Ambulance crews told not to transport patients who have little chance of survival

[WVBaker]

The situation in Los Angeles County hospitals is so critical that ambulance crews have been advised to cut back on their use of oxygen and to not bring to hospitals patients who have virtually no chance of survival. Officials say they need to focus on patients with a greater chance of surviving.

In another worrying trend, Garcetti said, more people who do not have underlying health conditions are dying of COVID-19. Earlier in the pandemic, about 92% of those who died had preexisting health conditions; that number has dropped to about 86%, officials said.

Ambulance crews told not to transport patients who have little chance of survival

L.A. County health agency tells EMTs not to transport by ambulance those who have virtually no chance at recovery.

www.latimes.com

So L.A., you now have ambulance crews, not doctors, making the decision if you may live or die.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Sounds like they have some criteria to go by, but I still wouldn’t like to be on an ambulance crew having to make that decision.

 

[clifffaith]

They have been reporting for several days that some ambulances have to wait for 8 hours before being able to offload patients. We were just now talking at breakfast, wondering why we haven't run out of ambulances. I suppose that will be the next shortage.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

They have been reporting for several days that some ambulances have to wait for 8 hours before being able to offload patients. We were just now talking at breakfast, wondering why we haven't run out of ambulances. I suppose that will be the next shortage.

I was wondering about that as well. We have a similar situation here in the SF Bay Area, they have been reporting there is no issue getting picked up by an ambulance, but you may have to wait 6 or 7 hours to be unloaded at the hospital. I just don't see how that does not create a shortage or ambulance and crew.

 

[mdurette]

Just sad for all involved.

I read this week in regards to a NYE party. What you are doing is a slap in the face to every health care provider out there.

I keep coming around to that today when I so want to travel, but won't.....because it is the responsible thing to do.

 

[Ken555]

FWIW, I don’t usually hear ambulances from my home in LA but over the last week that has changed. Not a good sign.

As for the change in hospitalization criteria...we were told this was likely to occur a couple of weeks ago so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise. I’m just hoping it doesn’t get much worse, but I think it will.


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[pango]

governor needs to request the hospital ship? not like this snuck up on anyone.

 

[davidvel]

The situation in Los Angeles County hospitals is so critical that ambulance crews have been advised to cut back on their use of oxygen and to not bring to hospitals patients who have virtually no chance of survival. Officials say they need to focus on patients with a greater chance of surviving.

In another worrying trend, Garcetti said, more people who do not have underlying health conditions are dying of COVID-19. Earlier in the pandemic, about 92% of those who died had preexisting health conditions; that number has dropped to about 86%, officials said.

Ambulance crews told not to transport patients who have little chance of survival

L.A. County health agency tells EMTs not to transport by ambulance those who have virtually no chance at recovery.

www.latimes.com

So L.A., you now have ambulance crews, not doctors, making the decision if you may live or die.

These people are not Covid patients, and are already dead. 99.9% of which have no chance of revival. This policy should be continued after covid strain ends, as the money spent trying to no avail could save lots of lives.

 

[DrQ]

These people are not Covid patients, and are already dead. 99.9% of which have no chance of revival. This policy should be continued after covid strain ends, as the money spent trying to no avail could save lots of lives.

So, no palliative care to ease suffering before they die?

I heard this song when I was a teen:
Magdalene Lane
Don McLean
Album Tapestry

...

For we have our own families to feed​

And we can't let them starve just for you​

Well, we'd rather not watch while you bleed​

So come back in an hour when you're through​

...

It was written long before the issue of domestic violence was raised, so cancel if you wish, but the lyrics are still poignant.

 

[davidvel]

So, no palliative care to ease suffering before they die?

I heard this song when I was a teen:
Magdalene Lane
Don McLean
Album Tapestry

...

For we have our own families to feed​

And we can't let them starve just for you​

Well, we'd rather not watch while you bleed​

So come back in an hour when you're through​

...

It was written long before the issue of domestic violence was raised, so cancel if you wish, but the lyrics are still poignant.

You misread. These people are already dead. Even so, measures are taken by ems to try to revive patients if able to do so.

 

[DrQ]

You misread. These people are already dead. Even so, measures are taken by ems to try to revive patients if able to do so.

Yes, I did.

But still, the loved ones are left with a body. I would hope that the coroner can retrieve the remains in a timely manner.

That album still resonates with me. It was written in the 70's and it looked so bleak.

 

[clifffaith]

governor needs to request the hospital ship? not like this snuck up on anyone.

For several weeks we have been saying that. Ship was here in San Pedro last spring, where is it now? On the local news last night there was a 20 second comment that it is undergoing mandatory maintenance in the Pacific Northwest, but they were talking about sending the medical staff to Southern California.

 

[presley]

Sadly, many people chose to travel during the last couple weeks of the year despite the stay at home order. The big surge should be hitting us any day now on top of our already full ICUs.

Not sure if I already posted this somewhere, but I know a hospital nurse who said that the ICU used to be one nurse per 2 patients and it was one nurse per 7 patients after the Thanksgiving surge without any assistant nurses. Another nurse had to return a rescued dog because she has been working 16 hour days, 6-7 days per week and felt bad that the dog was alone all the time. I wish people would think about the burden they are creating for the hospital workers before they have a house party or travel when there's a stay at home order.