Harbor:Triaging ambulance runs

• Do a quick H&P/exam, can also get BS, hemocue, breathalyzer
• Normal vitals, normal MS, non-worrisome complaint, can walk/sit in chair, not heavily intoxicated, not suicidal, no active vomiting can go to triage -- if in doubt, ask an attending
• Try not to get bullied by the charge nurse to send patients out. You know better!
• All patients cleared to go through triage need documentation in Orchid using .edambutriage template
• In general, we aren't really supposed to send out any transfers (MLK, Harbor on-campus clinic, Harbor Urgent Care) or ED trauma patients to triage, but in severely overcrowded cases, it can be done, just run it by the attending

Triaging Ambulance Patients

We have no requirement that ambulance patients get an AAED room immediately, since often we have sicker patients waiting in the waiting room. Patients may be triaged out to the waiting room after arriving by ambulance, but the following procedure should be followed

1. An RN performs the initial triage and if the patient obviously needs a room the nurse should room the patient
2. If the nurse believes the patient is stable to be triaged normally, a resident should evaluate the patient. The attending is not required initially. This is the responsibility of the A Team Senior Resident.
3. If the resident feels the patient is stable to go to triage - they go to triage ONLY after discussion with the attending and a note documents this decision.
4. Use the dotphrase documentation ".edambulancetriage"

(Dir. OPS, February 03, 2015)

See Also

Harbor:Main

Authors

Ross Donaldson