Summary: Is it Emergency Medical Services or Mental Services? I'm not sure about where you work but by me, psychiatric calls are just as abundant as chest pain calls and MVC's. Pretty much the one call you can count on every shift. Now I feel confident I can handle the chest pain call or the MVC but I have to be honest. I'm not so sure on the psychiatric patient call. I mean unless they overdosed or attempted to harm themselves in another way, I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with these patients other than be constantly alert for my own safety. Which by the way is a challenge I don't really feature having to conquer. This week we talk about transporting the psychiatric patient, why EMS is saddled with this often "expensive taxi ride" that stresses providers and the system resources. Join us with your comments and spirited debate. ====================================== Master every patient contact with the "Art of Patient Rapport" webinar. Get details here.
