EMS Radio Reports || Calling the Hospital
Radio reports were the absolute bane of my existence when I began in EMS! I dreaded getting closer to the hospital because I knew my choppy radio report would be heard by many. Just like with most skills, it became easier with practice…….tons and tons of practice! Every EMS provider develops their own style of delivering radio reports, but it can be a very intimidating and difficult task in the beginning. Here is a super general idea of how I structured my radio reports.
- Call the hospital —> Your unit to the hospital. (Example: Medic 1 to General Hospital)
*Wait for acknowledgement. If there is no acknowledgement after three attempts, call a blind report.*
- State if you are en route emergent or non-emergent
- Age & Gender
- Chief Complaint (elaborate only slightly if needed)
- Current vitals like HR, SPO2, BP (12 lead interpretation, temp, BGL, RR, ETCO2 if applicable) & mental status
- Procedures performed (Example: IV & 12 lead)
- Medications administered
- Extra pertinent stuff (Examples: BGL post dextrose on a hypoglycemic patient or a change in mental status)
- Give an ETA
- Ask for any questions or orders
- If any orders, repeat them back to confirm
REMEMBER, these reports do not need great detail and should be said in a minute or less. You will be giving face to face report to the nurse when you arrive.
Here is an example of a 20 second report.
Medic 1 is currently en route to your facility non-emergent with a 51 year old male. Chief complaint is weakness. The patient states he forgot to take his insulin for the past 3 days. Initial BGL was 582.
The patient is alert and oriented. Current vitals are as follows:
HR: 110
SpO2: 94% on RA
Resp: 25 bpm
Blood pressure: 98/58
Current BGL: 499
Sinus tachycardia is noted on the 12 lead
An 18 gauge IV was established to the left forearm & administered 350 mL of normal saline.
If there are no questions or orders, we should be arriving to your facility in approximately 5 minutes.
There will be those that say the above example includes too much info and those that will say the opposite. Find your balance. It takes time, but you will discover your unique radio report style.
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