Visiting after MVA's

[ROOKIELZ]

I was wondering if any of you have visited their patients after an MVA?
I went to see one particular patient and I sure wish I hadn't: he was so filled with anger. I wasn't sure what to expect when I went but it sure left me with a bad feeling. I went to see him because he was doing so well after his accident. I thought on scene he would be lucky to live at all. Three weeks later I went to see him to say how pleased I was that he was doing so well. (he sustained no on-going injuries once he had recovered.) He just looked at me and I could feel waves of anger rolling from him. He didn't say a word. I said thanks for the visit and have a good life and left. His parents were there and they just said thanks for coming in. That was it.
I haven't gone to see any other patients since then.
Was I doing something inappropriate??

[mustang911]

thats what stinks about being in our field, there are no "follow-ups" like doctors have unless the patient comes by, we assist them again(frequent flyers don't count), or mainly just by chance. I've never done what you describe and unless this person had an earlier bad experience with the FD or someone did something wrong on the call, I can't understand why he would be mad!:confused:

[FlyingKiwi]

Do your job and move on.

Do not go back, it just gets emotional involvement going for both you and the victim.

The last time he saw you, he was in pain and feeling helpless, and vulnerable.

Your visit probably sparked those emotions off, and bought back the memories he would rather forget.

For you it was another job on another day, nothing personal, leave it that way.

[ullrichk]

Anyone who has experienced a level of trauma like you describe is going to have some emotional and mental issues to deal with, as are their families. You didn't cause their reactions, positive or negative, just like you didn't cause the emergency that you were called to.

My take (and I'm no expert) is that there is nothing wrong with a follow-up visit on your part. If you're not welcomed, just politely express that you were concerned and leave. Don't take it personally.

[firespec35]

I really never felt the need to follow up. I would occasionally hear something in passing from a nurse or doc back in the day, but since all the pt. privacy stuff went on everyone is so scared to say anything. A couple we flew out we would get letters from the helocopter agency but all in all I never felt the need to seek them out.

[ROOKIELZ]

Thanks for your thoughts. I think I will forget about any follow-up visits. If a patient wants to talk to me I'll oblige, but they will have to make the contact.

[PFD109NFD107]

We do follow-ups on all of our patients either by phone or by direct visits in the unit. I like to follow-up on patients if nothing else to see if my treatment was appropriate.

In this day and age of HIPPA it is very difficult for us to do follow ups but I encourage them if at all possible.

[E229Lt]

Do your job and move on.

Better advice has never been given.

[gordoffemt]

I like to follow-up on patients if nothing else to see if my treatment was appropriate.

In my humble opinion, I don't feel like I would need to have a follow up visit with a patient in order to validate my treatment choices. That's what my medical director is for. If the ER doc or my MCO has a problem with my treatment, I'm sure I'll hear about it.

I say, do the best you can with what you have, treat each pt. the same, like they are a member of your family, and walk away knowing you did a good job.

It's not uncommon in my relatively small city that you know your pt. or you have a random encounter with them later on. In that case, if they recognize you, it may be appropriate to say something. Otherwise, move on to the next one.

Not right or wrong, just my two cents.

[42VTExplorer]

I am all for follow ups, if they are patient initiated. As soon as I am admitted to the hospital, and the patient confidentiality information is in effect, I do not want anyone who is not treating me, or my family, to be in a room with me. I want my care, and then I want to be gone.

A local hospital here is in constant violation of that. I had been involved in a small accident in our ambulance, where I had fallen when they pressed on the brakes. They did not perform any care on me, and I had myself admitted to the hospital to have my shoulder checked out. Ended up with a hairline fracture and some muscular/cartelidge damage. The hospital then proceeded to tell the crew where I was, what was happening to me, and where they could see me when I was done in X-ray. The papers I signed never stated that the hospital could tell the ambulance service where I was, my condition, or any other information about me. I had cleared myself from the shift officer so he was not my guardian at the time and was in the custody of my parents.

Broke HIPAA in my opinion.

[Weruj1]

.......after getting more to the story .......I will rescind my previous post...

[42VTExplorer]

Originally posted by Weruj1
allo ? VT I suggest that you research before you post ........you know not of what you speak.............in your opinion or not .......

PM sent to you, I'll discuss with you in PMs?