In the spring, Dr Alcorta mandated that we use the Priority Dispatch Severe Respiratory Infection (SRI) Screening Tool on all Sick Person, Headache, Breathing Problems and Chest Pain calls. This decision had been made statewide in anticipation of H1N1 and we would alert EMS crews of a "Code 36" situation if there was a possibility their patient had flu like symptoms.
We called Dr Alcorta two weeks ago in reference to discontinuing the use of the SRI Screening Tool. We contacted him because there are so many cases in general when the questions do not seem appropriate to ask and it is taking a lot of additional time on the phone. For example, if someone called with chronic knee pain or an earache, we still have to ask all of those additional questions related to flu symptoms when the patient's chief complaint is not related to the flu at all.
Dr Alcorta said to check with Dr Rao but as far as he was concerned we could discontinue its use for now because the cases of flu weren't escalating as anticipated and things had slowed down for now.
We contacted Dr Rao and he said he was comfortable discontinuing its use on all but Breathing Problems calls.
In conclusion, we wanted to notify you that effective January 4, 2010, we will be discontinuing the SRI Screening Tool with the exception of Breathing Problems related calls.
