It is ideal to have RN certification or higher available to transfer patient care and provide a report. For critical cases, please be available to transfer care immediately. Requested information in report:

1. Patient demographics

2. Chief complaint

3. Pertinent medical history (including any advanced directives)

4. Current medications

5. Allergies

6. Current vital signs (including level of consciousness)

7. Recent treatments administered

8. Ongoing concerns

9. Relevant test results or paperwork to transfer (EMTALA, PCS, DNR, etc.)

10. Orders for care while en route

11. Intended receiving facility

Initial assessments include:

1. General impression

2. ABC’s

3. Mental status

4. Determine mechanism of injury or nature of illness

5. Full body assessment (when indicated)

6. Vital signs

Initial resources may include:

1. ALS support

2. Additional personnel

3. Lifting assistance

4. Bariatric equipment

Before initiating transport, we must ensure the patient is stable enough to tolerate the transfer. The limited environment of an ambulance inherently reduces available interventions and personnel. Our goal is to optimize patient stability before transport to minimize the risk of deterioration en route.

Orders may include:

1. Ventilator settings

2. Pump settings

3. Medications to be administered

Critical cases: goal of <10min on scene

Reporting information should include:

1. Unit identification

2. Patient demographics

3. Chief complaint

4. Pertinent medical history

5. Mental status

6. Vital signs

7. Treatments provided

8. Estimated time of arrival