PHARM Podcast 128 : Are you going soft? with Dr Stephen Rashford

by ketaminh on November 19, 2015

@ketaminh @Andywebster soft collar provides some comfort and support BUT primarily a marker the spine is not cleared.

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

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Hi Folks

On today’s show, I talk with Dr Stephen Rashford, an emergency physician in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and also Medical Director of the Queensland Ambulance service(QAS). Earlier in 2015, the QAS rolled out soft neck collars to replace the traditional hard neck collars for prehospital cervical spine care. On the podcast, we discuss the origins of this concept and the evidence base including how consensus was reached amongst all trauma disciplines in Queensland emergency and hospital system.

I had a Twitter discussion with Stephen prior to the podcast and it makes for some useful prologue to the discussion..so read on!

@ketaminh QAS’s clinical guideline in this area https://t.co/9vCrOlCUm7

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

@ketaminh Hi Minh, even more important due to the prolonged transport. Overall spinal care remains but without the pressure area effects!

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

@ketaminh Hard collars removed within 60 sec of arrival at our major spinal centre for >5 yrs without issue. Show me their evidence = 0

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

@ketaminh Our greatest supporters = Spinal surgeons + Spinal injuries + Trauma surgeons + Emergency physicians. I think we have it covered

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

@Andywebster @ketaminh No tapes. If people are awake they will not pith themselves. Unconscious – lateral neck support with rolled blankets

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

@ketaminh @Andywebster soft collar provides some comfort and support BUT primarily a marker the spine is not cleared.

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 18, 2015

@mitchpage3 @ketaminh we have scoops Patients off scoop onto stretcher ASAP where practical. NO transport on spine boards. Vac Mats in rural

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 19, 2015

@mitchpage3 yes, complex facial fractures post RSI – reducing fractures and haemostasis. ETT, Collar, bite blocks, packing +/- nasal packing

— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) November 19, 2015