DR –Noha Elsayed 2014- 2015

Critical Care

Is a complex ,detailed health care that is provided to patients experiencing acute life threatening conditions.

Is a list of all possible diagnoses, aside from the projected diagnosis that could be causing a patient’s symptoms.

The clinician by using diagnostic testing & treatment excludes or includes each DD

What is Differential diagnosis???(DD)

How it is used in the critical care transport setting???

1. Limits morbidity & mortality.2. Targeting treatment to underlying problems can be more

effective than treating symptoms alone without knowing their causes.

Advantages of critical care assessment:

Scene transport: Acknowledge & recognize the care provided before critical care

transport professional (CCTP) arrival & assess, treat, package & transport the patient to definitive care.

Scene transport versus Interfacility transport

Although, Paramedics may be accustomed to

providing care & transporting based only on a brief focused exam & limited diagnostic information …………………..

Medical nursing, CCTPs need more comprehensive

assessment & sophisticated treatments until the patient arrives at a definitive care facility

: Interfacility transport

Unlike Scene transport, voluminous patient information is available in interfacility transport

CCTPs should take the time to review all available data &

patient information before arrival CCTPs should gain a comprehensive, overall picture of the

patient as much as possible before initiating transport (Including, performing any procedures or diagnostic tests to reduce the adverse effects that may occur during transport)

Anticipated transport time is a critical .

variable in differentiating “Need to know” from “Helpful to know” information.

The longer the transfer, the more information may be necessary to provide appropriate assessment & intervention.

Hospital medical record may not contain all the data. It typically includes several special sections based on the patient’s diagnostic & medical care needs.

Admission orders Operative notes Post – operative notes Consultation notes Lab reports Medication & Administration records Nurses, Notes & Flow sheets Lab reports

Numerous scoring system & patient status descriptions have been developed & are in use in hospital & pre-hospital settings (EX: Stable,

Unstable, Mild distress, Moderate Distress).

GCS scale is one of the pre-hospital scoring systems that is useful & that facilitate communication between providers & receiving facility.

Glas gow coma (GCS)

Depends on multiple variables:1. Physical location of the patient.2. Care in progress on arrival, temperature, weather conditions

& type of CCTP transport vehicle.3. The most important components of patient packaging is: Expediency: Delays are not in the best interests of the patient Credibility of CCTPs Reputation of CCT service

Considerations of patient packaging for transports