Shepherd Of The Gurneys: Prehospital Pop Quiz

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Prehospital Pop Quiz

Q.: When is the 60 y.o. male with sudden onset 9/10 acute crushing epigastric pain and nausea, with a Hx of HTN and high cholesterol not having a classic M.I.?

A.: I don't give a damn, he's still getting the paramedic taxi to the ER stat, and a full cardiac workup until a board-certified ER doc in consultation with another board-certified cardiologist gives him the all-clear. Neither of which would be me and my Portable Ultra-Mini Field Hospital of Wonder.

Which they did, grudgingly, but only some dozens of hours later, after a highly suspicious day of full cardiac evals, and only after admission for acute pancreatitis secondary to a stone-blocked pancreatic duct.

Ain't nobody dying in my lap; your patient, guys. And thanks for the speedy response and great care.

For the record, I much prefer working surrounded by a full ER, rather than merely curious bystanders. But it's nice to know I can still take the act on the road. Especially when the patient relays personal "thanks" several days later, because he still can.

1 comment:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O)April 15, 2014 at 12:53 PM
those are the best thanks, aren't they?~! You did good.
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