Unfortunately for many nursing home residents, their trip to the nursing home or out for a doctor's appointment can be riddled with problems during transport and is a frequent source of injury (while being transported via: ambulance, medicar or medivan). 

Like nursing homes themselves, ambulances and paramedics are regulated by Medicare.  Ambulances and their crews must also comply with state and local laws.  Ambulances transporting nursing home residents must:

• Be capable of transporting people for in acute medical conditions
• Must contain: stretcher, linens, emergency medical supplies, oxygen equipment, warning sirens, 2-way voice radio or wireless telephone
• Must be staffed by trained personnel

Ambulances and their crews must trained to deal with a variety of both critical and non-critical situations.  Nonetheless, common ambulance / paramedic injuries include:

• Dropping patients
• Medication errors
• Untimely response time for critical incidents
• Failure to follow protocol for specific incidents
• Failure to have required equipment
• Failure to properly make initial assessment
• Failure to monitor vital signs
• Helicopter accidents
• Automobile accidents
• Wheelchair-lift incidents
• Physical abuse

If you believe you or a family member is a victim of paramedic negligence, you should contact an attorney who concentrates in cases involving paramedic / ambulance injury to learn your rights under Federal and State law.