient is secured with safety straps and covered with a sheet or

blanket to protect the patient’s modesty; and wheeled smoothly into the Emergency

Department.

7. To have their vital signs checked and documented in both transport and non-transport

situations.

8. To have all valuables and medications in their possession documented on the patient

care report at the time they are transported, and clearly document to whom in the

Emergency Department those valuables and medications were given.

9. To have their pertinent history, injuries, illness, vital signs, treatment, interventions and

medications adequately, thoroughly, and truthfully documented on the patient care

report.

10. To have the specifics about patient history, current situation and nature of their injury

or illness kept confidential in all respects.

[JPINFV]

While I'm all for clean and well maintained units, have any of you tried to keep an ambulance clean while the highway department is actively sanding the roads for traction?

[Eydawn]

Yeah, and road salt is a pain too! Oh the joys of the grinding noise as the wheels clunk in and scrape up the floor...

Wendy

CO EMT-B

[crotchitymedic1986]

very nice scuba, it is just missing a statement about "receiving quality (or the best) patient care". I like it -- thanks for submitting it.

[CTXMEDIC]

So no more driving up to your favorite frequent flyers house/shack/motel room and honking twice so they know to walk out and jump in the back?

[explenture]

I don't know if counts as a right but one of my rules is: each patient has worth and dignity and we don't judge them we treat them.

See Rules Post for my full thought on this.

[iMac]

Now that's the only motto a provider needs to wear, in big letters, on a tee shirt!

Nice, what about writing a bill for the providers? would be much more amusing to see what you all come up with.