NORTH COAST EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Policy 2507

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Subject: Alternate Communication During Radio Failure

I. Authority and Reference (Incorporated herein by references)

A. Title 22, Calif. Code of Regulations, and Section 100124.

B. Health & Safety Code, Division 2.5.

C. North Coast Emergency Medical Services Policies and Procedures.

II. Purpose

To provide a guideline for alternate base hospital communication during a

period of radio failure.

III. Procedure

If radio failure with the assigned base hospital occurs, but

communication with a second base hospital is possible, the ALS

unit shall contact the second base hospital for orders if the

patient condition deteriorates and the ALS unit determines the Radio

Failure Protocols to be inadequate.

1. The ALS unit may contact the second base for physician or MICN

consultation on an as needed basis.

2. The ALS unit and the second base hospital should consider diverting

a deteriorating patient to the closest facility.

3. The second base hospital shall update the receiving hospital by

landlining relevant information.

4. The ALS unit shall document the involvement of the second base on

the Ambulance Rescue Record (A.R.R).

5. The ALS unit shall submit the A.R.R. upon delivery of the patient

to the receiving hospital and the receiving hospital shall submit a

copy of the A.R.R. to the second base hospital on a weekly basis.

6. Radio failure reports must be completed by the ALS personnel for each

instance in which the unit has a radio failure occurrence.