PrinciplesofPatientAssessmentinEMS.pptVIP

Principles of Patient Assessment in EMS  By: Bob Elling, MPA, EMT-P Kirsten Elling, BS, EMT-P Chapter 5 – Making a Priority Decision Objectives Describe how the priority decision impacts the care of the patient. Define up triaging and how it applies to patient care. List four types of systems the EMS provider can use to make a priority decision List the three common classifications of burn severity and describe examples of each. Objectives (continued) Define START system and describe how EMS providers can use this system in a MCI. Describe how EMS providers utilize triage tags during an MCI. Describe the four levels of trauma centers and how a hospital or facility is designated into one of these levels. Provide examples of the type of patient that would be transported to a level I trauma center. Introduction Priority decisions are made to set the tone for patient care and management. Perform the initial assessment first. When more than one patient is present you must triage (to sort): Triage use in prehospital and hospital Many triage systems available The Priority Decision Priority decision making is an essential skill for EMS providers. Failure to make a priority decision may have serious life-threatening implications. Consider the “golden hour” and the “Platinum ten minutes.” Stable vs. Unstable When two priority choices are possible “up triage.” Systems of Prioritizing Become familiar with the system used in your area: Hot / cold Red / yellow / green High / Low Minor / Moderate / Severe P-1, P-2, P-3 C U P S A Close Up on One SystemC U P S Acronym that stands for: critical unstable potentially unstable stable First introduced in the BTLS course Adapted in many states Examples of “Critical Patients” Actual or impending cardiorespiratory arrest Respiratory failure Decompensated shock (hypoperfusion) Rising intracranial pressure Severe upper airway difficulties Examples of “Unstable Patients” Cardiorespiratory instability Respiratory distress Compensat