Principles of Patient Principles of Patient Assessment in EMS Assessment in EMS

Putting it All Together Putting it All Together

IntroductionIntroduction Patient advocacy is an important Patient advocacy is an important

component of care.component of care. Review the process of assessment as Review the process of assessment as

a whole. a whole.

Patient AdvocacyPatient Advocacy It is the EMS provider’s responsibility It is the EMS provider’s responsibility

to advocate for the patient and the to advocate for the patient and the patient’s needs.patient’s needs.

An example of patient advocacy is An example of patient advocacy is telling the the ED staff what the telling the the ED staff what the scene looked like.scene looked like.

Relate the MOI or provide a photo.Relate the MOI or provide a photo.

Prehospital interventions for the Prehospital interventions for the patient often provide dramatic patient often provide dramatic improvements, which could rapidly improvements, which could rapidly deteriorate once in the ED if you do deteriorate once in the ED if you do not impress upon the staff the not impress upon the staff the patient’s initial condition.patient’s initial condition.

Advocating for your patient means Advocating for your patient means making sure the next caregiver making sure the next caregiver understands what has been seen and understands what has been seen and learned about the patient so far.learned about the patient so far.

Patient AdvocacyPatient Advocacy

© 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc. © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Putting it All TogetherPutting it All Together Apply the patient assessment Apply the patient assessment

algorithm.algorithm. Remember that assessment is a Remember that assessment is a

standarized, yet dynamic process, as standarized, yet dynamic process, as a patient’s condition improves or a patient’s condition improves or

deteriorates.deteriorates.

© 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc. © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

A standarized approach helps to A standarized approach helps to assure the patient receives an assure the patient receives an appropriate assessment based appropriate assessment based on the following key factors:on the following key factors: The environmentThe environment MOI or NOIMOI or NOI Severity of injury or illnessSeverity of injury or illness Level of care availableLevel of care available

Putting it All TogetherPutting it All Together

© 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc. © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

Putting it All TogetherPutting it All Together Reassessment is an essential Reassessment is an essential

component of care.component of care. Modify your plan of management as Modify your plan of management as

the patient’s condition warrants. the patient’s condition warrants.

© 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc. © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Division of Thomson Learning, Inc.

ConclusionConclusion

Practice using the assessment tools Practice using the assessment tools provided here to gain proficiency and provided here to gain proficiency and confidence.confidence.

Follow the patient assessment Follow the patient assessment algorithm on a routine basis with all algorithm on a routine basis with all your patients.your patients.

Thanks for your dedication to helping Thanks for your dedication to helping ill and injured people!ill and injured people!