EMS Providers play a crucial role in providing prehospital care, and understanding the differences between various legal documents is essential for providing appropriate care while respecting patients’ wishes.  Here’s an overview of each document and how they might affect prehospital care: Living Will: A living will is a legal document that allows individuals to express…

EMS providers should have a comprehensive understanding of diabetes mellitus and its various manifestations, including prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes, as well as potential endocrine emergencies associated with these conditions.  Here is an overview of each, along with potential issues as they relate to prehospital care: Diabetes Mellitus (DM): Diabetes mellitus is…

EMS Providers should have an understanding of Crohn’s Disease and its potential implications for prehospital care.  Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. It is characterized by inflammation, ulceration, and thickening of the intestinal wall, leading to a…

EMS providers should have a basic understanding of Addison’s Disease and its potential implications for prehospital care.  Addison’s disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is a disorder characterized by insufficient production of adrenal hormones, particularly cortisol and aldosterone, due to damage to the adrenal glands. This damage can result from autoimmune processes, infections, or…

EMS providers should have an understanding of Graves’ Disease and its potential implications for prehospital care.  Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by overactivity of the thyroid gland, leading to hyperthyroidism. This condition is caused by autoantibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. In terms of prehospital care,…

EMS providers should have a  understanding of Cushing’s Disease and its potential implications for prehospital care.  Cushing’s disease is a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, often due to a tumor in the pituitary gland that leads to excessive secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This, in turn, stimulates the adrenal glands…