Category:Radio Medical Traffic (RMT): Difference between revisions

From Guide to YKHC Medical Practices

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Orientation for RMT will extend through your entire tenure at YKHC because there are so many different scenarios and new challenges that arise even daily. Work with others to figure out how best to manage RMT patients and don’t hesitate to ask for help repeatedly until you get more comfortable with different scenarios. It is better to ask and learn (remembering there is often more than one way to handle a particular situation).
Orientation for RMT will extend through your entire tenure at YKHC because there are so many different scenarios and new challenges that arise even daily. Work with others to figure out how best to manage RMT patients and don’t hesitate to ask for help repeatedly until you get more comfortable with different scenarios. It is better to ask and learn (remembering there is often more than one way to handle a particular situation).
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-style="text-align:center; height:50px;"
|style="width:25%"|[[RMT Process]]
|style="width:25%"|[[RMT Pearls]]
|style="width:25%"|
[[media:SRC_Formulary.pdf|Subregional Clinics Formulary 2019]]
<br/>&[[media:Village_Formulary.pdf|YKHC Village Clinics Formulary]]
|style="width:25%"|[[Death in Village]]
|-style=text-align:center;height:50px;"
|
[[Regular (Outpatient) RMT]]
<br/>&[[Urgent RMT]]
|[[OB RMT]]
|[[Emergency RMT Scenarios and Responses|Emergency RMT]]
|[[Emergency Medications Available in the Village]]
|}


