GUIDELINES FOR YOUTH SERVICES CENTER

“BERNALILLO COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER”

FAMILY RESIDENT HOME CALL

GENERAL TRIAGING OF YSC CALLS:

  1. IF YOU FEEL THE PATIENT NEEDS TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM NOW FOR EVALUTATION, PLEASE CALL THE ATTENDING ON CALL TO DISCUSS THE PATIENT CASE FURTHER PRIOR TO SENDING THE PATIENT INTO THE ER.
  1. Take seriously the responsibilities inherent in taking telephone home calls. When you accept a call, you and the attending are responsible for any advice given and the care provided. COMMUNICATE WELL WITH YOUR NURSES ON CALL. They have a lot of experience dealing with the adolescent patients at this facility and are very helpful providing valuable, pertinent information.
  1. Remember that what you advise will be documented by nursing in the patient’s chart with your name.
  1. The general information you receive from nursing should include;

◦-Name and age of patient

◦-Chief complaint and history of present illness

◦-Current medications

◦-Allergies

◦-General Physical Examination for specific complaint

◦-Once provider provides Plan, Nurse will then repeat back providers recommendations/orders

◦

  1. Be sure to get enough information to give informed advice. Depending on the patient’s medical complaint possible options may include;

-Asking for additional information from nursing

-Have nurses check vital signs and perform physical exam maneuvers

-Administration of food, hydration, or medication

-Reassessment of patient within a certain amount of time and requesting nursing call you back once measures have been performed

  1. Ask questions and give advice based on the worst-case scenario (see below for a guide). You can’t see the patient and although nursing will provide you with a clinical picture, it is pertinent not to miss a serious, life threatening condition.
  1. Please give very clear instructions. Speak slowly and restate what you have heard. Always end call with ‘call me should…’
  1. If the call is about a previous problem or unresolved problem, revisit the problem until it is resolved or at least stable.
  1. Ensure arrangement of timely appointments (consider Monday or Thursday a.m.’s at YSC for general concerns). If care cannot be provided at YSC you may need to call an outside provider or specialist to schedule follow up.
  1. Lastly when does this problem need to be addressed? Does the patient need to be seen in the ER or urgent care now? An appointment later today? An appointment for first available?Advice only?

* BELOW IS A GENERAL GUIDE FOR TRIAGING CALLS AT YSC