Vanderbilt Emergency Medicine

In accordance with HIPPA guidelines, information is released to caregivers directly involved with the care of the patient.

For further questions, you may contact the trauma program manager, Kevin High, at 615-936-5291.

A primary survey is completed on the EMS stretcher in order to determine that the patient's airway is secure prior to any movement.

A quick secondary survey is performed after the patient has been moved in order to find any life threatening injuries.

Your report is important to us, and important for the care of the patient; having said that, a basic assessment must take place first.

In accordance with ATLS protocols, one voice should be heard at all times. This limits confusion and the potential for error.

The team wants to be able to listen to the entire report. If there are too many voices at once, the atmosphere becomes stressful. The team needs to be able to hear assessments and orders, as well as your report.

· Speak in a calm, but assertive, voice so that everyone may hear

· Name and age (if you know it).

· Past medical history and medications (if you know it).

· Mechanism of injury, time of injury, and any suspected injuries.

· Most recent vital signs, including the lowest BP acquired since assuming care.

· Any interventions performed, including medications and amount of fluid infused.

Please leave any patient belongings - including any paperwork, labs, and films - with the RN who is recording/charting the event.

It may be that you are unable to reach them – if so, please make sure you’ve connected with someone on staff regarding any objects. ED nursing personnel will be wearing scrubs of royal blue color.

All Level I patients should be receiving O2 via the most appropriate method.

If they need spinal precautions, have the patient fully immobilized (collar, board, straps, blocks).

I.V. bag(s) should be held above the level of the patient’s heart.

Intubated patients should be ventilated – either manually by a bag-mask-valve orby a portable ventilator – and should be placed on continuous cardiacmonitoring and oxygen saturation.

· Speak in a calm, but assertive, voice so that everyone may hear

· Name and age (if you know it).

· Past medical history and medications (if you know it).

· Mechanism of injury, time of injury, and any suspected injuries.

· Most recent vital signs, including the lowest BP acquired since assuming care.

· Any interventions performed, including medications and amount of fluid infused.

You will be directed to the trauma bays, which are located to the left of the ambulance entrance, in the back of the department.

Based upon your radio report, a Level-appropriate team will be awaiting your arrival in one of four trauma bays.

Please be aware that all traumas are recorded, including sound.

While the patient remains on your stretcher, a primary survey will be performed.

When breath sounds are obtained & airway secured, the patient will then be moved to our trauma stretcher.

Please remove your stretcher quickly, in order to allow the trauma team full access to the patient.

Any indicated life-saving interventions and/or secondary surveys will be performed at this time.

The physician team leader will then request your report.

You will find physicians, nurses, paramedics, assistants, and others in various roles. These may include consults from other services and radiology technicians.