==Outpatient RMT Introduction==
==Outpatient RMT Introduction==
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For more details about the process of RMT, urgent RMT, emergency RMT, and different scenarios, click on the Radio Medical Traffic Link at the top of this section.
For more details about the process of RMT, urgent RMT, emergency RMT, and different scenarios, click on the Radio Medical Traffic Link at the top of this section.
==RMT Process==
In the villages, patients are taken care of by Health Aides/Practitioners (CHAs), who consult with their assigned outpatient providers when patient care falls outside of their standing orders. They complete a preformatted Health Aide Encounter document through Raven that the panel provider will review and then either discuss the care plan with the CHA via telephone or send back the RAVEN RMT with a modification attached.
Every afternoon 2-4 providers from clinic will review through Message Center approximately 200 RMTs (radio medical traffic) a day for the 50 villages through the Yukon and Kusko Proxy boxes. Chronic Peds patients are sent to the Chronic Peds proxy box. Eye and Dental RMTS are sent to the respective Eye Doc and Dental proxy boxes.
At this time we have several long distance providers who are also doing RMT – Helen Hancken PAC in Kenai, Lois Rockcastle FNP in Eagle River, Anne Marie Narog in Kodiak and Bud Vermeire, Sze Pang.
Routine RMT:  For routine village encounters that fall outside a CHA’s standing orders, the health aide will complete a RAVEN encounter form and send it to Delta, Yukon RMT or CPP box. An assigned medical provider will then review the encounter and send back their assessment and plan.
[[Emergency RMT]]:  For urgent and emergency village patient encounters, i.e. sick or critical patients who need immediate treatment or to be sent in quickly via a commercial or medevac flight, the CHA should complete an Health Aide Encounter RAVEN form (if time allows), send it to the "Emergency, RMT" or "Chronic Peds, RMT" proxy box and have the ward doctor paged for an urgent or emergency consult.
Occasionally the ER physician will take urgent or Emergency RMT calls if the ward doctor is too busy to answer the call or requests assistance.
All RMT providers need to review documentation paying close attention to the vitals and “Note to RMT” section. It is important to also look at "other history" as important clinical history can often be found there as well. The RMT provider will either discuss the care plan with the Health Aide via telephone and/or send back the modified RMT with the plan of care.
===How to do RMT on RAVEN===
* Go to Message Center (RPG Page 16)
* Go to Proxies tab on upper left– hit arrow – Select the appropriate RMT box: Yukon/Kusko/Emergency/CPP/Optometry/Dental
* Select 1st document in the list appearing on the Right side and open it.
* Read RMT- then to review orders
* Locate patient’s name in right upper corner and select the downward arrow to open the patient’s chart within orders
* Scroll on the Order’s View box (lite blue box on the left side) to see the village clinic powerplans located at the top.
* Review  the Village Powerplan selected in the right window.
** If no orders added, just close the chart.
** If you check additional order boxes, sign (NOT INITIATE)
** For orders not on the powerplans, choose ADD to PHASE.  Then hit sign (NOT INITIATE)
* Close the patient’s chart; MESSAGE CENTER should automatically become visible with the RMT document you were working on.
* Now to Modify and add addendum – right click within the body of the RMT document and choose modify.
* The area for you to add the addendum will appear at the bottom of the RMT document.
* Type in your comments.
* Now at bottom of RMT document Hit Additional Forward Action box –
* In the To: field - Select the Health aide who sent the RMT document to you (delete previous RMT health aide’s name).
* Then Click "OK and Close" – (DO NOT HIT NEXT)
* If a patient needs a medication to be sent from Bethel pharmacy – Order it from the blue Plus from the left side of the screen and select "mail to" when ordering it. New meds can be written on either form.
[[file:rmtravenpic.jpg]]
==[[RMT Pearls]]==
Heading links to page
==Regular/Outpatient RMT==
* See guideline [[Fever – Infants 0-90 days]].
*FUO→children < 5 should be sent to SRC or Bethel for UA
*Viral URI→supportive care w/ reevaluation in ~ 2 days or sooner if any concerns
