[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-506482-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-506482-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","ambulating-patients","Ambulating Patients","","Ambulating Patients provides decision support for safely moving patients without a stretcher when it is clinically safe for both patients and paramedics or EMR staff. It outlines circumstances that require non-ambulatory transport, emphasizes patient movement assessment, vital signs, mentation, history and functional inquiry, and includes a staged approach for walk, minimal assist, or stretcher. Reassessment at the receiving facility is encouraged, with guidance focused on reducing fall and injury risk and supporting ethics-based, in-moment decision making.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/ambulating-patients/506482/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/ambulating-patients/506482.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"vwvw","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-23","2026-10-05",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",6,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"When can patients ambulate on their own or with support?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"When it is clinically safe for both the patient and the paramedic or EMR. The guidelines require proper assessment to reduce the risk of patient falls and related injury.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What situations suggest using a stretcher instead of self-ambulation?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"When the differential diagnosis indicates conditions warranting a stretcher, such as cardiac-related complaints, life or limb threatening MSI, or severe respiratory compromise as described.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How is the decision finalized during patient movement?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Use the BCEHS Patient Movement Assessment Tool through the defined steps, then apply the staged approach (walk, minimal assist, or stretcher) and stop the process when the patient cannot move to the next level with no more than minimal assistance, considering a stretcher or assistive device and performing reassessment at the receiving facility.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},506482,1791344200,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,105,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":106,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":139,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},3985747874149,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/3a001161165b4dc3d9e?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1790129441039064114","PR01: Ambulating Patients  \nApplicable To  \n EMR and higher  \nIntroduction  \nWhen it is clinically safe for both the patient and the paramedic or EMR, patients should ambulate on their own, or with appropriate support. There are, however, clinical situations in which a stretcher or non-ambulatory method of patient movement should be utilized. Proper assessment will reduce the risk of patient falls and associated risk of injury to patients and paramedics and EMRs/FRs .  \nThe following criteria can be used as a tool to assist in deciding which patients should be conveyed via stretcher, or other nonambulatory method, and which patients can safely self-ambulate .  \nAlthough these guidelines are meant to provide support in the decision about what to do and how to do it , there can be extenuating or unforeseen issues that complicate circumstances . If a situation arises where there is uncertainty about the correct course of action, pause and reflect for a moment. Consider the BCEHS Ethics Framework; specifically, the use of the JAY Decision Making Tool (page 12) for in-the-moment decision-making. The JAY Tool can help individuals to consider all the factors involved before they make a final decision about what to do .  \nProcedure  \nThe BCEHS Patient Movement Assessment Tool  \nSteps for Applying the BCEHS Patient Movement Assessment Tool  \nThe paramedic or EMR may consider some or all of these points when applying the BC EHS Patient Movement Assessment Tool:  \nSTEP 1 : Nature of the Complaint/General Impression  \n Differential Diagnosis (consider Mechanism of Injury)  \n When the differential diagnosis indicates one of the following, these patients warrant a stretcher:  \n Cardiac in nature  \n Se~~v~~e~~r~~esaturat~~r~~ies~~p~~ons~~ir~~,a~~t~~oet~~ry~~c.~~ ~~om~~ pl~~a~~i~~n~~t with ~~c~~li~~n~~i~~ca~~l i~~n~~di~~ca~~t~~o~~r(~~s~~)~~ (e . g. , shortness of breath with audible wheezes, decreased SpO2  \n  Life/Limb threatening MSI  \nConsiderations – these considerations may warrant a stretcher or be mitigated by other assistive devices:  \n1. Consider the patient’s acuity:  \n “Well\" or \"Not well”  \n Mentation: Is the patient able to follow a conversation? Is the patient cooperative? Is eye movement consistent with intentional cooperation?  \n Are they medically able to walk?  \n Are there underlying medical conditions that may be exacerbated?  \n Is the patient in pain and will walking the patient make the pain worse?  \n2. Consider the risks:  \n Risk to the patient; stable gait; do they normally use a walker?  \n Risk to the paramedic or EMR/FR; size of the patient; potential for violence or contamination?  \n Risk to the public?  \nSTEP 2: Patient Assessment  \n Complete as much as possible prior to movement to help confirm or deny your thoughts formulated during Step 1 – using best judgement :  \n Complete vital signs (are they normal for THIS patient?)  \n Assessment of mentation: GCS and/or LOC x3 (Time, Place, Person) to help determine suitability of ambulation  \n History  \n Functional inquiry  \n Physical examination  \nSTEP 3: Patient Conversation  \n A discussion with the patient about the treatment plan allowing them to be part of the decision making process  \n Reminder: In this situation the distance to the stretcher is taken into consideration based on the acuity of the patient  \nEthics framework (JAY tool)  \n Depending on the situation, paramedic s and EMRs may need to use this tool  \nSTEP 4: Walk, Minimal Assist, Stretcher  \n Walk – self ambulate with or without an aid  \n Minimal assist  \n PHSA Safe Patient Handling Standard and FAQ  \n If it is assumed the patient will need more than minimal assistance, it is recommended the patient be moved using a nonambulatory method.  \n See the Staged Approach to Safe Patient Movement graphic below  \nSTEP 5: Reassessment  \n At the receiving facility, a reassessment may occur as the patient ’s condition and/or abilities may have changed  \nNotes  \nStaged Approach to Safe Patient Movement  \n Safe Patien","cbCaihNw6EHzJJl8","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihNw6EHzJJl8","pdf",26549127,728,"English","# Introduction\n## Criteria and clinical considerations\n## Procedure\n### BCEHS Patient Movement Assessment Tool\n### Staged approach to safe patient movement\n### Reassessment and notes","[{\"question\":\"When can patients ambulate on their own or with support?\",\"answer\":\"When it is clinically safe for both the patient and the paramedic or EMR. The guidelines require proper assessment to reduce the risk of patient falls and related injury.\"},{\"question\":\"What situations suggest using a stretcher instead of self-ambulation?\",\"answer\":\"When the differential diagnosis indicates conditions warranting a stretcher, such as cardiac-related complaints, life or limb threatening MSI, or severe respiratory compromise as described.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the decision finalized during patient movement?\",\"answer\":\"Use the BCEHS Patient Movement Assessment Tool through the defined steps, then apply the staged approach (walk, minimal assist, or stretcher) and stop the process when the patient cannot move to the next level with no more than minimal assistance, considering a stretcher or assistive device and performing reassessment at the receiving facility.\"}]","Ambulating Patients | PDF",1791165656,1835]