EMSWORLD.com | JULY 2016 35
T
he initial assessment was uneventful. The
patient had recently been discharged for
CHF, and the community paramedic was
visiting as part of a program to reduce
the likelihood of a readmission. The visit
revealed the patient was taking medications for acid
reflux and gout in addition to the meds on his hospi-
tal discharge list, but was otherwise unremarkable.
The challenge came when the CP called the patient
back with a message from the patient's cardiologist.
The doctor said the patient could continue taking
his stomach medication, but that he should stop tak-
By Dan Swayze, DrPH, MBA, MEMS
Spending a few
moments socializing
can help lift a
patient's spirits.
Center for Emergenc y
Medicine of Western
Pennsylvania
MIH-CP providers should
master this valuable skill
to get the most beneft
from patient encounters