A new protocol outlined by Monroe-Livingston Regional Emergency Medical Services Council requires that intoxicated persons treated by Emergency Medical Technicians be transported to the hospital for further care, effective Jan. 1.
Director of UR Security Walter Mauldin was notified of the policy late last week.
Mauldin speculated that the Council’s decision was meant to be precautionary.
“It’s likely the motivation for procedural change was to reduce the possibility that a person that is under the influence might be missed somehow with an underlying medical condition or a medical influence from the intoxication that hadn’t been manifested,” he said.
UR’s Medical Emergency Response Team adheres to the Council’s guidelines.
“I don’t think UR can be excluded from this policy because MERT is a certified New York State Department of Health service that mandates we follow state and county protocols when treating patients,” Director of Operations of River Campus MERT and senior Daniel Nassau said.
Previously, MERT members assessed the intoxicated patient before giving their recommendation as to whether or not he should go to the hospital.
Nassau responded to the procedural change.
“It’s hard for us to say you’re not really that intoxicated, but because of the law, you have to go the hospital,” he said.
Mauldin stressed that he is working with University members to find other solutions.
“We just don’t tend to have some issues that exist in the larger community,” he said. “We are going to try and get clarification on how it’s applicable [to UR] to see if there are constructive tweaks that the University could pursue.”
Nassau seconded Mauldin’s remark.
“MERT looks forward to working alongside the University’s administration, Security Services and UHS to find a better alternative for students needing intoxication medical care rather than sending all to the hospital.”
Squires is a member of the class of 2010.
