r/emergencymedicine • u/Former_Bill_1126 ED Attending • Jul 20 '24

Advice US won’t come in if pain >12hrs

Working at a new site, US techs are very picky, will not come in for torsion studies if pain is >12hrs. I talked her into coming in and she’s pissed af, said she knows I’m new and “I’ll learn the protocol”.

Am I in the wrong?

Edit: Does anyone support the US tech or rad protocol and do you have any studies or evidence to support this practice? I’m just wondering if they pulled this out of their ass or where they got the arbitrary 12 hour thing?

163 Upvotes

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317

u/morph516 Jul 20 '24

Don't argue, just play the old "I am new, can you show me where the protocol is written down so I can review it?" Then when the tech cannot get it to you, ask for the name of their director so you can clarify with them. This conversation has a way of ending the back and forth, because either you know who to take up the issue with or everyone comes to the conclusion that hospital lore is not the same as a written protocol.

165

u/abertheham Physician Jul 20 '24

I’m just looking to discuss this with the person responsible for delaying patient care. If that’s not you—by all means—please pass the phone on up the ladder.

39

u/FelineRoots21 RN Jul 20 '24

Excuse me while I write this down, put it on a tshirt, and tattoo it on my forehead because this phrasing is perfect

-28

u/tedstickle5 Jul 21 '24

If the patient needs to go straight to surgery then the person delaying things is the one making these phone calls and calling in the tech.

16

u/abertheham Physician Jul 21 '24

If (lots of things), then (lots of other things)… no sense in being obtuse.

58

u/OxycontinEyedJoe RN Jul 20 '24

"hospital lore" lmao

I've worked in some places that ran exclusively on hospital lore.

9

u/KumaraDosha Jul 20 '24

This is the answer.

28

u/Ok-Grab9754 Jul 20 '24

Yep, rad crew is full of these kinds of “protocols.” I know the director well lol

5

u/4883Y_ BSRT(R)(CT) Jul 21 '24 edited Jul 21 '24

Here’s one. If a tech says it’s a facility protocol, they should be able to pull you up something like this:

I DID NOT WRITE THESE AND I HAVE ZERO OPINION ON THEM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AS I AM NOT AN ULTRASOUND TECH. JUST POSTING THE PROTOCOL AT MY CURRENT FACILITY FOR ANYONE INTERESTED.

3

u/B52Nap Jul 21 '24

This is always the way.

1

u/4883Y_ BSRT(R)(CT) Jul 22 '24

Love the username.