Radio Report Format

Section 1 - ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES

1.02 Radio Report Format

FOR ALL PATIENTS TRANSPORTED TO AN INITIAL RECEIVING FACILITY TRANSMIT THE FOLLOWING, BEING AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE. INFORMATION SHOULD BE DELIVERED AT LEAST 3 MINUTES PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT HOSPITAL.

• A unit requiring communications with a receiving facility will select the appropriate receiving facility talk group on the mobile or portable 800 MHz radio.
• The unit must listen before transmitting to determine if the talk group is in use. If there is other radio traffic on the talk group, units must wait until this traffic clears or they will hear an audible busy tone. The system does not allow for two radios to transmit on the same talk group at the same time.

• All receiving facilities in Orange and Seminole County have one (1) talk group except ORMC which has two (2). There may be times when ORMC will request the unit to select and transmit information on their second talk group.

• Since all communications will go directly to the receiving facility, the person taking the report must have a method of prioritizing the calls. To assist in this, a system of “Triage Categories & Levels” has been established.
  • CATEGORIES:
    • Trauma: Indicates patient is a trauma patient.
    • Medical: Indicates patient is a medical patient.
    • Trauma Red: Indicates patient is a critical trauma patient, but does not meet trauma alert criteria
    • Trauma Alert: Indicates patient meets trauma alert criteria.
    • Cardiac Alert: Indicates patient meets EMS cardiac alert criteria.
    • STEMI Alert: Indicates patient meets STEMI criteria.
    • Stroke Alert: Indicates patient meets stroke criteria.
    • Pediatric: Indicates patient is a child.
    • Haz-Mat: Indicates patient was involved in a hazardous materials incident.
    • Code: Indicates patient is pulseless and / or apneic.
    • Doctor’s Orders: Indicates physician orders are needed. May be requested at any level.

• TRIAGE LEVELS:
  • Stable: medical/trauma patient with minor injuries/illness and stable vital signs.
  • Potentially Unstable: medical / trauma patient with serious illness/injury and stable vital signs.
  • Unstable: medical/trauma patient with serious illness/injury and unstable vital signs.
  • Critical: medical/trauma patient requiring critical airway, cardiovascular, surgical interventions or resuscitation.

• The unit calling the receiving facility must begin each transmission with the following:
  • Unit Number
  • Category
  • Triage Level
  • Estimated Time of Arrival

• After the receiving facility acknowledges the initial information, the Paramedic / EMT will give the appropriate patient information based on the patient Category and Triage Level as listed below:
  • MEDICAL / TRAUMA CRITICAL – Trauma Red, Trauma Alert, Trauma / Medical Code:
    • Age of patient.
    • Sex of patient.
    • Major problem / Complaint.
    • Mechanism of Injury or nature of illness
    • Description of injuries (if trauma) (Trauma Score, if appropriate).
    • Mental status or GCS score of patient.
    • Pulse rate and rhythm.
    • Respiratory rate and status.
    • Blood pressure.
    • Treatment initiated.
    • Any delay in transport (extrication).
    • Estimated Time of arrival.

• • MEDICAL / TRAUMA UNSTABLE – unstable vital signs:
    • Age of patient.
    • Sex of patient.
    • Major problem or complaint.
    • Description of Injuries (if trauma).
    • Mental status or GCS score of patient.
    • Pulse rate and rhythm.
    • Respiratory rate and status.
    • Blood pressure.
    • Treatment initiated.
    • Estimated time of arrival

• • MEDICAL / TRAUMA UNSTABLE – unstable vital signs:
    • Age of patient.
    • Sex of patient.
    • Major problem or complaint.
    • Description of Injuries (if trauma).
    • Mental status or GCS score of patient.
    • Pulse rate and rhythm.
    • Respiratory rate and status.
    • Blood pressure.
    • Treatment initiated.
    • Estimated time of arrival.

• • MEDICAL / TRAUMA POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE/STABLE: stable vital signs:
    • Age of patient.
    • Sex of patient.
    • Major problem or complaint.
    • Description of injuries (if Trauma).
    • Estimated time of arrival.

• In the event that medical direction is required, personnel should contact the on-line physician at the receiving facility. If further medical direction is needed, contact the on-call Medical Director by contacting the Communication Center.
• For the purpose of these parameters, “Online Medical Control” is the Physician at the receiving facility. If that Physician is unavailable or the on-scene Paramedic or EMT is uncomfortable with the receiving facility’s direction, the on-call Medical Director may be contacted.