SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

PREFACE

 

THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS IN THIS MANUAL ARE BASED UPON NATIONAL AND STATE STANDARDS. THEY ARE TO BE USED TO ENSURE AND EXPEDITE PATIENT CARE WITHIN OUR MEDICAL RESPONSE AREA. ONLY PROPERLY TRAINED INDIVIDUALS, WHO HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO USE THE PROTOCOLS AS STANDING ORDERS.

 

AS WITH ANY GUIDELINES, THESE PROTOCOLS DO NOT PROHIBIT THE USE OF SOUND MEDICAL JUDGEMENT BY THE PREHOSPITAL PROVIDER, HOWEVER, DEVIATION FROM THESE PROTOCOLS REQUIRES CONSULTATION OF MEDICAL CONTROL.

 

 

 

 

Ray Pinkston, M.D. 12/06/00

MEDICAL DIRECTOR DATE

SUMNER COUNTY EMS

 

PROTOCOL GUIDELINES

 

EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE COMPOSED OF PERSONNEL FROM MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. THIS DIFFERENCE EXTENDS INTO TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. THE PROTOCOLS SHOW WHICH PROCEDURES AND MEDICATIONS CAN BE USED UNDER STANDING ORDERS AND PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT OF EXPECTED PATIENT CARE. USING THESE PROTOCOLS WILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL PATIENTS RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY CARE. THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE TO HELP USE THE PROTOCOLS.

  1. THE PROTOCOLS PRESUME THAT THE CONDITION UNDER DISCUSSION CONTINUALLY PERSISTS.
  2. THE PROTOCOLS CONTAIN BOTH BLS AND ALS PROCEDURES. PERSONNEL ARE ONLY TO TREAT TO THEIR LEVEL OF TRAINING
  3. PERSONNEL MUST HAVE PROPER TRAINING AND BE EVALUATED BY THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR BEFORE PERFORMING ADVANCED PROCEDURES UNDER STANDING ORDERS.
  4. THE PHRASE "AS INDICATED" MEANS AS INDICATED BY THE PATIENTS CONDITION.
  5. THE CHOICE OF IV FLUIDS IS TO BE DONE BY THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES:
    1. MEDICATION LINES –NORMAL SALINE
    2. VOLUME EXPANDERS – LRS OR NORMAL SALINE
    3. CARDIAC ARREST – NORMAL SALINE
  1. CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN BE ADMINISTERED ONE TIME WITHOUT HAVING IV ACCESS. THESE MEDICATIONS ARE:
    1. NITROGLYCERIN
    1. ALBUTEROL (SEE DYSPNEA PROTOCOL FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION)

 

THE PROTOCOLS PROVIDE A LIST OF STEPS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED FOR ADEQUATE PATIENT CARE. THE ORDER OF COMPLETION IS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE PATIENTS IMMEDIATE NEEDS