Question

You have transported a confused​ 46-year-old male who overdosed on an unknown drug to a busy emergency department. After giving an oral report to the ED​ nurse, your partner informs you that he wants to hurry back to the station so that he can watch the end of the football​ game; therefore, he is going to complete the patient care report​ (PCR) at a later time. How should you​ respond?

A.
​"You really need to complete it before we leave. The hospital will not be able to get the​ patient's insurance information without the​ PCR."
B.
​"If you do not leave the​ PCR, the emergency department staff will not know how to treat the​ patient."
C.
​"Make sure that you give the nurse the telephone number to the station so she can call if there are any questions about the patient or our​ care."
D.
​"If you do not complete and leave the​ PCR, the ED staff may not otherwise have access to information contained in the​ PCR."

Answer 1

The PCR must be completed before leaving the emergency department because it provides essential information for the patient's ongoing treatment and serves as a legal record of pre-hospital care.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is critically important for patient care reports (PCRs) to be completed thoroughly and promptly as they provide essential information for the ongoing treatment and care of the patient. In the scenario presented, the correct response to your partner's desire to delay completing the PCR would be D."If you do not complete and leave the PCR, the ED staff may not otherwise have access to information contained in the PCR." The PCR contains vital information about the patient's condition upon arrival, treatments administered, and the patient's response to those treatments. This documentation is not only crucial for the seamless continuation of care but it also serves as a legal record of the treatment provided before arriving at the hospital. The importance of the PCR and the potential negative consequences of not having this information readily available underscore the necessity of completing it before leaving the emergency department.