Trauma Documentation and Trauma Triage North Country EMS Conference October 17, 2004

The planning of the TEMSIS Project and Trauma Documentation & Trauma Triage Educational Programs are funded in part by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration – Trauma-EMS Grant Program. HRSA – H81MC

Objectives At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to describe appropriate: ■Trauma triage steps ■Trauma communication / report format ■Transport decision making ■Completion of the NH BEMS PCR ■General PCR guidelines ■SOAP format ■17 Key Data Fields

Why is good documentation essential? Resource Guide & Power Point: Available for download at:  If it was not documented, it was not done!  Reflects adherance to the standard of care.

Saf-C Recordkeeping and Reporting Saf-C PCR Form – Left Side Saf-C PCR Form – Right Side Saf-C Recordkeeping and Reporting “Recordkeeping and reporting shall be made by providing the information required by Saf-C and Saf-C , as applicable…” using paper or electronic methods Saf-C PCR Form – Left Side Describes how to complete items on the left side of the PCR. Saf-C PCR Form – Right Side Describes how to complete items on the right side of the PCR.

Trauma System Goal To get the right patient to the right hospital at the right time.

■Leading cause of death in people age 1-34 ■#1: MVCs ■#2: Firearms ■#3: Falls ■5 th leading cause of death overall ■1/3 intentional ■2/3 unintentional ■Someone in NH dies of trauma every 20 hours Trauma Statistics – NH

When Do Trauma Patients Die? % ofDeaths Severe Head or CV Injury Major Torso or Head Injury Infection and MSOF

Organized Trauma Systems  Death & Disability Through: ■Injury Prevention ■System Planning ■Evaluation & Monitoring ■Communication / Collaboration / Teamwork

NH Trauma System Development ■1980s: Exclusive Regional Trauma System ■Each of the 5 Regions was asked to make Trauma Center designations ■Not successful ■1992 & 1994: Inclusive Statewide Trauma System Plan ■Grants from HRSA

NH Trauma System Development ■1995: Statewide Trauma Plan Finalized ■Senate Bill 122 ■Trauma Coordinator position created ■Trauma Medical Review Committee named as the Oversight Committee ■Bureau of EMS named as the Lead Agency

NH Trauma System Development ■1999: “Trauma Triage, Communications, and Transport Decision Making Educational Program” offered ■2002: TEMSIS Grant – year 1 ■2004: “Trauma Documentation and Trauma Triage” Resource Guide & Train-the-Trainer Program

NH Trauma System Components ■Prevention & Public Education ■Hospitals & EMS Providers ■Medical Direction: On-line & Standing Orders ■Triage & Transport Guidelines ■Rehabilitation ■Evaluation

“Need to Know” Information ■Hospital Assessment ■Trauma Triage Guidelines ■Communication Guidelines ■Transport Guidelines ■Resources available to you

Hospital Assessment ■Performance Levels ■Initial, Advanced, or Leadership ■Roles ■Area or Regional ■Capability Levels ■Adult & Pediatric; Level I, II, or III

Hospital Assessment ■Capability Levels ■Adult & Pediatric; Level I, II, or III

Hospital Assessment: Process ■Hospital Staff Self-Assessment ■Site Visit by Members of TMRC ■Confirmation ■Consultative / Assistance

New Hampshire Trauma Facility Assignment

What is Trauma Triage? Patient Needs Hospital Resources Trauma patients are assessed and transported to the most appropriate hospital for that patient’s injuries. MATCH

Trauma Triage ■Goal: Right Patient to the Right Hospital at the Right Time ■OVER Triage: ■Minimally injured pts Trauma Centers ■Result: Overburdens the system, no ill effect on pt care ■Not SO bad… ■UNDER Triage: ■Severely injured pts Non-Trauma Centers ■Result: Hospitals may not be equipped to treat the pt and pt care may suffer ■Can be VERY BAD!

Steps to  Trauma Triage Accuracy ■Know the “Trauma Triage and Transport Pathways” Card ■Available through NH Department of Safety & EMS-C program ■Be familiar with severity indicators (GCS & RTS) ■Listen to your “gut” (“sick v. not sick”) ■Know your local resources ■On Scene: Mutual Aid, ALS Intercept, Air Transport ■Hospital: Local Hospital capabilities, distance to Regional Trauma Center

Front of Card Severity Indicators are based on: Physiology Anatomy MOI & Comorbid Factors

Back of Card Scales & Scores Trauma Communication

Trauma Triage Steps: To Recap ■Use Pathway Card to determine Pt Status ■Trauma Triage Communication ■Contact Medical Control ■Relay enough info to aid in decision making ■Transport Decision → Transport

Scenario 1

Scene Info uMotorcycle v. Pickup Truck uTruck traveling 40 mph, ? Cycle speed u30 y/o male thrown 20 feet uTruck has damage uRider’s helmet has few, minor scratches What does this information provide us? What additional information do you need?

