Peter Canning has been writing a series of posts, Street Lessons. All of them are excellent, but #5 The Hand Drop Test is my favorite. The hand drop test is one of those terrible pseudo assessments that burnt-out medics pass onto students and new employees. Other than mocking or discrediting the patient it serves little […]
Tag: Patient Assessment
A reader asked, “What is OPQRST?” OPQRST is mneomic for pain assessment. Onset – Did the pain start suddenly or gradually get worse and worse? Provokes/Palliates – Does anything make the pain better or worse? Quality – What does the pain feel like? Radiates – Point to where it hurts the most. Does the pain […]
Slide Share: Sepsis Summary
Adam Thompson posted this quick and informative slide deck about sepsis: Lcems sepsis summary from Adam Thompson Other sepsis training resources are shared in this post from the archives.
New column posted at EMS1.com: Hunger in Elderly Patients. Also see Geriatric Patient Assessment Tips.
There are many scenarios where EMTs and paramedics can’t put hands on a patient during assessment and treatment. Do you practice those scenarios? Read more about hands-off patient assessment in my regular EMS1.com column.
Hoarding, more than a TV show, is my latest column at EMS1.com. Have you encountered patients with hoarding behavior? What are your assessment tips? How can you make homes of a patient with hoarding behavior safer for the patient, their friends and family, and their neighbors? Yes, I usually write my own column headlines. I […]
Thready or Bounding … How do You Define?
I was asked, “Would you describe that pulse as thready?” I have never had a good grasp of what is meant by “thready” or “bounding” as those terms seem very subjective. I think most EMS professionals could come to agreement on what fast, slow, regular, or irregular means. But I have yet to come to […]
I compiled this post in March but never posted it because of the transition to the EMS Blogs Network. There is some really great information in these posts. Enjoy. The Unwired Medic shares with readers the EMS blogs that he recommends. Visit his list and add your own recommendations in the post comments. With EMS […]
Top Tips: Skin #VitalSigns
1. Look at the patient’s face, neck, upper chest and hands to see central and peripheral circulation 2. Not sure if the patient’s skin color is off … look at the patient, look at your partner, look at your patient 3. Anticipate skin color, temperature, and moisture based on the patient’s chief complaint What are your […]
Top Tips: Blood Pressure #VitalSigns
1. Bare the patient’s arm, including the upper arm that will be wrapped by the cuff 2. Support the weight of the patient’s arm with your hand underneath their elbow 3. Use the same hand to hold the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the arm 4. Actually hold the stethoscope over the brachial artery rather […]