Why are doctors offices such EMS misusers

[stcommodore]

I understand that patients often need further care that there doctor can't provide. But why do they insist in calling 911 for patients who are more then able to take themselves to the ED.

[fiznat]

I think that while regular folks oftentimes call 911 out of fear or laziness or ignorance, the cause is different with doctors offices. There, I think the main factor at work is liability. Doctors aren't interested in having patients crump on the way to the hospital, and who can blame them. Play it on the safe side, reduce your risk, and make your patient happy. Its win win win.

[stcommodore]

There needs to be a protocol that says yes ambulance, no ambulance. I was called today to an office 3 blocks from the hospital for r/o gi bleed. IE a few dark stools with stable v/s and no complaints. Pt presented to doctor driven by her son...no reason to call us. If there afraid she'll elope there is nothing the ambulance will change once the pt is in triage.

[paramedicmike]

I'd be willing to wager more on a physician's determination that a patient needs an ambulance than that of an EMS provider. Sure, many calls to doctor's offices may be simply due to liability concerns on behalf of the physician. But what it boils down to is that EMS training pales in comparison to that of a physician. That physician's physical exam/assessment education was longer than an EMT course and probably longer than a paramedic course.

Do your job. Do it to the best of your ability. And do it with a smile. Add that to Fiznat's thoughts and it's a double win win win.

[Dustdevil]

There needs to be a protocol that says yes ambulance, no ambulance.

Every agency that tries that eventually gets pwnt for millions in civil court.

WTF do you care? I for one didn't take the job to NOT transport patients.

[stcommodore]

I know cutting down on transports is not good for job security, but in a time and place where resources are slim doctors offices,dylasis centers, etc misuse our services.

If the patient just needs a supervised ride call a paratransit service. If they need a medical intervention call ems.

[paramedicmike]

And who are you to decide what patient needs what?

[Kiwiology]

See this is why we have the Patient Transfer Service, a bunch of people with five days training driving people to the hospital who are not crook enough to need a Paramedic or IC. You guys should try it.

[Richard B the EMT]

A number of Doctors who called for an EMS transport, to my experience, almost refused to even advise me what they suspected was wrong with their patients. I suspect they felt we were dumber than some stereotyped cab drivers.

[zippyRN]

See this is why we have the Patient Transfer Service, a bunch of people with five days training driving people to the hospital who are not crook enough to need a Paramedic or IC. You guys should try it.

biggest problem is that certainly UK PTS with a month's first aid, AED, oxygen administration, communication skills, and patient handling training and a driving course are actually better/ more comprehensively trained ( although they may have fewer shiny toys) than the minimal requirements of EMT-B ...

Edited May 4, 2011 by zippyRN