*Stomatitis→tx options are magic mouth wash, aggressive hydration with a sippy cup or syringe, cold fluids, Tylenol, Motrin and frequent reassessment for dehydration→to Bethel or SRC if significant concerns.  Usually worsens over 3 days and then gradually improves. 
*Group A Strep pharyngitis—Children under 3 do not suffer the adverse sequelae of GAS so don’t test / treat
**Rapid strep may remain + for up to 1 month of tx** consider GAS eradication w/ Clindamycin or Augmentin for carriers w/ recurrent  symptoms
**see ENT referral guidelines for recurrent GAS (Jane, I have these and will bring them next time for inclusion as a link)
*AOM→ [[Otitis Media 3 months–12 years|See peds OM guideline]].
**recheck ears in children only if not improving or worse
**see ENT guidelines for recurrent AOM / perforation for PE tubes and tympanoplasty are covered in the referral orders for these on RAVEN
*Sinusitis→[[Sinusitis More Than 5 Years|see peds sinusitis guideline]] (usually requires Pediatric consult)
**For adults try to avoid antibiotics for at least 2.5 weeks.  Use routine supportive measures; the villages have nasal saline, Sudafed, and Benadryl.
*Community Acquired Pneumonia→ Use routine clinical judgment in deciding to tx or not (i.e. fever, productive cough, pleuritic pain, duration of sxs) remembering that there is a large number of patients w/ bronchiectasis from recurrent respiratory infection→look at problem list and have a lower threshold of using antibiotics in someone w/ recurrent CAP. 
**Adults—Doxycycline, Augmentin, and Ceftriaxone are all available in the village
**Peds—[[Pneumonia – Pediatric More Than 3 Months|see peds guideline]].  If abnormal respiratory exam, see recommendations as above.  REMEMBER, fever and dehydration can affect respiratory rate and O2 sat, so treat these before deciding on disposition
*Boils/cellulitis—[[Skin and Soft Tissue Infection|see guidelines]]
**REMEMBER I&D is 1st line tx→many CHAs will perform I&Ds
**No running water in many villages so suprainfection is a common complication of many skin conditions (bug bites, scabies, eczema)→MRSA colonization is common so need to cover for MRSA
**Provide bleach bath education for recurrent MRSA / multiple boils (available in Patient Education Custom Templates)
*UTI→[[UTI – Children 3 Months–5 Years|See guidelines in children]].
**Adults request cx.  Use best clinical judgment to decide on empiric antibiotic
**Pregnant and suspected pyelonephritis→to Bethel for evaluation
*Viral Gastro Enteritis→routine instructions.  Close follow up for evaluation of dehydration
*Abdominal pain→if nothing about exam or vitals is concerning, try empiric GERD / constipation tx w/ careful warning signs and next day recheck vs commercial flight for evaluation if dx is unclear and clinical concern
*STD checks→CHAs have standing orders for labs and medications→tx if clinical concern warrants it; o/ wait for studies
*Lacerations→Some CHAs are comfortable placing sutures.  Hair tying and steri strips are other options for wound closure
*Pregnancy Test→Start PNVs, calcium, and iron; have CHA schedule 1st Prenatal appt
*Medication Refills
If the health aide requests that a patient needs med refills please do the following.
# Review the documentation in the past few visits, problems, and the past labs that have been done.
#If the patient needs labs drawn- please select those from the Future Lab order folder- in the Regular Lab folder on your home page.
#If you feel comfortable giving the patient the refills -then go to the Medication tab- place the cursor on the med you want to refill and right click.  You will get a variety of options. You can select one month with 1- refills or 1 month with no refills if they need labs done
#Sign orders.
#If they need a new med refilled- do not add it to the Village Powerplan.  Go to the Blue plus sign on the left hand side of the of the orders screen and select it- then ideally pick the Med out of the Med order folders in your home page and complete the order in the usual fashion.
*Prenatals
*WCCs-Review RMT closely to make sure all safety, developmental screening, anticipatory guidance, fluoride varnish and immunizations are updated. Also check growth curves for HC, weight and length and make sure CHAs know do this as well.  Referral to dental, optometry and peds should be made as necessary.
*Pediatric Dental Pre-op Travel Clearance RMTs must be forwarded to CPP RMT
==Urgent RMT==
===OB in possible labor ===
Refer immediately to inpatient emergency RMT provider
===Ortho ===
