Contrary to popular belief, patient care reports are not created for the singular purpose of feeding the voracious appetites of greedy lawyers

By David Givot

"If you didn't write it, you didn't do it." That may be the oldest and most tired cliché in all of EMS and it is not exactly true.

Likewise, "paint a picture & tell a story," is another biggie in documentation classes. I happen to agree with that one; unfortunately many providers are painting the wrong picture and telling the wrong story because they are not thinking about their audience. They are not considering who will be reading their report and why. Not to worry. I can fix it.

Contrary to popular belief, patient care reports are not created for the singular purpose of feeding the voracious appetites of greedy lawyers. However, at feeding time, lousy documentation — and your career — make for a nice meal and there are plenty of sharks eager to take a big bite out of your assets.

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She's a sweet little old lady who has fallen and can't get up. The reason she can't get up is obvious; a shortened and internally rotated left leg. Complicating matters, she has had the misfortune of falling in a cramped bathroom, between the tub and the toilet.

Normally, you'd grab your handy scoop stretcher and handle your business, or if this were in a nursing home, you'd choke back the pointless lecture on not moving injured patients, do a gentle sheet transfer from her bed to your cot, and thank the nurse for all her, ummm… help.

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