When is 'Cardiac Dysrhythmia' an appropriate provider impression?

• A. When the patient's main problem is the dysrhythmia
• B. For any patient with a 12-lead showing PVCs
• C. If there is a sprained ankle
• D. Only when there is no dysrhythmia

Answer: (A)

In EMS, the provider impression should match the patient’s current, primary problem. “Cardiac dysrhythmia” is the right choice when the main issue causing the patient’s illness or symptoms is a rhythm disturbance, such as palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort from an abnormal heart rhythm, or hemodynamic instability due to the rhythm. The presence of PVCs on a 12-lead doesn’t automatically make the dysrhythmia the primary problem unless the patient’s symptoms or instability are being caused by that rhythm. A sprained ankle has nothing to do with the heart rhythm, so it wouldn’t be the appropriate impression. And you wouldn’t use this impression only if there’s no dysrhythmia, because the impression should reflect the actual primary problem the patient is experiencing.