medical professionals (EMS workers especially)

[saraandmichael]

so i am ordering a new medic alert bracelet for e and i am wondering if there is any info i should put on there beside his diagnosis, the medic alert phone number and his customer number.

i have 4 lines, up to 19 characters each on the back.

i was thinking something about his port, but since EMS cannot access the ports maybe i should just keep that information with medic alert for when they call?

[CheshireGrin]

The only reason EMS might want to know about his port is because then they might not attempt to start an IV, but rather just leave it for the hospital to access instead. But if they're doing a thorough assessment they should see it anyway, and if he needs urgent access it won't matter. Chances are, once they're aware of his diagnosis, they're not going to stick him anyway unless they REALLY need to though.

Does he have any allergies?

[saraandmichael]

i was hoping you would chime in!

no allergies...just that he gets red man's when he is administered vanco, but thats in his hospital chart anyway. though i guess in an emergency (ie: taken to a different hospital) it wouldn't be there. how should i handle that?

[medicmommy]

His family doctor/ER preference?

[cucca77]

Jul 10, 2012 9:10:22 GMT -5 saraandmichael said:

i was hoping you would chime in!

no allergies...just that he gets red man's when he is administered vanco, but thats in his hospital chart anyway. though i guess in an emergency (ie: taken to a different hospital) it wouldn't be there. how should i handle that?

This should still be considered an allergy and I would definitely put this on his bracelet. Vanco has now become the go to antibiotic in the ED. I've had many patients who have listed an allergy with the hospital on previous admissions and this information somehow gets "lost" during readmissions.

[ridethelightning]

My husband who is a paramedic said maybe an emergency contact and his blood type in case he happened to be alone or with someone who might not know his blood type.

[megsrn]

I wouldn't bother with blood type because most (if not all) hospitals will do their own blood type verification and won't go off word of mouth.

I agree with listing Vanco as an allergy, you can always clarify the reaction with the physician if that turns out to be the only appropriate med. I also agree with an emergency contact.

[saraandmichael]

alright, i spoke with his nurse who also agrees that i should put the vanco allergy on there.

so i can do 4 lines of engraving on the front and four on the back. since the bracelet is not through medic alert itself, i will need to include their number on the engraving.

so on the front i am thinking of putting his name, then the medic alert number and his ID number for medic alert. on the back i will have his diagnosis, allergy info and maybe my name and number?

[pbear]

If there's room can you include his DOB?

[saraandmichael]

pbear, there wasn't room. but i'm curious why date of birth would be on there?

[pbear]

I was just trying to think of anything else that's pertinent to care of a patient. Normally it can be estimated, or their teacher or babysitter can provide it, but some kids don't look their age.

Knowing an age for me is particularly useful because I can't perform ALS procedures on a patient under the age of 8, however, that's specific to the state of Virginia.

[speckledfrog]

Would his DOB help locate his medical records? I really have no idea.

[saraandmichael]

Jul 10, 2012 19:59:32 GMT -5 pbear said:

I was just trying to think of anything else that's pertinent to care of a patient. Normally it can be estimated, or their teacher or babysitter can provide it, but some kids don't look their age.

Knowing an age for me is particularly useful because I can't perform ALS procedures on a patient under the age of 8, however, that's specific to the state of Virginia.

this makes sense.

honestly, at this age he probably doesnt need the bracelet all the time but i want him to get used to wearing it. he will always be with someone that knows his age, though as he grows older i think this might be something good to put on there.