Code Red

[dcfdsid]

This needs to be handled with a lot higher priority by the city then worrying about how many hours we can spend on a transport unit.

Dont worry about that triple A patient that doesnt have a transport unit because all the other units are tied up at Grant Park and 2425 25th street for elevated temperatures....DC is about to open their 600 million dollar ball park and they are looking to spend more money for the Deadskins and a soccer stadium.



'Code Red' Sends Patients Out of Town posted 3:54 pm Thu February 07, 2008 - Washington from ABC 7 News - http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0208/494342.htmlWith too many 911 calls and not enough emergency rooms, the District battles daily with the possibility you can't get into an emergency room.

A "Code Red" means hospital emergency rooms in D.C. Are out of space or close to it. "We're pretty tight we've got one trauma center that's got enough space right now," said Dr. Michael Williams.

At the Unified Communications Center, Kurt Hoffman finds himself frequently struggling with Code Red days. "It can be every day Monday through Friday. Some days you just never know, it changes, but it's challenging each and everyday."

When emergency room space gets tight, it usually means the bulk of ambulances in the city are tied up as well. "Right now, we've have 38 units in service Thursday and six available right this minute for calls."

When D.C. goes into Code Red, non-critical patients get sent to facilities out of town. "We're having to drive longer to get there, having to drive longer to get back into service so it is going to take that particular unit out of service for an extended period of time," said D.C. Fire EMS spokesperson Alan Etter.

Officials blame the Code Red crisis on two things: not enough emergency room space and far too many people calling 911 when they don't actually have an emergency.

"Medicine refills, routine doctor appointments, toothaches, stuff that emergency rooms really weren't designed to do. But if you call we'll take you."

[Brooks]

"Did you order the Code Red!?!"

I think this points to the need for expanded scope Paramedics who can definitively treat patients in the field, reducing the attention they'd need from an ED, or eliminating it altogether.

I don't think that a 'customer service' oriented department in an ultra-liberal city has the wherewithal to tell Ms. Smith that she needs to go to the dentist when she wants to go to the hospital. But, it wouldn't hurt to try.

What does a hospital do to a patient that needs no further treatment, but still wants it?



"I did the job you sent me to do."

[antagonist]

I say we should look into the possibility of taxi vouchers for those patients who want to go to the hospital, but don't need medical supervision while they are en route. It really wouldn't be that hard. An EMS provider, whether they are on an engine or transport unit goes through a checklist, and if the person is stable and meets all the criteria (Ie stable vitals, normal bgl, no obvious injuries, etc) we give them a taxi voucher, they call a REAL cab, and they still get free or cheaper ride to the hospital.

Or, we could bring back the idea of the van that, similar to the "drunk tank" in London, just goes around, with one medic on board, and picks up 5-10 stable patients at a time, and takes them to the ER with the most space in fast care.

[The A Team]

If the majority of our patients transported were actually required to pay for, or have they're own insurance ( not medicaid ) this would be a non issue. I do feel that there are some people entitled to it, most aren't in D.C. This city is another fine example of big government programs intended to be good for people that truly need them, but instead are filled with waste and needless overuse. Kind of like the smoke detector program, an able bodied 30 y/o man pulls up to the firehouse in a Benz and wants 4 smoke detectors ( and wants to ensure that they come with batteries and are installed for him ) to put in his apt. in Simple City while he still has his christmas lights on in February. It's all because of the " entitlement theory ", until it comes out of they're pocket, systems and programs will inherently be abused. This will continue to happen as long as D.C. stays " blue ".

[Signal10]

Some systems have a way to refuse transport service to people who are using EMS as a taxi service. Sounds like DC should implement such a system. Medics arrive and determine that the patient needs a taxi, or ambulette, and they give the patient a voucher and go back in service. Sounds good to me.

[firedog7-365]

A major problem with all these (customers) pt's is there lack of understanding of what the 911 system is for. :mad: For to long the citezens of our fair city have been taught that if you have a problem what ever be its nature call 911 and the solution will knock onyour door in about 5 to 10. Until we educate the public on the uses of the 911 system things will not change. Further more until we get brass in the office that will institute programs to educate them instead of alowwing them to missuse the system nothing is going to change. :( :( P.S. NOT A SERMAN JUST A THAUGHT