When should an OEC Technician obtain the medical history of a trauma patient?

The medical history of a trauma patient is ideally obtained during the secondary assessment phase. This is because the secondary assessment is designed to gather detailed information about the patient’s condition after the immediate life-threatening issues have been addressed during the primary assessment. In the primary assessment, the focus is on stabilizing the patient's airway, breathing, circulation, and identifying any immediate threats to life.

During the secondary assessment, the OEC Technician can take the time to ask the patient or bystanders about the patient’s medical history, including prior health conditions, medications, allergies, and details about the injury. This information is crucial for guiding further treatment and potential transport decisions. Gathering this history at this stage allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of the patient, which can inform the technician’s actions and any necessary interventions as well as communication with emergency medical services when they arrive.

Obtaining medical history should not be delayed until after treatment has been administered, as this information can be critical to the decision-making process during treatment. Similarly, trying to gather this information during transport could detract from monitoring and managing the patient effectively. Hence, the secondary assessment is the most appropriate time to collect this vital information.