Question: This question is in regards to the TOR's and calling BHP. Some paramedic services lack having a spare cell phone while the primary cell phone for a truck is "out for service", missing etc. I have heard of some paramedics using their personal cell phones to call for the mandatory BHP patch for a pronouncement. I have spoken to Police and Crown Officials, and they have both stated that our personal phone can be submitted into evidence at an inquest or other matters, as this was the tool used to make that pronouncement (upon further investigation a paramedics credibility can be challenged as the court can see text messages, pictures, and phone calls placed on the personal phone). If our service fails to provide us with a cell phone for that shift for whatever reason, are we obligated to use our personal phone knowing it could be taking from us in an investigation for an unknown length of time? Would we document "no cell phone available" on the ACR?

 The Advanced Life Support Patient Care Standards (ALS-PCS) specify in various directives that paramedics, both PCP and ACP, are required to patch to the Base Hospital Physician (BHP) for medical direction. As such, it is the EMS operator's responsibility to provide the paramedic with adequate communication equipment to establish this patch. Your question speaks to an operational issue that is beyond the scope of the SWORBHP. However, if you have a specific concern, we would be happy to speak with your service leadership to advocate on your behalf.

Cardiac/Circulation,Medical Cardiac Arrest,Patching

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