We have designed them to be user friendly so that they are easy to recall by memory as well as reference quickly. However, facility with them will require several careful reviews. The Medical Direction committee has put great effort into developing these protocols such that they will enable you as a Pittsburgh Paramedic to provide the absolute highest level of patient care possible. Our intent was to make them the foundation of a system that will support your patient care efforts as best as possible. We certainly appreciate the opportunity to serve you and hope that you find these protocols beneficial to your mission.
Prehospital care is the practice of medicine outside the hospital.
All medical care rendered within the system is done so through the authority and privileges of the Medical Directors' license to practice medicine. All medical care is under the supervision of the Medical Directors and their designates. Protocols serve as guidelines for both field medics and command physicians. Note, however, that command physicians do have the authority to deviate from protocol for appropriate medical reasons. The appropriate protocol MUST be implemented for every patient who meets criteria for a particular protocol.