Pt Management Flashcards
What is the principle of General Patient Management?
All patients are treated as viable and provided with necessary care and transportation unless classified as Deceased Patients under the Deceased Patients Standard.
What does Vital Signs Absent (VSA) mean?
No detectable pulse, respiration, or other signs of life.
What are the criteria for obvious death?
Death is considered obvious if there are gross signs, including: Decapitation, Transection, Visible Decomposition, Putrefaction.
What are additional criteria for VSA patients?
Grossly Charred Body, Open Head/Torso Wound, Gross Rigor Mortis, Lividity.
What is the quote for service motivation?
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi
What are true emergency reasons for calling an ambulance?
Life, limb, or vital organ at risk; inability to cope with the situation; uncertainty regarding the situation or injuries; limited transportation options; need for further care.
What are non-emergency reasons for calling an ambulance?
Need a ride; body needs transport to a funeral home; advised to call for assistance; legal or administrative reasons.
What is the purpose of Ambulance Communication Centers (CACC)?
Provincially funded and monitored; ensures seamless service and communication; utilizes Dispatch Priority Card Index to determine the urgency of calls.
What types of CACC exist?
Ministry CACC, Hospital CACC, Municipal CACC, Municipal ACS.
Where is Hamilton CACC located and what is its call volume?
Located on Fennell Avenue; handles approximately 250 priority calls per 24-hour period.
What are the call priority codes?
Code 1 – Deferrable; Code 2 – Scheduled; Code 3 – Prompt; Code 4 – Urgent; Code 7 – Cancelled; Code 8 – Stand-by; Code 9 – Maintenance.
What is the goal of patient management?
Treat all patients as viable and ensure appropriate care and transportation.
What should be recognized in VSA and obvious death?
Recognize and confirm gross signs of death before discontinuing resuscitation efforts.
What is the role of CACC?
Coordinates ambulance communication, ensuring rapid and accurate dispatching of appropriate services.
What is the core principle of patient management?
All patients are treated as viable and provided care and transportation unless classified as deceased under the Deceased Patients Standard.
Under what conditions are patients considered ‘Deceased Patients’?
If they meet the criteria for obvious death, such as decapitation, transection, decomposition, or putrefaction.
What are the four gross signs of obvious death?
Decapitation, transection, visible decomposition, and putrefaction.
What additional criteria indicate obvious death in a VSA patient?
• Grossly charred body
• Open head/torso wound with gross outpouring of cranial/visceral contents
• Gross rigor mortis
• Lividity (fixed, non-blanching purple/black discoloration of dependent areas)
What is lividity, and what does it indicate?
Lividity is fixed, non-blanching purple or black discoloration due to blood pooling, indicating death.
Why do people call an ambulance in true emergencies?
• Life, limb, or vital organ at risk
• Unable to cope with the situation
• Unknown situation or injuries
• Limited transportation options
• Further care required
What are some non-emergency reasons people call an ambulance?
• Needed a ride
• Body transport to a funeral home
• Advised to call for assistance
• Legal or administrative reasons
What is the role of the Central Ambulance Communication Center (CACC)?
To provide seamless, provincially monitored ambulance communication and dispatch.
Where is Hamilton CACC located?
On Fennell Avenue, handling around 250 priority calls per 24-hour period.
What are the three types of CACC, and where are they located?
• Ministry CACC: Barrie, Cambridge, Hamilton, etc.
• Hospital CACC: Kenora, Kingston, North Bay, etc.
• Municipal CACC: Ottawa, Timmins, Toronto
What is Code 1?
Deferrable – A routine call that can be delayed without harm (e.g., minor injury or non-scheduled transfer).
What is Code 2?
Scheduled – A call that must occur at a specific time (e.g., inter-hospital transfer for MRI).
What is Code 3?
Prompt – A call that should be performed without delay (e.g., stable fracture or serious injury).
What is Code 4?
Urgent – A life or limb-threatening emergency requiring immediate response (e.g., VSA or unconscious head injury).
What is Code 7?
Canceled – The call has been canceled.
What is Code 8?
Stand-by – An ambulance dispatched to a predetermined location for further call reassignment.
What is Code 9?
Maintenance – The vehicle is out of service for maintenance.
What is the role of medical communication officers?
They act as both call takers and dispatchers to coordinate ambulance services.
What is your next action upon finding a decapitated body with no signs of life at a car accident scene?
Confirm obvious death criteria, classify the patient as deceased, and follow Deceased Patients Standard.
What code should be assigned for a patient requiring transport for a scheduled dialysis session?
Code 2 – Scheduled.
What code is assigned for transport of a patient with a VSA found after a cardiac arrest?
Code 4 – Urgent.
What should be done when a family calls 911 to transport a deceased loved one to the funeral home?
This is a non-emergency request, and an ambulance should not be dispatched.
What should you assess when encountering a patient with an open head wound and visible brain matter?
Assess for signs of obvious death such as gross outpouring of cranial contents, rigor mortis, or lividity.
What code applies when an ambulance is dispatched to a high-risk area to wait for a potential call reassignment?
Code 8 – Stand-by.
What code should be used for a patient needing to be transferred between hospitals for an MRI at a specific time?
Code 2 – Scheduled.
What is the dispatch priority for a routine call with a minor injury that does not require immediate attention?
Code 1 – Deferrable.
What code applies when an ambulance is taken out of service for a scheduled oil change?
Code 9 – Maintenance.
What is the primary consideration for a communication officer during a high-volume period prioritizing multiple incoming calls?
Assign appropriate codes based on the urgency of the situation using Dispatch Priority Card Index.
