Pt Management Flashcards
(43 cards)
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.
