Questions for PA Paramedics

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

Published

1). A medic that I know made a bad choice in transferring a patient and in doing so, caused serious harm to the patient (with the patient ultimately dying). It's been rumored that the family may sue. So my question is this: is there for medics, like we as nurses can get?

2). We were to receive a resident back from the hospital today who had an IV with potassium running. After much ado, the hospital d/c'd the potassium and the resident was transported BLS. The medic who was supposed to transport refused to do so, stating that he was not allowed to transport potassium without a pump (it would have been without a pump). It caused a lot of problems for us at the LTCF - ie: scrambling to get the meds that he may have been able to come with. Just wondering if anyone can enlighten me as to the regs concerning this matter. I'm in the EHSF region, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your help!

I can only answer the first question: yes there is for paramedics. It's not too expensive either. My husband uses HPSO. If you do have your own malpractice insurance, it's a good idea not to advertise that fact to your employer or patients.

Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care, Pre-Hospital,.

Here are the applicable regs.

EMS Information Bulletin- #27: Interfacility Transport Guidelines http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/lib/health/ems/emsib27.pdf

Approved Drugs for ALS Amubulance Services:

38 Pa.B. 6564

29. Intravenous electrolyte solutions

e. Potassium--for interfacility transports only*

* During interfacility transport, all medications given by continuous infusion (except intravenous electrolyte solutions with potassium concentrations of no more than 20 mEg/L) must be regulated by an infusion pump.

The provider would have to have been a EMT-P/PHRN/HP to administer medication during transport. If his was a BLS transport the EMT would have been unable to take your pt. on ANY infusing med.

jb

Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.
The hospital can't place the K on a pump for transfer for an ALS service either, unless they agree to send an RN. At last check, paramedics were not permitted to administer IV potassium in Pennsylvania.

This paramedic did the right thing, and is way outside the liability loop on this one. If anyone is successfully sued, it will be the referring hospital, and the physician who discharged the patient.

I just looked up the approved drug list and was surprised to see that paramedics are allowed to transport potassium containing electrolyte infusions for intrafacility transports only. In my area the hospitals will usually send the patient with a pump if necessary and we return the pump on the way back. This works because we're a metropolitan/suburban area so it's not far out of the way to return the pump. If at all possibly they stop the infusion before transport though. I've also transported out of ICUs with one of their nurses.

Specializes in Abdominal Transplant.
The hospital can't place the K on a pump for transfer because the ambulance was a BLS unit. That means it is basic life support and the person who refused was probably an EMT. EMT's are not allowed to monitor any type of IV infusion. I don't think they are allowed to do a push either. I may be wrong about the push. To have an infusion running the unit must be ALS certified meaning advanced life support. These are paramedics who can start IV's, push certain meds, and monitor certain infusions. I'm not sure what medications are specifically allowed, but I know they can do the emergency drugs like epi.

EMTs are allowed to assist epi, glucose, nitro and inhalers. They have and can give only oxygen.

+ Add a Comment