You have transported a confused 46-year-old male who overdosed on an unknown drug to a busy emergency department. After giving an oral report to the ED nurse, your partner informs you that he wants to hurry back to the station so that he can watch the end of the football game; therefore, he is going to complete the patient care report (PCR) at a later time. How should you respond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is important to complete the PCR before leaving the patient because the ED staff may need access to information contained in the PCR for further treatment of the patient. Leaving the PCR incomplete can delay the provision of treatment and can also result in incomplete documentation of the care provided, which may lead to legal issues. Moreover, it is the responsibility of the EMS provider to provide complete and accurate documentation of the patient's care. Therefore, it is not appropriate to suggest leaving the PCR incomplete or to add unnecessary information about insurance or station telephone numbers.

You Have Transported a Confused 46-Year-Old Male Who Overdosed on an Unknown