Question

A man is seriously injured in a midnight automobile accident. His life appears to be in jeopardy. Paramedics take him to the nearest hospital, a small facility in a rural area that does not have a true emergency department. There is no physician on duty. Which of the following best describes what the hospital's staff should do?

a) Begin immediate treatment and surgery
b) Wait until morning to contact a physician
c) Stabilize the patient and transfer him to a facility with the necessary resources
d) Provide basic care and discharge the patient when stable

Answer 1

The hospital staff should stabilize the patient and transfer him to a facility with the necessary resources.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best option for the staff at the small rural hospital in this situation would be to c) stabilize the patient and transfer him to a facility with the necessary resources. Since the hospital does not have a true emergency department or a physician on duty, it cannot provide the immediate treatment and surgery needed to save the patient's life. The priority should be to stabilize the patient's condition and then transfer him to a facility that can provide the necessary medical care and intervention.