Recent Announcements from Dr. Pruett

• If you have a patient that you feel should be seen in the ER and they are adamat that they aren't going to be seen, contact medical control, request to speak with a doctor, give a summary of your patient and that they keep refusing and let the doctor speak to the patient on the phone - sometimes just speaking to the doctor will help the patient to choose to go to the ER.
• Remember that you can earn Physcian Advisor Contact Time by Visiting with Dr. Pruett or another ER Doc after dropping off your patient at the ER! Time is credited in 15 and 30 minute increments. To earn your time make sure you sign the form, have the doctor sign and drop the form in the lock box at the station.
• For patients with DNRs - If transporting to DCMH, you must bring the DNR with you and present to the doctor at DCMH.
• For any patient that is having difficulty breathing, ensure that you get a complete history, listen to lung sounds, take baseline vitals- including Oxygen Saturation, and what you heard when you assessed lung sounds, and Call for Medical Direction, if you think an Albuterol Nebulizer is indicated.
• Remember - Head Trauma + Blood Thinners = High Index of Susipicion/Poor Outcome for Patients - Stay on your toes!
• The Blood Draws which we do enroute to the hospital are just a convenience for the ER staff and if they are not done properly will have to be repeated. Be sure you adhere to the proper procedure when doing blood tubes!