How to Write a Message for Medical Advice
When asking for advice on first aid or emergency treatment, it is vital that a patient's symptoms are reported in as much detail as possible.
Please copy the Medical Advice Communication Form in this handbook and use It as your communication form.
1. Company name and ship's registry
2. Patient's occupation
3. Name and sex
4. Birth date (and age)
5. Patient's condition at onset of illness
6. Current symptoms, medication, injections, treatment, and questions
7. Past history
8. Type of medical kit, names and quantities of medication on board
9. Ship's position (current position at time of communication)
10. Direction of sail, scheduled arrival date at next port
◎ Don't forget and be sure to report the main items.
Note: Two items for Nos. 9 and 10 are necessary in cases where instructions may be needed for emergency doctor's visit at sea, an emergency stop at port, or disembarkation and hospitalization. Since medical advice is being given without a direct examination, some doctors will be cautious and ask the ship to enter port immediately. Considering that it may take a week or more for a ship to reach its next port, however, such instructions may change. If the doctor is told that, "Even if we hurry, we can only make XX port in so many days," he may instruct the ship to continue sail until it can reach its homeport. Please refer to the point of marine emergency care (requesting a doctor's visit at seas) if the patient is in critical condition and you want to request an emergency specialist's visit at sea.
The following three items are important in the communication. Please refer to the "Examples of Medical Communications."
1 Patient's condition at onset of illness (principal complaints)
1]What were the patient's symptoms when he first fell ill or the manner in which he was injured, and what was his overall condition at that time?
2]If the patient was conscious, how did he feel at the time? What is the location of pain or numbness?
3]What first aid treatment was administered, what medicines were given orally or intravenously, and what effects were noted?
