Question

Read the overview below and complete the activities that follow.

As an emergency medical technician (EMT), Daryl has encountered a number of "difficult" patients.

Case:

EMTs were called to a residence by a man who had accidentally cut his wrist while slicing bread. Daryl and his new partner, Joann, found the man bleeding profusely, and nearly hysterical. "Don't touch me!" he screamed when the two EMTs began their assessment of his injuries. Joann, startled, pulled back and removed her hand from the man's uninjured wrist. Daryl, however, proceeded calmly and carefully, but with determination. "We're here to help you," Daryl replied in a level voice, making eye contact with the man. "We need to get that bleeding stopped; then we can get you the help you need." As he spoke, Daryl gently applied pressure to the man's bleeding wound and motioned for Joann to begin the assessment of the injured man's vital signs. The man, agitated and sweating, continued to rant, but as Daryl spoke to him calmly, explaining each action he and Joann performed, he finally quieted enough to cooperate. By the time the EMTs transported the man to the hospital emergency room for treatment, he was able to calmly recount his accident to the physician on duty. "When people are injured they're in pain and usually scared," Daryl explained to a shaken Joann later. "We have to stay calm, and just talk to them until they understand we're only there to help them, and we will be as gentle as possible. If we get in their face, and try to force them to do what we want, it's only going to make matters worse. And since people who are angry and upset are most likely to sue, we can also help prevent complaints later by staying calm and professional." From Daryl's perspective, he needed to calm the patient before he could effectively assess his injuries. From Joann's perspective, the "difficult" patient prevented her from thinking first of her training and staying calm. From the patient's perspective, the profuse bleeding from his wound frightened him, and he was probably going into shock, as well.

Read the overview below and complete the activities that follow.

1.) Communicating effectively with patients or clients is often the most difficult aspect of a health care practitioner's job, but it is also one of the most vital. How could Joann have helped Daryl calm the patient?

2.) Since using an emergency defense is possible in defending a medical malpractice suit, should Daryl in the chapter's opening scenario have worried about calming his patient? Explain your answer.

3.) How did EMT Daryl in the opening scenario practice risk management?

Answer 1

1. Joan could have helped Daryl by assisting him to get the patient calm instead of backing off and not attending the patient just because he got hysterical and frightened.

2. Daryl wouldn't have worried about calming his patient as he doesn't know what and how bad the situation was. In EMT, everything happens spontaneously and the decisions are taken suddenly based on the patients condition and mental status.

3. Daryl immediately assessed the patient mental status and came to a conclusion that the patient is frightened as he knew he could die. He immediately started to talk to the patient so as to make him realise that they were at his house to help him. Daryl calmed the patient and did the emergency procedures needed and transferred him to the hospital without wasting time.