Who here uses the Glascow Coma Scale?

[Jimmytwoshoes]

Hi,

I'm doing some research for a new product idea that I have and was wondering how many of us out there use the glascow coma scale?

If you do, how often?

Is it confusing for you to remember the point system?

and which part of the country are you from?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[tcripp]

If you do, how often? every call

Is it confusing for you to remember the point system? not especially, but I do have a small "cheat card" attached to my badge to quickly refresh

and which part of the country are you from? Texas

[Chief1C]

Every single call.

No.

Penna.

[Lone Star]

I use the GCS on every patient, and I keep a paperclip on the appropriate page of the pocket field guide for quick reference.

Some BLS pocket field guides also have the appropriate page tabbed at the bottom for quick reference.

Currently in GA

*edited to add last line*

Edited April 1, 2011 by Lone Star

[uglyEMT]

Every call, every patient

I have it pretty much down cold but if I forget the back of our PCRs have the scale plus burn scales on them

New Jersey

[BushyFromOz]

So "jim"

You sign up to the city today at 11.49 and 9 minute later you post your first question, which is...

I'm doing some research for a new product idea that I have and was wondering how many of us out there use the glascow coma scale?

How many of US

Bloke, if you need to ask that question for "product research" i suggest you either have no freaking idea about what goes on in ambulance, emergency health or healthcare in general and your "research" has been less than thorough.

You could have picked up ANY medical text and come up with the answer whoch you seek. Its a standard used nearly most of the world over and your "research" should aready have told you that.

[Jimmytwoshoes]

So "jim"

You sign up to the city today at 11.49 and 9 minute later you post your first question, which is...

How many of US

Bloke, if you need to ask that question for "product research" i suggest you either have no freaking idea about what goes on in ambulance, emergency health or healthcare in general and your "research" has been less than thorough.

You could have picked up ANY medical text and come up with the answer whoch you seek. Its a standard used nearly most of the world over and your "research" should aready have told you that.

I understand that it is in the textbook, and that everyone has to learn it to pass a test, but I am not sure about how many actually use the point system the way it was intended. What I am finding out is that it is very different around the country going from mandatory to no use at all. It's interesting to see the variances between EMS providers from different areas, and the different ways that it is used. I am a firefighter/EMT in FL, but we are not a transport agency. I've done plenty of ride alongs with the county (who does the transports) but have never seen them use the GCS score. I know how it is used in my local area, but I was basically trying to figure out on more of a National and Global scale if it is widely USED (not just learned). And not only if it is used, but how. I'm finding out that for some, when the patient is handed over to the ED that they do not necessarily give them a GCS score so much as the responses that were seen by the medic to give an overall view of the patient's LOC.

I believe that the GCS is a very important part of an assessment, especially in a head injury patient, and my product idea would completely simplify the process of assessing for GCS and keeping an accurate score.

So before you judge me based on the fact that I just signed up for this forum, just take a second to realize, that because you know how your department operates, does not mean that everyone around the country does it the same way, and that is the information that I am looking for. I can read medical textbooks all day long and not be able to find that information. Maybe I should have elaborated a bit more when I first asked the question and for that I apologize. This information is very useful for me and appreciate the help.

[DwayneEMTP]

I've never used it...It seems ridiculous to me as taught.

"Enroute to you with altered mentation, GCS of 9..." What does that mean?? I could understand if you reported "Pt has a GCS of 3/3/3.." but just a sum total seems meaningless to me except for the "less than 8 intubate" crowd I guess..

I can't remember anything about it really. The few times it was required for paperwork I had to Google it.

Sorry brother, unless i move to a service that requires it I would have no interest in something that would help me with it.

Dwayne

[Bieber]

We have to put in the GCS of every patient, but there's a little "check the box" area in our ePCRs that automatically calculates it. We also have to give a GCS for all trauma alert patients.

I'm getting somewhat better at remembering it, but like Dwayne said, unless you give each of the values all it really tells you is that "this guy is fully awake, fully obtunded, or somewhere between the two". I'm from Kansas.

[tcripp]

...but like Dwayne said, unless you give each of the values all it really tells you is that "this guy is fully awake, fully obtunded, or somewhere between the two".

So, for those who do report the score, do you not report it with the separate values?