Respect the lift assist
Warning signs and a checklist for evaluating patients after a lift assist
In this episode of the MCHD Paramedic Podcast, join the podcast crew and Dr. Taylor Ratcliff as they discuss the dangers of lift assist calls in EMS. These responses can be under-appreciated with hidden diagnoses such as sepsis, GI bleeding and even fractures [1].
Up for discussion:
- How can we better create checklists to better assess these calls?
- What are the warning signs in these patients?
- Do lift assists even require an ALS evaluation?
Listen and get these answers and more!
References
1. Leggatt L, Van Aarsen K, Columbus M, et al. Morbidity and mortality associated with pre-hospital “Lift-Assist.” Prehosp Emerg Care. 2017;21(5):556-562.

Listen for more:
Rethinking lift-assist calls with Maia Dorsett
The clinical, cognitive and potential risk considerations in lift-assists, which are more complex than we realize