Maine EMS System Support - Paramedic Interfacility Transfer

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Category: Paramedic Interfacility Transfer

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What is PIFT? PIFT stands for Paramedic Interfacility Transfer. The original PIFT program was designed in the early 1990s to assist Maine hospitals by allowing specially trained paramedics to transport stable patie...
Who developed this program? The program was developed by Maine EMS over almost a two-year period with the assistance of a variety of EMS clinicians, nurses, physicians, and educators from across Maine.
Who are the MDPB and what qualifies them to approve this program? The Medical Directions and Practice Board (MDPB) is the committee of regional and state EMS medical directors who govern the protocols that all Maine EMS providers operate under. This program ...
Why has the program changed? Why has the program changed? Over the last decade, the PIFT program has continually evolved as more medications or procedures were added to the course. However, different paramedics had received diff...
Who is overseeing this program? Every service providing PIFT transfers is now required to have a service level medical director that reviews 100% of all PIFT calls. In addition, the PIFT paramedic will be able to contact the sending...
Is every paramedic in Maine a PIFT paramedic? No. Paramedics must complete an additional training program that reviews the specific components of PIFT. In addition, they may only use the expanded PIFT scope of practice when employed by a ...
Does this eliminate the paramedic level in Maine? No, paramedics will continue to operate under the existing scope of practice and formulary contained in the 2005 Maine EMS Prehospital Treatment Protocols in all other settings (i.e. 911 responses).
Why does having a PIFT paramedic make a difference? The intent of the PIFT program has not changed; it is to facilitate Interfacility transport of stable patients who are receiving therapies outside of the normal scope of paramedic practice. Wi...
How is the new PIFT program different from earlier versions? The 2006 PIFT program represents a substantial change in the way paramedics are educated. The program focuses on problem solving, resource use, clinical judgment, and general familiarity with specific...
How do I know if this transport requires a paramedic or a PIFT paramedic? All PIFT services have been encouraged to work with their local hospitals to help educate staff in the decision matrix about what is or is not a PIFT transfer. Ultimately, the paramedic at the bedside...
Our local EMS service has critical care transport paramedics (CCEMT-P). Are these the same thing as PIFT paramedics? CCEMT-P is a certification awarded to paramedics or nurses who have successfully completed the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) training program for critical care transport. This class c...
Are there going to be transports that still require our institution to provide appropriate staff (i.e. RN, RRT, etc.)? The cornerstone of PIFT is patient stability. PIFT is based on the premise that the PIFT paramedic is caring for a single, stable patient while alone in the back of the ambulance. The PIFT paramedic h...
Does that mean that the PIFT paramedic can refuse to transport a patient? Yes, the final call for transport using the PIFT parameters and scope of practice falls to the PIFT paramedic. The PIFT paramedic has the safety of the patient as his/her first priority. Maine EMS and...
If the PIFT paramedic can refuse, how do we get the patient transferred? Maine EMS recognizes that unstable patients need to be transported to higher levels of care. EMS transports will still occur that do not qualify as a PIFT transport just as they do today with addition...
What will the PIFT paramedics need from the hospital staff (clerical or nursing) for each PIFT transport? Please instruct your clerical or nursing staff that the PIFT paramedic will now require several additional items for transport. Specifically, legible copies of each of the following are needed for the...
Specifically, what is the training program these PIFT paramedics have completed? The 2006 PIFT program consists of between 8 and 12 additional hours of training in topics related to Interfacility transport. Some of the items covered include legal issues in Interfacility transfer, ...
What are the classes of medications included in the 2006 PIFT program? Anticoagulants Anticonvulsants Antidiabetics Antidysrhythmics Antihypertensives (including ACE inhibitors, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics, Alpha Blo
What if the patient is on a medication not covered in the above list? If the patient is receiving a medication not on the list of approved PIFT medications, then a nurse must accompany the patient during transport or the medicine discontinued for transport.
Are over the counter medications (OTC) approved for PIFT? Yes. If the patient has received the medication before as part of their normal care, if a specific order is written by the sending physician for the medication specifying time, route, freque...
Can PIFT paramedics now administer the patient’s regularly scheduled medications by other routes (i.e. oral, SQ insulin, nebulizer, mdi, etc.)? Yes, with the same caveats as the OTC meds above. Specific transfer orders for these meds must be included in the documentation provided to the PIFT medic.
What special devices are included in the 2006 PIFT program? Infusion pumps Central Lines Urinary catheters and Continuous Bladder Irrigation Transvenous Pacemakers Chest Tube Management (water seal or Heimlich val
What if the patient has a device not listed in the PIFT approved device list that is essential for continued use in transport? The MDPB has authorized certain additional exceptions that PIFT paramedics may transport. The key is that the device must be low risk and require little to no intervention from the paramedic. The PIFT...
What can our staff do to help facilitate transferring patients under the 2006 PIFT guidelines? First, maintain open lines of communication with your EMS services. Each service is attempting to implement the required training and administrative pieces over the next few months as quickly as possi...
My physicians and nurses have concerns over the quality of care these paramedics can provide with this program. What can we do? Maine EMS and the MDPB feel we have created an aggressive and effective training curriculum in the 2006 PIFT program. Quality is being constantly monitored by the services, with a local service medica...
How do I obtain further information about PIFT? You can obtain more information about PIFT by cliking on the link, below or contacting our office to speak with somone. 2006 Paramedic Interfacility Transfer Program Training