COMPLETION OF VACIS ePCR

The Union is aware that members are being directed by Ambulance Victoria (AV) to clear cases prior to a VACIS patient care record being properly completed.

The vast majority of crews do their utmost to respond to all cases as quickly as they can. This is reflected in the improvements in response times achieved by AV over the past 2 years and improved clinical outcomes to the Victorian community.

It is important to remember that a PCR is a document that may be used in legal proceedings such as Coroner Inquests or reviewed by AV’s Medical Standards Committee. It is important that you complete the PCR while you have details fresh in your mind. Some crews often have a backlog of several PCRs to complete which leads to errors such as incorrectly recording medication administration.

The Union regularly represents members in disciplinary matters where minute details of a case sheet are scrutinised so it is important that you have the time to complete your PCR.

The Union wants to see improvements to response times achieved by referring patients to other providers and not transporting patients to hospital. However if members are not being provided with adequate time to complete a proper case sheet then industrially the Union has no choice but to advise members to transport every patient. Leaving a patient at home with an incomplete case sheet is a significant risk to your career.

The Union recommends that you insist on having enough time to complete your PCR. If you are directed to respond to a case prior to completing a PCR, respond to the case but contact the Duty Manager and request time to complete the PCR. If you are not given sufficient time to complete the PCR you should write:

“VACIS EPCR INCOMPLETE AS CREW WERE DIRECTED TO ATTEND ANOTHER CASE”

If you are required to finish the PCR at a later time you should note when the PCR was completed:

“THIS VACIS PCR WAS COMPLETED TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION FOUR HOURS AFTER THE CASE WAS COMPLETED”

It has also been brought to the Unions attention that crews under pressure are resorting to completing VACIS in moving vehicles. This practice was deemed unsafe by WorkSafe several years ago and AV issued instructions not to use VACIS in a moving vehicle under any circumstances. The Union reminds members that they should not risk their safety or breach the OHS Act by completing VACIS in a moving vehicle.