Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors: Expert Advice from Michael Essany

When it comes to handling medical emergencies in the prehospital setting, every second counts. EMS providers are often faced with high-pressure situations where small mistakes can have grave consequences. However, with the right knowledge and training, these common errors can be minimized or avoided altogether.

1. Lack of Proper Assessment

One of the most common mistakes EMS providers make is failing to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition. Michael Essany, an experienced emergency medical technician, emphasizes the importance of a thorough evaluation before initiating any treatment. This includes assessing vital signs, performing a head-to-toe examination, and gathering as much relevant information as possible.

Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors

by Michael Essany (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2398 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	465 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

2. Inadequate Communication

Effective communication is crucial in the prehospital setting, where teamwork and coordination are essential. Essany highlights the need for clear and concise communication between EMS providers, dispatchers, and receiving hospitals. Proper documentation and handover protocols must be followed to ensure accurate and timely information transfer.

3. Medication Errors

Administering the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage is a serious and potentially life-threatening mistake. Essany emphasizes the importance of double-checking medication labels, verifying the patient's allergies, and ensuring proper administration techniques. Rapid drug identification tools and updated medication protocols can also help minimize the risk of medication errors.

4. Mishandling of Equipment

In the fast-paced environment of prehospital care, mishandling equipment can lead to errors and delays. Essany advises EMS providers to have a thorough understanding of their equipment and practice regular maintenance checks. Proper storage, cleaning, and sterilization protocols must also be followed to ensure the equipment is in optimal condition when needed.

5. Failure to Follow Protocols

Every EMS agency has protocols and guidelines in place to ensure standardized care. Essany highlights the importance of following these protocols to prevent errors. Deviating from established procedures without valid reasons can compromise patient safety. It is crucial for EMS providers to stay updated on the latest guidelines and participate in regular training and education to ensure compliance.

6. Inadequate Scene Safety

Ensuring scene safety is essential for both the EMS providers and the patients. Essany emphasizes that EMS personnel must be vigilant about potential hazards, such as traffic, violence, or environmental risks. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) should always be used to minimize the risk of injury or infection.

Michael Essany's experience as an emergency medical technician has provided him with valuable insights into common prehospital errors. By avoiding these mistakes, EMS providers can better protect their patients and ensure the best possible outcomes. Remember, thorough assessments, effective communication, proper medication administration, careful equipment handling, adherence to protocols, and scene safety are all key elements in avoiding common prehospital errors.

Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors

by Michael Essany (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2398 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	465 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Avoiding Common Prehospital Errors, will help you develop the deep understanding of common patient presentations necessary to prevent diagnostic and treatment errors and to improve outcomes. Providing effective emergency care in the field is among the most challenging tasks in medicine. You must be able to make clinically vital decisions quickly, and perform a wide range of procedures, often under volatile conditions.
Written specifically for the prehospital emergency team, this essential volume in the Avoiding Common Errors Series combines evidence-based practice with well-earned experience and best practices opinion to help you avoid common errors of prehospital care.
Look inside and discover…
• Concise descriptions of each error are followed by insightful analysis of the “hows” and “whys” underlying the mistake, and clear descriptions of ways to avoid such errors in the future.
• “Pearls” highlighted in the text offer quick vital tips on error avoidance based on years of clinical and field experience.
• Focused content emphasizes "high impact" areas of prehospital medicine, including airway management, cardiac arrest, and respiratory and traumatic emergencies.