RECORDS & REPORTS
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN - BASIC
Temple College EMS Professions
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PURPOSE OF DOCUMENTATION
• • • • • • • Continuity of patient care Regulatory requirements Quality assurance Research Justification of treatment Protection for personnel Administration
Temple College EMS Professions 2
A GOOD MEDICAL RECORD IS..
• Accurate
– – – – Document facts and observations ONLY Double-check numerical entries Recheck spellings If you make an error, DOCUMENT IT
Temple College EMS Professions
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A GOOD MEDICAL RECORD IS..
• Complete
– The lines are there to fill in – Include at least two sets of vitals on every patient – Failure to document = failure to investigate always document pertinent negatives – If it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done – Can you remember what you did two years ago today?
Temple College EMS Professions
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A GOOD MEDICAL RECORD IS..
• Legible
– Documents presented in court must “speak for themselves” – Sloppy report = sloppy care – Recheck spellings – If the document cannot be deciphered, a jury may ignore it altogether
Temple College EMS Professions
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A GOOD MEDICAL RECORD IS..
• Free of extraneous information
– Avoid labeling patient. Report observations. – Preface statements “per the witness” or “per the patient” – Record hearsay only if applicable – Do not record hearsay as fact – Avoid humor in the report. The public does not regard EMS as “funny business”
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DOCUMENTATION
• Good documentation reflects good patient care! • Write report as soon after run as possible! • If it needs to be corrected, correct t!
– The earlier the correction, the more reliable the change – Mark through error so it is still legible, then make correction and initial it
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DOCUMENTATION
• If you have a long report, don’t hesitate to add additional pages • Avoid stating diagnostic impressions
– Report only facts and observations – If you must state a diagnostic impression, do so within your scope of training
Temple College EMS Professions
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DOCUMENTATION
• Avoid using “Possible” or “?” when the observation would have been obvious to anyone • If you do something to the patient, say what you did, why you did it, when you did it, and what the result was
Temple College EMS Professions
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DOCUMENTATION
• If you state a particular diagnostic impression, or note a particular mechanism of injury, be sure the treatment you indicate is appropriate • If something should have been done, but was not, say why!
Temple College EMS Professions
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DOCUMENTATION
• If you have a prolonged scene time, say why • If times are to be documented on your report, do so accurately!
Temple College EMS Professions
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PATIENT REFUSAL
• Perform Pt. assessment (If Pt. will allow) • Try to persuade the Patient to accept treatment and transport (if indicated) • Explain consequences of refusing treatment/transport
Temple College EMS Professions
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PATIENT REFUSAL
• If the Pt. still refuses treatment - Document:
– Pt. Decision – your assessment – any attempts made to convince Pt. to accept treatment and transport
• Document Pt. refusal and obtain Pt. Signature
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PATIENT REFUSAL
• If the Pt. will not sign, have the document signed by family, law enforcement, or bystander
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