Patient Assessment
Patient assessment is the process an EMT or paramedic follows to evaluate an injured or ill patient. The process includes a scene size-up, which is the identification and mitigation of risks, a primary assessment to find and fix life threats and a secondary assessment to perform a focused history and physical exam of the patient. Each step is an opportunity to collect information that will guide treatment and inform a transport decision. In the EMS1 Patient Assessment topic find the latest news about patient assessment and top resources to improve your patient assessment skills.
“Our commitment to take care of others is not a political undertaking; it represents the greatest of social contracts in helping our fellow humans in their time of need.”
Avoid false blood pressure readings that could impact patient care. Discover the most frequent BP measurement mistakes and expert-backed techniques for accuracy.
A joint NAEMSP, NASEMSO, NEMSMA, NAEMT, APA position statement prioritizes patient and provider safety
Passersby held paper towels to a gash in the woman’s leg while she waited for an ambulance, instead of being cared for by urgent care staff
Medical Director Jeremy Cushman encourages BLS providers to develop medical preplans for technical rescue scenarios they may encounter
World Trauma Symposium speaker describes pelvic fracture anatomy, pathophysiology and evidence for reducing bleeding and improving patient survival with a pelvic splint
The Stroke Scales for EMS app is designed with scales to measure physical indicators that can determine if the patient is having a large vessel occlusion
I soon discovered that although learning about 12-leads wasn’t hard, doing them prehospitally could be
You are dispatched to a report of a male patient with chest pain
SpO2, formerly a nice-to-have metric, has become the sixth vital sign
PupilScreen detects changes in a pupil’s response to light using the phone’s camera and a type of artificial intelligence
Hospitals with enhanced capabilities to treat trauma, cardiac care, pediatrics, burns and more are providing specialized care and changing transport algorithms
You are dispatched to a report of a male patient struck by a pickup truck in a crosswalk
Firefighters responded to the scene and found people on the lawn outside the house
The firefighters were somehow overcome by carbon monoxide, sending one into cardiac arrest
Our co-hosts give some tips on how to keep your skills sharp
Our co-hosts break down when to give a head-to-toe exam and a focused physical exam
Here are the EKG Club’s recommended steps for interpreting cardiac rhythms and 12-lead EKGs
You are on scene with a patient who is complaining of isolated abdominal pain; what tips can improve your physical exam of this patient?
You are dispatched to a report of a female patient at the gym complaining of abdominal pain
Test your knowledge on the challenges of assessing and treating children with capnography
EMS1 contributors and editorial advisory board members predict the future technologies that will transform patient assessment, care and transport
Here’s how the technology in Siri, Amazon Echo and Google Home can transform EMS patient assessment, care and documentation
A former firefighter/EMT turned medical student describes the functional components, diagnostic uses and roadblocks of using this imaging technology
How prepared are you to identify and treat injuries from shootings, bombings, stabbings and slashings?
To improve outcomes for stroke patients, Catholic Medical Center is partnering with local EMS providers to use video conferencing so a neurologist can evaluate patients
You are on scene with a patient who was found down in his living room; as you progress beyond the initial assessment, what are some typical assessment pitfalls to avoid?
You are dispatched to a report of an elderly male found down on the floor
A basic understanding of how acid-base imbalances can affect the patient’s presentation can help make sense of conflicting symptoms
The problem ultimately was traced to a broken boiler pipe in a grocery store basement
Including ultrasound during assessment may help rule out or find injuries missed with traditional exam techniques, but more research is needed
