Ambulance Transfer Incident

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Case Summary: Patient, an adult man, was injured while two Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were transferring him into an ambulance for transport following a dialysis session.  In the process of taking Patient out of the facility on a stretcher, it tipped over and caused Patient to fall to the ground.  The severe injuries Patient sustained as the result of this incident further exacerbated his medical condition and contributed to his subsequent demise.

Expert Analysis: Legal counsel representing Patient’s estate retained a Public Safety and Emergency Services Expert with DJS Associates, Inc. to opine on EMT patient transfer procedures.  Video of this incident showed that the stretcher tipped over as the EMTs attempted a ninety-degree movement across two different ground surfaces.  The video also revealed how the EMTs had failed to secure Patient on the stretcher appropriately, prior to exiting the facility. 

The inappropriate actions demonstrated by the EMTs throughout the incident raised questions about the training provided by their employer, a private medical transportation service.  Further investigation uncovered that the employer updated their Employee Handbook following this incident.  Notably, updates were made to the training protocols for transporting patients and to the procedures for securing and transferring patients on a stretcher.  

Result: Case settled in favor of Patient’s estate.