Patient Transports

Section 2 - EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

PURPOSE:

To establish the policies and procedures for the transportation of patients to assigned medical facilities from the scenes of ALS or BLS medical emergencies.

PROCEDURE:

These procedures are to be followed by all personnel. They are designed to assist Maitland Fire Rescue Department medical personnel assigned with primary patient care when transportation to a medical facility is deemed necessary or required. The parameters as established by the current Medical Direction authority with whom the Department has a current contract will also be followed by all personnel to insure proper medical care and treatment. Paramedics should use these guidelines to make educated decisions regarding patient transport. These procedures should be considered as Department general practices.

• Two transport capable units shall be staffed at all times with a minimum of one autonomous Paramedic on each unit. All other designated ALS units shall be staffed with a Paramedic if staffing allows.
• It will be the practice of the Maitland Fire Rescue Department to follow the practice parameters of the Medical Director established for the agency and under whose license the agency operates.
• Only autonomous Paramedics or pre-designated FIT interns are allowed to accompany patients during transport to the hospital.
• It is the practice of the Maitland Fire Rescue Department to have at least one autonomous Paramedic and at least one other Paramedic and/or EMT accompany any potentially unstable, unstable or critical patient to the hospital during transport.
• Patients are to be transported to the closest hospital of their choice unless diversion is medically necessary. The decision to transport to a hospital outside of our normal transport area is to be made by the on-duty Battalion Chief prior to the transport.
• Each unit should be returned as soon as possible to ready status in accordance to the “EMS off-load directive”. All supplies should be replenished upon return to quarters.
• Decontamination of the unit due to patient contamination should be done at the medical facility unless a delay is expected. At that time, keep the unit out of service with dispatch and return to quarters for further decontamination. Notify your OIC if such a delay is expected.
• All sheets and other patient specific materials must be changed prior to the unit becoming available for service.
• All reports should be completed upon return to quarters. Refer to 220.04 for specific details. Non autonomous Paramedics and EMTs assigned to the call are encouraged to assist the Paramedics with the completion of the required reports.