Hi Shelly,
Our Vascular lab is on call every day of the week until 10pm, with all
patients coming in for emergent vascular studies after hours actually being
assessed for "urgency" by a physician.  Most of the venous patients that the
ER physicians feel are high risk are given low mol heparin injection and
kept in ER until we come in the next day, or sent home if they feel they are
at low risk.  We actually have very few patients that we see the next day
for venous studies, I think that
many of the potential venous studies get screened out, because they do not
have an available tech to call in, or the patient does not have DVT
symptoms, and is properly treated.  We have had no problems with this
approach (Patients sent home, then having a PE), and we have proven that
there really is no need for a 24 hour tech, but some good doctors who
appropriately assess patients.

Hope this helps,  Kay Yost RVT



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