Steve,
The person in control over say a large RTA at first is the first
ambulance on scene the person attending takes on the role of scene officer
triaging and assessing who needs what type of care and if a flying squad is
needed depending on the patients injuries and if they are going to be
trapped for some amount of time etc by that time a clinical supervisor or
ambulance officer has arrived and takes on the overall role of scene
managment, When the "Squad" from the hospital arrive the Doctor takes charge
of the patient not the scene along with the paramedic my experience of this
type of job is very positive as we also use basic's Dr's and work very well
together putting our experience and there skills together works well. The Dr
may not have much experience of extrication from vehicles where as we do so
we discuss the best options and work togther. A experienced paramedic would
be able to triage the scene and the reason for the squad being there would
not be to cover themselves but because the patient requires extra skills or
drugs wich we dont have.
I hope this has been of some help?
Matt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Meek" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 3:37 PM
Subject: so who is in control at the roadside?
> I have no interest in prehospital care other than that
> I occasionally get asked to attend as leader of a team
> from the local ED.
> Reading the discourse on this flying squad issue,
> I am wondering who is in overall control in a
> situation when a team is called? the scene officer,
> usually a senior ambulance officer......? if there is
> a disagreement, such as the one Ray painted, who
> ultimately makes the decision and carries the can?
>
> I have found that attending crashes is rarely useful
> to the patient but thought that the one thing I could
> offer is the right triage decision. A disagreement is
> fine, we can discuss the options, but ultimately who
> is the one who has the final say?
> I would be alarmed if I could be called to the scene
> (reducing the cover in the department), only for my
> opinion on the safest triage decision to be overruled.
> Either I am useful or not. Which is it? I came because
> I was called. Are the site officers then simply
> calling us in to prevent criticism for not doing so?
>
> If you wish to respond,keep it general, please. Again
> I see local arguments on the list, which never paint
> anyone in a good light
> Steve Meek
>
>
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