Guideline 1-400-48 - Communications: Medical Control

CMH EMS & MIH Protocols

Scope:

Guideline:

Field medical providers shall contact medical control for guideance and orders that outside scope of these protocols.

Purpose:

The purpose of this guideline is to provide tools for field medical providers to contact medical control.

Procedure:

1. Refer to Policy PHS01-03 (Ambulance Medical Control).
2. Medical control is the responsibility of the highest medical-licensed provier available and needed* to be primary care provider.
1. "Needed" level is determined by patient complaint, assessment, and care needed.
2. Determining needed level of care is the responsibility of the highest medical-licensed provider on the scene.
3. Medical control shall only be provided by a Physician. Medical control shall not accepted from nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwifes, or any physician extenders.
4. Medical control is preferred to be provided by the receiving hospital. If contact cannot be made, CMH Emergency Room will be the default medical control for CMH ambulances and EMH Emergency Room will be the default medical control for EMH ambulances. Sending physician (if transfer) may also be consulted.
5. When transporting from another facility and treatment that deviates from protocol is suggested by transferring Physician, RN/Paramedic should contact receiving MEDICAL CONTROL in the ambulance to verify orders.
6. If medical control cannot be contacted, protocols should be utilized as standing orders including those designated as requiring medical control. Medical control should be contacted as soon as possible and attempts at contact shall be documented.
7. If an on-scene physician gives orders, RN/Paramedic shall require credential evidence and the requesting physician must accompany the patient in transport to the receiving facility. This process should not be considered if the physician does not have the appropriate medical sub-specialties as determined by the RN/Paramedic.
8. Community Paramedics work in full capacity under the CMH Mobile Integrated Healthcare medical director's license.
1. Community Paramedics follow standing orders and medical providers orders from Primary Care Providers (PCP) of each patient.
2. If needed care is beyond standing orders or the care plan as outlined by the PCP, the Community Paramedic shall make contact with a Mid-Level Provider or Physician to obtain written or verbal orders. If PCP orders cannot be obtained, consider contacting the Emergency Room Physician.

Medical Control Contact Information:

CMH Pre-Hospital Services Mission: "Provide safe, exceptional, and compassionate care to our communities with an emphasis on highly trained and empowered staff."

CMH Mobile Integrated Healthcare Mission: "Provide exceptional, compassionate, and patient-centered care by a mobile collaborative team to improve patient experience, improve quality outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs."

Polk, Hickory, Cedar, & St Clair County EMS Protocols is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.