Table 2 Guidelines and protocols used in the organization
Name of the guideline/protocol | The main guideline | The pocket guideline | The triage protocol “METTS” | Pathway protocols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Format | 194 A4 pages in a file. The file did not contain any register. | File in A5 format. Contains no register. | Two formats: the “old” METTS is in an A5 format file and the new METTS in an A4 file. Connected to a patient record file for use as support when handling over the patient. | A4 papers in a file with 5 different pathway protocols. |
Content | Description of assessment of the medical and trauma patient. Description of different symptoms and conditions and directions for treatment for both adults and children. Description of drugs. Description of some local procedures and routines. | Tables of drug doses, normal values and a few algorithms, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. | A mixture of symptoms and diagnoses. The symptoms or diagnoses have their own page with an algorithm which describes a triage grade based on different symptoms. The patient is given a triage color based on symptoms and vital parameters. | Some pathway protocols take the form of checklists with boxes to tick, while others are plain, descriptive text. |
Location | Between the seats in the front of the ambulance and one copy in the back of the ambulance. | In an ambulance staff member’s leg pocket. | In the back of the ambulance. | In the back of the ambulance. |
Development process | Informal consensus | Informal consensus | Unknown | Unknown |