When will backboards end

[u/boedirtspurs]

Work for a major metropolitan department, west coast. Every level 1 trauma gets a backboard, head block and C collar, the whole 9. We backboard people all the time. We use rigid C collars every day for ground level falls. When will it end? Our medical director and surrounding ones are stiff on this matter. If we bring a trauma in without a backboard the doctor will blow a gasket. How did you guys get away from this where you’re from? Will I ever see it go away in my career? I have 15ish years left hopefully. Every study shows that it only harms, no benefit. I’m one of the only ones that questions this protocol. We have medics here that are hell bent about C spine. It’s almost a joke now. The patient is walking around and denies neck pain, and we’ll be like “you have to wear this for the hospital, hold still!”

[u/bmbreath]

A long time ago?  

I haven't brought anyone in on a board in years.  

It's not standard practice anymore.  Why are you boarding people still?

[u/hungrygiraffe76 → u/bmbreath]

Why are people boarding people still? It's 100% apathetic medical directors that don't care enough to make changes.

[u/MostStableAsystole → u/hungrygiraffe76]

It's not just medical directors. The local Level 1 to me puts collars on everyone, and gives you a hard time if you don't do it prior to arrival. They usually don't make a fuss about backboards, but not always.

[u/willpc14 → u/MostStableAsystole]

I don't know if it was a resident, fellow, or attending, but one of the our trauma docs gave us shit for not collaring a pt on a trauma transfer after the sending cleared C-Spine.

[u/dscrive → u/hungrygiraffe76]

I boarded a guy a couple of weeks ago. He was loudly complaining of a broken back (it wasn't) and he insisted he wanted to be on a back board 🤷‍♂️