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.
You are on scene with a patient who has suffered significant facial trauma; what are some strategies to improve your ability to manage their airway?
You are on scene with a patient who has multi-system trauma; what tips can improve your physical exam of this patient?
You are on scene with a patient who is experiencing chest pain; what if the cause isn’t cardiac?
My partner asked the question we’ve all had at some point: “So, if you’ve had this for a week, what made it an emergency at 3 a.m.? Bless his sparky little rookie heart
Specific assessment findings and details are important for the immediate and ongoing treatment of a patient with thermal burns
Consider non-cardiac causes, like aortic dissection, when assessing any chest pain patient
Review the basics of burn identification, assessment, and prehospital management