Scenarios: Patient Handoff and Radio Communication

An EMT is 8 minutes out from a stroke center with a confirmed stroke alert. The radio report states: '62-year-old female, left-sided weakness and slurred speech onset 45 minutes ago, BP 178/96, pulse 88, SpO2 97%, blood glucose 112, IV established, ETA 8 minutes.' The receiving nurse acknowledges and prepares the CT suite.

Which element of a concise prehospital radio report is missing from the transmission?

• Vital sign values

• Receiving facility ETA

• Glasgow Coma Scale or mental status

• Time of symptom onset

Answer explanation

Age, sex, complaint, vitals, glucose, IV, and ETA were given, but neurologic status or GCS was not transmitted, which the stroke team needs to stage care.

Tags

Blooms Level: Analyze

The 8-minute ETA in this transmission allows the receiving team to do what?

• Mobilize the CT suite and stroke team before arrival

• Cancel the stroke alert and reassess on arrival

• Delay imaging until full bedside handoff is complete

• Skip the bedside report to save time

Answer explanation

An accurate ETA lets the facility stage staff, imaging, and resources in advance. The other options work against time-sensitive stroke care.

Tags

Blooms Level: Apply

List two pieces of information the EMT should add to make this radio report complete for a stroke alert.

Tags

Blooms Level: Apply

An EMT arrives at a busy emergency department with a 28-year-old male who was struck by a vehicle. At the bedside, the EMT tells the trauma team: 'Mechanism was auto versus pedestrian at 30 mph, injuries include an open right femur fracture and abdominal tenderness, signs are BP 92/60 and pulse 128, treatment included two large-bore IVs and a pelvic binder.' The EMT then asks where to move the patient. A phone order from the on-duty physician earlier authorized 500 mL fluid bolus en route; the EMT has not yet recorded this in the patient care report.

The bedside report given at the ED follows which structured handoff format?

• OPQRST

• DCAP-BTLS

• SBAR

• MIST

Answer explanation

Mechanism, Injuries, Signs, Treatment matches the MIST framework used in trauma handoffs. SBAR uses Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation instead.

Tags

Blooms Level: Analyze

Regarding the 500 mL fluid bolus authorized by the on-duty physician by phone, what must the EMT do?

• Document the order, the physician, the time, and that it was carried out

• Note only the volume infused without naming the source of the order

• Wait until the next shift to add it to the report

• Omit it since the receiving team was told verbally

Answer explanation

Any order received from a physician and the actions taken must be documented in the PCR, including who gave it and when. Verbal report alone does not replace the written record.

Tags

Blooms Level: Apply

Name one detail from this handoff that the receiving team most needs in writing on the patient care report and explain why.

Tags

Blooms Level: Apply