Woman is Seriously Injured After Falling From Gurney

Case Overview

This case involves a female patient being transported by EMS out of her home on a gurney. She was dropped onto the ground from the gurney while being transported from the house to the ambulance, causing a cervical fracture. The attorney handling the case required an EMS expert to provide an opinion on the standard of care while transferring a patient.

Questions to the Emergency Medicine expert and their responses

Are you available to review the case and provide an opinion on standard of care?

My initial opinion is that the standard of care was not met, however, I will need more information in order to provide specific points of inadequate care. There are variables to consider when moving a patient for transport such as medical urgency of the patient, was the appropriate transfer device utilized for the situation (stair chair, wheeled gurney, or portable device), weight of patient, and was the device used appropriate, was the patient secured to the gurney. The condition of the residence and obstacles (rickety stairs/steps, number of floors/stairs to maneuver, number of available personnel on scene to assist). There is no simple cut and dry 'one size fits all' approach, but there are prescribed methods based on the various scenarios. I have over the past 20 years provided case reviews, depositions, court testimony and consulting.

What are the necessary precautions needed while transferring a patient on a gurney to avoid falls?

There are variables to consider when moving a patient for transport such as medical urgency of the patient, was the appropriate transfer device utilized for the situation (stair chair, wheeled gurney, or portable device), weight of patient, and was the device used appropriate, was the patient secured to the gurney. The condition of the residence and obstacles (rickety stairs/steps, number of floors/stairs to maneuver, number of available personnel on scene to assist). There is no simple cut and dry 'one size fits all' approach, but there are prescribed methods based on the various scenarios.

About the expert

This highly-certified expert earned her AAS for EMS from Calhoun Community College, her BS in Public Safety Administration from Athens State College, her AAS in Nursing from Northeast Alabama Community College, and her BSN & MSN from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a Certified Paramedic in Alabama and Tennessee, and has earned additional certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, with the Emergency Medical Dispatch National Faculty, and is a Critical Care Paramedic. She is active in her field as a member of several professional organizations, such as the National Association of EMS Educators, the Emergency Nurses Association, the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch and the National Flight Paramedics Association. Formerly, she was an EMS Instructor/Clinical Coordinator for Calhoun Community College, a Transport Nurse for Huntsville Hospital, and an EMS Instructor for Northwest Shoals Community College. She was also a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department for the Eliza Coffee Medical Center, and a Registered Nurse in the Trauma & Burn Intensive Care Unit for University Hospital. This expert has also been an Emergency Medical Dispatcher for the Dekalb Ambulance Service, a Flight Paramedic for Air Evac Lifeteam and Huntsville Hospital, an EMS Lecturer for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, and a Paramedic/Emergency Medical Dispatcher for HEMSI. She is currently an EMS Program Director/Instructor for a regional college.

E-089419

Specialties:

Emergency Medicine