Initial Assessment uAirway is open and clear uOpens eyes to loud verbal stimuli uLocalizes painful stimuli uConfused verbal response to questions uRR=32, ≠ chest expansion, R. wall bruising uStrong radial pulses, no major bleeding uSkin pale, moist, cool Can you estimate GCS & RTS? What is the Patient Status?

Focused H&P uNo obvious head injury, PERRLA uNo JVD or tracheal tugging, C-spine non-tender u≠ Chest expansion, crepitus,  lung sounds R. uAbdomen soft, but guarding; pelvis stable uOpen L. femur fracture uAbrasions and small laceration on R. arm uPulse = 100, BP 110/68, RR = 32 uMedic alert tag for Coumadin use Confirm or dispute your initial severity determination.

Trauma Communications What pertinent information will you communicate to medical control? “MIVT”

Transport Decision uInjury Severity uHospital capability, location, driving time uArea Level III Trauma Hospital is 10 minutes uRegional Level II Hospital is 20 minutes uALS intercept is unavailable uHelicopter is available and ETA to scene is 20 minutes What decision will Medical Control make? Why?

Questions? Additional scenarios are available to download on the NH BEMS website.

General PCR Guidelines ■Complete a PCR for every call and every pt ■This includes when care or transport was: ■Requested ■Rendered ■Refused ■Cancelled This includes pts treated by one agency and transported by another. >1 PCR may be generated for the same pt/pt encounter.

General PCR Guidelines ■A written PCR is: ■Complete ■Accurate ■Legible ■Professional ■Be: ■Objective ■Brief ■Accurate ■Clear Legible Handwriting & Correct Grammar and Spelling are a must! “Poor documentation = Poor care”

Changes to the PCR ■DO NOT use “white out” or any correction fluid/tape ■DO NOT try to obliterate or destroy information ■It gives the impression of trying to cover up malpractice ■DO draw a single line through the mistake, write “error” above the mistake, date and initial it, and proceed with your documentation ■DO NOT leave blank or empty lines or spaces!

Addendums to the PCR ■If applicable, a separate, carbonless lined sheet, attached as an “Addendum” may be included with the PCR. ■The addendum shall be numbered by the provider to correspond with the preprinted serial number on the PCR shall be submitted. ■The addendum shall be a two-copy form and shall be routed in the following manner: ■Top (original) copy shall be retained by the EMS agency ■Second copy shall be retained by the receiving hospital/facility

Addendums to the PCR ■The addendum shall also contain: ■The date of the call ■The provider license number(s) ■The signature of the reporting provider(s) ■A sequential number for each page, as well as the total number of pages (e.g. “page 3 of 4”) ■The addendum shall be used to record details from the narrative section of the PCR form in the event that the form does not provide sufficient space

What to Write in a PCR ■Who started care before you arrived ■How you found the patient ■Anything you found during your assessment ■Pertinent (+) and (-) findings ■Anything you did for the patient & their response ■Where you left the patient (& with whom) ■Report given (to whom) & questions answered ■Condition of the patient upon termination of care ■PIVs patent? MAE=x4? ETT position verified? If you did it, you should write it (& vice versa)

“Within Normal Limits” Or “We Never Looked” ???????

What NOT to Write in a PCR ■Any foul or objectionable language ■Anything that could be considered as libel ■Example: “He was drunk.” ■It is far better to write objective comments, such as: ■“Patient had odor of intoxicating substance on breath.” ■“Patient admits to drinking two beers.” ■“Patient unable to stand on his own without staggering and visual hallucinations.” ■Do not write on anything you have lying on top of a PCR because it will copy through onto the PCR, obscuring your report

Refusal Documentation ■Patients ABLE to refuse care include: ■Competent individuals – defined as the ability to understand the nature and consequences of their actions AND ■Adult – defined as 18 years of age or older, except: ■An emancipated minor ■A married minor ■A minor in the military

Refusal Documentation ■Patients NOT ABLE to refuse care include: ■Patients in whom the severity of their condition prevents them from making an informed, rational decision regarding their medical care. ■Altered level on consciousness (head injury, EtOH, hypoxia) ■Suicide (attempts or verbalizes) ■Severely altered vital signs ■Mental retardation and/or deficiency ■Any patient who makes clearly irrational decisions in the presence of an obvious potentially life or limb threatening injury, including persons who are emotionally unstable ■Any patient who is deemed a danger to self or others (under protective custody) ■Not acting as a “reasonable and prudent” person would, given the same circumstances ■Under age 18 (except as denoted above)

