Ambulance Accident Causes Transported Patient To Suffer Additional Injuries

Case Overview

This case involves a 46-year-old man who suffered severe injuries while being transported by EMS. The ambulance was traveling at 65 mph and made a sharp right turn and overturned. The patient who was on the stretcher was thrown against the ambulance wall. As a result of the accident, the patient suffered additional chest and back injuries for which he required physical therapy. It was alleged that the patient was not properly secured to the stretcher. An expert in EMS transport and ambulance services was sought to review the case and identify if the patient was secured appropriately and if the injury could have been prevented.

Questions to the Emergency Medicine expert and their responses

Please describe your experience securing patients in ambulances.

I have 25+ years in ground and helicopter EMS and I have safely secured and transported thousands of patients to various locations. I have transported patients in a wide range of vehicle types and on the most commonly found EMS stretchers.

What are the safety protocols to ensure that patients are not injured as described in this case?

Prior to use of stretchers, the EMT or paramedic should have been given an in-service to the particular stretcher by the EMS agency in question. The in-service should include a review of the manufacturer's operating guidelines and safety recommendations. Patients should fall within the specified weight rating of the stretcher. Depending on stretcher manufacturer the patient should be secured with at least 3 cross belts and shoulder harness. Patients should be secured in the ambulance utilizing the manufacturer securing hardware.

About the expert

This expert has over 30 years of experience in the field of emergency medical services. He earned his AA in EMT and paramedic training at Bucks County Community College and is now a licensed paramedic in the state of Pennsylvania. He holds numerous emergency medical service-related certifications and is a member of several professional organizations, such as the Emergency Care and Safety Institute and the American Safety and Health Institute. Additionally, he has also published numerous pieces on topics in his field, many focusing on proper airway management. This expert previously was a flight paramedic at Tenet Healthcare System and Cooper University Hospital, the director of operations at Em-Star Ambulance Service, and a tactical paramedic and lead medical specialist for the South Central Bucks County Emergency Response Team. Currently, he serves as the deputy chief and station supervisor of EMS and as an emergency paramedic firefighter at a fire company in Pennsylvania, as well as the owner and operator of a certified and approved training agency for EMS services, working with numerous healthcare agencies and corporations throughout the Northeast.

E-060125

Specialties:

Emergency Medicine

Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.

Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.

Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.