Other than the 3 recognized truly Orthopedic Emergencies
* compartment syndrome
* compound fracture
* knee dislocation
that should likely require both a call to ANMC Ortho + medevac activation, you can likely send an ortho patient to Bethel ER with splint-sling-ice-elevation-pain control-crutches as indicated once you establish an intact neuro-vascular exam.
For some cases, like a hip fracture for example, the patient may go directly to ANMC. You might be able to save one leg of a medevac (instead of a ramp-to-ramp transfer) and send the patient directly to ANMC. To do this, get an accepting doc at ANMC and then you can have LifeMed activate the Anchorage team instead of the Bethel team.
===Sick patients that probably need to come in===
These patients either have a compelling initial presentation or they have worsened in village follow-up. If vitals and exam are reassuring and spO2 is not <90%, they can probably come to Bethel ER or clinic on the next commercial flight or boat-ice road vehicle. If transport is unlikely or the clinical situation does not allow it, the next decision that needs to be made in conjunction with the CHA’s comfort level and resources available as well as weather conditions, is whether a medevac or more local treatment is indicated. Sometimes weather forces decision-making.
====Abdominal Pain====
These patients can usually go in to Bethel ER commercially, sometimes requiring an escort after the pain is treated neither with IM morphine or PO TC3 or Tylenol-Motrin.
====Fever in Infants less than 90 days====
[[Fever – Infants 0-90 days|Stable See guidelines]]
Infants under 3 months of age with a fever of 100.4° or greater must be evaluated in Bethel for a sepsis and/or meningitis work up and treatment if indicated. Infants with fevers 100.4° or greater with a normal exam, who are clinically stable, need to be evaluated within 12 hours in Bethel. These patients can come in by commercial flight, if there is one available in less than 8-10 hours. If it is after hours the patient can be monitored closely by the family at home and be rechecked by a CHA in the morning (or sooner if worse) to make sure the patient is still stable for commercial flight in. It is best not to pretreat these infants with Ceftriaxone unless there are weather delays or the patient is getting worse. Please consult the pediatrician on call if there is any question about what to do in these challenging RMT cases.
If the patient gets worse in the village…[[#Emergency RMT|see emergency RMT section]]
Need more examples of sick patients that need to come in here…
==Emergency RMT==
===Emergency Medications Available in the Village===
'''NOTE: Health Aides can NOT give any medications via IV route, even if ordered by a physician.'''
'''Remember to use the [[media:Pediatric critical care guide.pdf|Pediatric Critical Care Guide]] for weight-based dosing if available'''
====Epinephrine 1mg/ml Ampule====
NOTE: In the absence of standard IV/IO route of administration, epinephrine may be given IM if it does not compromise CPR. Efficacy is unknown for this route in humans.
''Resuscitation''
* Adult Dose=1mg IM
* Pediatric Dose 0.01 mg/kg IM = 0.01 ml/kg (using1mg/ml concentration epinephrine)
''Anaphylaxis''
* Adults and peds > 30kg = 0.3mg IM anterolateral thigh (0.3ml)
* Pediatric <30kg = 0.01mg/kg IM anterolateral thigh (0.01ml/kg using 1mg/ml concentration epinephrine) (Max 0.3mg=0.3ml)
''Croup''
* If no racemic epinephrine available, mix 1 ampule of epinephrine 1 mg/ml with 3 mL NS bullet and then nebulize.
==== Ceftriaxone 1gm vials ====
* Adult Dose=2 grams IM
* Pediatric Dose = 100mg/kg IM (max dose= 2grams)
==== Midazolam (Versed) 10mg/2ml ====
NOTE: If dosing intranasal, divide dose equally between both nares
* Adults 0.2mg/kg IM or IN 
* Pediatric 0.2 mg/kg IM or IN
'''Dosing Chart'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Weight Range in pounds !! Intranasal midazolam dose
|-
| less than 17 lbs || Ask provider for dose
|-
| 17-20 lbs || 2 mg = 0.4 mL =0.2 mL/naris
|-
| 21-24 lbs || 2.5 mg = 0.5 mL = 0.3 mL ro one naris and 0.2 mL to other naris
|-
| 25-31 lbs || 3 mg = 0.6 mL = 0.3 mL/naris
|-
| 32-40 lbs || 4 mg = 0.8 mL = 0.4 mL/naris
|-
| 41-51 lbs || 4.5 mg = 0.9 mL = 0.5 mL to one naris and 0.4 mL to other naris
|-
| 52-64 lbs || 5.5 mg = 1.1 mL = 0.6 mL to one naris and 0.5 mL to other naris
|-
| >65 lbs || 6.5 mg = 1.3 mL = 0.7 mL to one naris and 0.6 mL to other naris
|}
==== Diazepam (Valium) 10mg/2ml ====
* Adult Dose=10mg rectally or IM. (total max dose = 20 mg)
