Short Report

Okay, I already did it. I used a term that warrants some explanation. A "Short Report" is a concise summation of a situation, passed to another entity. The term "Short Report" applies to both EMS and fire calls, which I think makes for a great title for my blog. Additionally, dispatch will provide a short report when you go en route to a call, based on the information received by the reporting party. A short report invariably is skewed by the perceptions of the reporter. Sometimes, it just turns out to be bullshit. Again, apropriate to this endeavor.

In the case of an EMS incident, when you "transfer care", you communicate your patient's condition and history, such that the doctor, paramedics, or other EMTs have a clear picture of what's going on.

A fabricated example:
"48 year old male, complaining of lower abdominal pain, right lower quadrant. Pain 9 out of 10, onset 2 hours ago while doing yard work. Patient denies nausea / vomiting. Stool unremarkable. History of bypass 2 years ago, hypertension, gall bladder. Medications: aspirin, Lipitor. No changes during transport."

It will contain significant vital signs (i.e. a high blood pressure), and important third party info ("Sister says the Patient was drinking cough syrup all morning"). You might include procedures performed or medications delivered. Everything you think is important.

There's also a shorthand for writing a report (there's always paperwork):
48 YOM c/o lower abd Px, RLQ. Px 9/10 x 2h. onset yard work. Pt denies N/V. Stool-Ø obv. Hx bypass 2y ago, HTN, gall bladder. Rx ASA, Lipitor. Ø Δ's during Tx.

Another fictional example:
"Engine 21 arrived, two story wood-frame residence. Light smoke showing from second floor window. Neighbor confirms occupants not at home. Initiating "Main Street Command". Pulling a preconnect to the front door."

Short reports are the verbal highlights of vital information, but you always take the time and consideration to detail everything in the written report, which constitutes the legal record of the incident. I'll touch on lawyers later...