Refusal Procedure ■Perform a complete exam with vitals ■If refused, document this ■Determine if the patient is competent to refuse ■Ensure the pt or responsible party: ■Has been told of his/her condition ■Understands the risks or refusal ■Assumes all risk & releases EMS from liability ■Understands he/she can call you back anytime

Narrative Charting

Subjective ■Any information you are able to elicit while taking the patient’s history: ■Chief Complaint (CC) ■History of Present Illness (HPI) ■“OPQRST – AS/PN” ■Past Medical & Surgical History ■Meds and Allergies

Objective ■General Impression ■Primary Assessment ■ABCDE ■Secondary Assessment ■Head to Toe Exam

Assessment ■Field Diagnosis ■What you believe the problem to be ■Working diagnosis ■Example: “Chest pain, R/O MI”; “closed head injury with altered LOC”; “pelvic fracture”

Plan / Management ■Treatment ■Patient Response ■Example: ■“Patient placed on O2 at 4lpm by NC and placed on the cardiac monitor. Medical control contacted, and the following orders received from Dr. Smith: Nitroglycerine sublingual x3, 5 minutes apart for continued chest pain and BP >90/60. If no relief from nitroglycerine, administer morphine 2 mg SIVP, titrated to a maximum of 10 mg for continued chest pain and BP >90/60.”

Narrative Charting

CHART ■Chief Complaint ■History ■Assessment ■Rx ■Transport

Demographics 3 Key Trauma Fields

EMS Response Times Key Trauma Field

Vital Signs 4 Key Trauma Fields: Pulse, SBP, DBP, RR

Lung Sounds, Pupils, Skin, Temp Key Trauma Field

GCS & RTS 4 Key Trauma Fields: GCS Eye GCS Verbal GCS Motor GCS Total 4 Key Trauma Fields: RTS GCS RTS BP RTS RR RTS Total

32 y/o female patient from a MVC with an ALOC. She opens her eyes to loud voice command, keeps asking “What happened?”, and withdraws her arm when the EMT-P starts the IV. GCS: E3-V4-M4=11 Exam DescriptorAssigned GCS Score Eye Opening Response Spontaneous4 To Voice3 To Pain2 None1 Best Verbal Response Oriented5 Confused4 Inappropriate Words3 Incomprehensible Sounds 2 None1 Best Motor Response Obeys Commands6 Localizes Pain5 Withdraws (pain)4 Flexion (pain)3 Extension (pain)2 None1 Total GCS11

ParameterValueAssigned RTS Score Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) Total points Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) >89 mm Hg mm Hg mm Hg mm Hg1 No Pulse0 Respiratory Rate (RR) 10-29/min4 >29/min3 6-9/min2 1-5/min1 None0 Total RTS: ____11__________ Example: The 32 y/o female patient from the MVC with: GCS of E3-V4-M4=11 SBP of 92 RR of 12

Why do we collect data? ■Benefit patient care ■Provide feedback to the EMS agency/provider ■Evaluate system performance ■Determine if the patient treatment protocols are working for the patient population served ■Design injury prevention programs ■Perform quality assurance ■Outline opportunities for improvement in data collection and the reporting system

Examples of Reports ■Response time ■Performance, such as ETI success rates ■Procedures, such as number of IVs per provider per year ■Number of CPR calls

Difficulties… “Garbage in…garbage out.” Information collected must be complete and accurate or it will not be useful.

17 Key Trauma Data Fields ■On Scene ■Pt Status ■Pulse ■Resp Rate ■Systolic BP ■GCS Total ■GCS Eye ■GCS Motor ■GCS Verbal ■Diastolic BP ■RTS Total ■RTS GCS ■RTS Resp Rate ■RTS BP ■Trauma Patient? ■Temperature ■Trauma Team Activated?

Field Name % of Total Trauma Calls Reported On Scene Time92.8 Patient Status73.9 Pulse72.4 Respiratory Rate66.4 Systolic BP66.1 GCS Total59.1 GCS Eye59.0 GCS Motor59.0 GCS Verbal59.0 Diastolic BP56.0 RTS Total49.7 RTS GCS49.5 RTS Respiratory Rate49.1 RTS BP49.1 Trauma Patient?4.4 Temperature0.0 Trauma Team Activated?0.0

Approved Abbreviations A complete list is available in the accompanying Resource Guide

Data Dictionary Clearly defines each data field and how to fill in the corresponding “box” on the PCR. Available through the State Office.

Summary Trauma Systems Save Lives! Trauma Triage is a crucial component of the NH Trauma System. The Bureau of EMS is committed to getting the Right Patient to the Right Facility in the Right Time.

Questions? Thank You.