** May repeat once in 10-15 minutes
* Pediatric Dose=0.5mg/kg rectally or IM. (total max dose = 20 mg)
** May repeat q 5-10 minutes prn
====Phenobarbital 130mg/ml (1 ampule)====
* Adult Dose=10-20 mg/kg IM q 20 min prn
* Pediatric Dose=20mg/kg IM
** May give another 5-10mg/kg q 15-30 min prn up to a total dose of 40mg/kg
** Pay close attention to respiratory rate if repeating phenobarb doses
====Instaglucose 24 grams in a tube====
NOTE: Use care in administering to an unconscious patient to prevent aspiration. Use small amounts in the buccal area bilaterally or smear on gums and cheeks. Glucose is not rectally absorbed.
* Adult Dose: 15-20 gm
* Pediatric Dose:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Weight (lbs) !! Dose
|-
| Less than 11 lbs || 1 ml
|-
| 11-20 lbs || 4 ml
|-
| 21-30 lbs || 8 ml
|-
| 31-40 lbs || 12 ml
|-
| > 41 lbs || 20 ml
|}
====Glucagon 1mg/ml (one ampule)====
'''Note''': Glucagon is only effective if hypoglycemia is due to hyperinsulinism-either because of insulin administration or endogenous insulin production. It is not rectally absorbed
* Adults and Peds > 20kg Dose=1mg SC/IM. May repeat q15 minutes
* Pediatric Dose= 0.5mg SC/IM. May repeat q15 minutes
====Morphine 10mg/ml (one ampule)====
* Adult Dose=10-30mg PO, 2 to 10 mg IM
* Pediatric Dose=0.05-0.2mg/kg IM (max dose=10 mg)
==== Naloxone 1mg/ml injectable solution ====
* Adult Dose=0.4-2mg IM/SQ or 2-4mg intranasal-may repeat q2-3 minutes
* Pediatric Dose=0.1mg/kg IM/SQ (Max dose=2 mg IM or 2-4mg intranasal) May repeat q2-3 minutes
==== Dexamethasone 10mg/ml ====
* Adult Dose=depends on condition IM
* Pediatric Dose
** Croup/Stridor 0.6 mg/kg IM or PO. (Max 10mg)
** Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia 0.7 mg/kg/dose IM (1.5-2 mg/m2/dose)
Home supply of emergency Solu Cortef should be given preferentially according to directions OR use the following table
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Solu Cortef Act-O-Vial || 100mg/2ml IM dose
|-
| Under 4yo || 25mg = 0.5ml
|-
| 4-12 yo || 50mg = 1ml
|-
| Over 12yo || 100mg = 2ml (whole vial)
|}
May repeat in 12-24 hrs (give sooner if sicker) if not able to get to a higher level of care
====Prednisone 10mg tablets====
* Adult Dose=40-60mg PO
* Pediatric Dose=2mg/kg PO (tablets crushed and mixed with palatable substance)
==== Albuterol 2.5 mg/3mL ====
* Adult Dose=1 unit dose
* Pediatric Dose=1 unit dose
==== Duo-nebs (ipratropium 0.5 mg and albuterol 3mg per 3 mL) ====
* Adult Dose=1 unit dose
* Pediatric Dose=1 unit dose
==== Racemic Epinephrine 2.25% ====
* Adult Dose=1 unit dose in nebulizer (0.5ml) diluted with 3 mls NS bullet
* Pediatric Dose= Give nebulized racemic epinephrine:
<10 kg: 0.25 mL mixed with 3 mL NS
>10 kg: 0.5 mL mixed with 3 mL NS
'''Note''': Monitor pulse during and after administration.
If no racemic epinephrine available, mix 1 ampule of epinephrine 1 mg/ml with 3 mL NS bullet and then nebulize.
==[[Emergency RMT Scenarios and Responses]]==
==OB Scenarios==
===Bleeding===
[[OB Triage Patients#Preterm and term vaginal bleeding evaluation|Preterm and term vaginal bleeding evaluation]]
Assess amount of hemorrhage by “pad” count and POC Hgb and transport commercial to Bethel OB Triage (if EGA > 20 weeks, otherwise to the ER) if vital signs stable and hemorrhaging allows. Consider IV fluids as needed.
===Labor===
[[media:Village OB Patient in Possible Labor.pdf|Village OB Patient in Possible Labor]]
===Abortion/Threatened Abortion===
If a POC HGB and vital signs are stable this patient may go to the ER in Bethel on the next available flight. She should be warned that she may in be in Bethel for at least 2-3 days as part of the evaluation. There is also a risk she may bleed to death if she remains in the village.
===Delivery===
[Link to OB-Newborn/OB Special Circumstances/Labor in the Village]]
If a (non-preterm) delivery is imminent in the village, encouraging the CHA to marshal resources in the clinic area for delivery is important including finding the most experienced (even former) CHA or traditional mid-wife. If the term laboring mother is unstable (or didn’t sign a BIB agreement) then activating a medevac to bring the patient to Bethel OB Triage is appropriate.
==Death ==
===Expected===
[[Death in Village|Link to Death in Village]]
===Unexpected===
[[Death in Village|Link to Death in Village]]
==Links==
[[media:Village Formulary.pdf|Village Formulary]]
Link opens PDF file
[[media:SRC Formulary.pdf|SRC Formulary]]
Link opens PDF file

