The Infamous Cab-ulance

Specialties Emergency

Published

I'm curious to know some of the things your patients call the ambulance for. Just recently we've had patients who present to the ED via EMS and c/o ripped cuticle, or a med refill, along with many more complaints that, in my opinion, absolutely do not justify the need for emergency medical services. The worst one lately, though, was a patient who presented to the ED and when getting off the stretcher, stated that they just needed a ride to this side of town to get to their friend's house and simply walked out the EMS bay doors. I was flabbergasted.

What inane EMS runs have you experienced?

Specializes in ER.

Well, I had a first for me last night. Ingrown toenail came in at 3 AM by ambulance. Yes, it looked painful and infected. The doc asked him, "Why did you call the ambulance for this?" He said he didn't have a ride, that's why. He obviously didn't see a darned thing wrong with that.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I went to the ER last night for what I thought were contractions. When we got there we had to wait & my mom said, "we should've pulled over & called an ambulance". I didn't say anything but I thought back to this post. We had an hour+ drive one way & yeah we waited some in the ER but it wasn't terribly long. When they took me back I went straight up to L&D.

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One night we had a kid delivered by EMS because someone had given him the "ojo." In the spanish culture the translation would be the "evil eye."

What you do for him?

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I'm sure my chuckles r audible when the pt is brought in by EMS w/o a gurney or a w/c

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Specializes in Emergency.

20ish male. Choking on hotdog. Resolved prior to ems on scene. Took ride anyway because "i wanted to get checked out". Father followed rig in car. Both gave attitude because he had to wait 30 minutes to be seen.

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Specializes in ER.

Oh yes, I forgot about those. Call an ambulance and then the family follows in a car.

If asked to ride with the patient they also refuse because it means leaving the car at home and then they have to get a REAL cab home!!!!

I have known ambulances arrive at ER AFTER the family in the car. Wonderful : )

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I'm wondering what they're telling the 911 operator. "911 what is your emergency?" "I have a ripped cuticle" "Okay, I'll send emergency personnel immediately." I don't see it playing out that way. Does the dispatch operator have to send a rig out for every single call?

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Specializes in ER.

Problem is that the dispatcher cannot see them, and cannot argue with them.

Many are deliberately vague, (unwell, can't breathe, got pain), but others know what to say to get a fast response.

The cry wolf concept does not exist, the "patient" has to be assumed to be telling the truth, every time, in case the one time it IS a real emergency the dispatcher assumes its another fake.

I guess they like the drama of it all.

I wish there was a class like the DUI drivers ed for those who waste ambulance time, make them sit through blood soaked imaged of REAL traumas and help them get a whole new perspective.

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Specializes in Emergency.

In the 2 states where I ride rescue, we cannot refuse to transport if they've called 911 and want to go in.

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I know it can't be refused by the dispatch, I was just curious if the dispatch calls match the pt s/s upon arrival to the ER. Do they call in for a ripped cuticle, or are they calling in c/o finger cut off?

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You are so right. I had a hospice patient about 6-7 months ago that was a chronic abuser of the ambulance service. The EMTs were quite frustrated with her and confided that she had called for the ambulance 156 times in 2013 (as of Oct-Nov). :yes:

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