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Mother, may I ...?
1Scott Bourn Associates, Broomfield, CO.
JEMS : a Journal of Emergency Medical Services
|December 9, 1993
Summary
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems requiring paramedics to obtain base hospital authorization before interventions are often met with resistance. Field personnel generally prefer more autonomy in decision-making during patient care.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medical Services
- Prehospital Care
- Medical Systems
Background:
- The "Mother, may I...?" system in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) mandates pre-hospital personnel to contact base hospitals for authorization before interventions.
- This protocol is a long-standing practice in many EMS systems.
- Field practitioners often express dissatisfaction with the limitations imposed by this system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the challenges and perceptions associated with "Mother, may I...?" protocols in EMS.
- To understand the desire for increased autonomy among EMTs and paramedics.
- To advocate for a shift towards more flexible EMS system protocols.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of anecdotal evidence and common sentiments within the EMS community.
- Discussion of the operational impact of restrictive protocols on pre-hospital care.
- Exploration of alternative "Mother, I'm going out now" models.
Main Results:
- The "Mother, may I...?" approach is perceived as overly restrictive by many EMS providers.
- There is a widespread preference for protocols that grant more procedural autonomy.
- The current system can hinder timely and efficient patient care.
Conclusions:
- The traditional "Mother, may I...?" EMS protocol may not align with the needs and expertise of modern pre-hospital providers.
- A re-evaluation of EMS system oversight is warranted to balance safety with operational efficiency.
- Implementing more autonomous protocols could improve provider morale and patient outcomes.