Revision as of 06:16, 17 June 2019

Radio medical traffic (RMT) is the most difficult clinical challenge that providers face in their jobs at YKHC. There are 50 villages/Subregional Clinics (SRCs) in the region staffed with Community Health Aides (CHAs) of varying degrees of training, limited formularies and supplies and weather and other challenges that make getting concerning patients into Bethel difficult. The SRC’s will often, but not always, have a NP/PA provider available to help assess and manage patients, and the SRC formulary and supplies are more expanded but still very limited. Often patients will have to be managed for long periods of time creatively in the village with the CHA’s and midlevels while awaiting an opportunity to get a patient in if the weather is down, there are no runway lights, the medevac team is tied up or timed out ....

Routine RMT evaluation, follow up, treatment, referrals, etc., is a challenge with this kind of distance delivery. It is a high risk interaction. You are managing the patient secondhand and depending on vitals, CHA exams and history. You will often be overwhelmed with the sheer volume of RMT and other clinical demands on your time. Be sure to not rush too much. Pay attention and address any ‘red flags’ in the patient history and exam. Take the time to look at the problem and medication lists when indicated (i.e., a patient with a chronic condition that requires daily meds but isn’t taking them or needs a f/u in Bethel; a patient with recurrent OM that was treated less than a month ago with Amoxicillin and therefore needs to now have Augmentin, etc.).

Villages are small communities. Often the patient that a CHA is caring for is a relative, friend or well known to them. This can place them in a difficult position socially and professionally. It adds a tremendous amount of stress to their job. It may be difficult for a CHA to make an OCS report (child protective services), resuscitate a loved one, and remain objective in evaluating some patients. RMT providers must remain sensitive to this challenge and assist the CHAs in any way possible.

Orientation for RMT will extend through your entire tenure at YKHC because there are so many different scenarios and new challenges that arise even daily. Work with others to figure out how best to manage RMT patients and don’t hesitate to ask for help repeatedly until you get more comfortable with different scenarios. It is better to ask and learn (remembering there is often more than one way to handle a particular situation).

RMT Process RMT Pearls

Subregional Clinics Formulary 2019
&YKHC Village Clinics Formulary

Death in Village

Regular (Outpatient) RMT
&Urgent RMT

OB RMT Emergency RMT Emergency Medications Available in the Village

Outpatient RMT Introduction

In the villages, patients are taken care of mostly by Health Aides (HAs) who consult with their assigned outpatient providers when patient care falls outside of their standing orders or expertise. These communications are called RMT’s (Radio Medical Traffic).

RMT’s are sent in by Health Aides through PowerChart/FirstNet where they come into message centers under the Proxies Tab as panels (i.e., Chronic Peds, Emergency, Kusko or Yukon). These proxies are set up for providers by IT, usually as part of the initial onboarding process.

At any given time there are assigned providers (some internal at YKHC and some remote providers) for each panel who will review the cases submitted and either discuss the care plan with the Health Aide via telephone, or send back the form with assessment/instructions. They will read the encounter, review orders from the appropriate power plan, modify the orders as needed, submit an addendum to the encounter with their plan, and send it back to the Health Aides.

Emergency cases who need Medevac or immediate attention to Bethel, are called in to the on-call Ward Docs in North Wing and sent to the Emergency Proxy panel.

When Telemed (media files) are reviewed as part of the RMT, providers should add a charge by selecting the order "Telemed Consult Level 1" and insert "..rmtmediareview" autotext (sampled below).

"Appreciate the photos of the _ that were sent to the Bethel provider so that the Health aide could get some help with the diagnosis and treatment plan.
Diagnosis: _
Plan: _
Please give immunizations that are due."

For more details about the process of RMT, urgent RMT, emergency RMT, and different scenarios, click on the Radio Medical Traffic Link at the top of this section.

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