What should you do if a medication is not on your EMS cart but is prescribed for the patient?

• A. Administer any medication you believe is appropriate
• B. Do not administer; contact medical direction for an exception or alternative
• C. Call the patient’s family to decide
• D. Retrieve from another unit without permission

Answer: (B)

EMS med administration relies on a defined formulary and medical control. If a drug prescribed for the patient isn’t stocked on the EMS cart, you should not give it without authorization. Calling medical direction for an exception or an approved alternative keeps the treatment within approved protocols, ensures the correct drug, dose, and route, and protects the patient from adverse interactions, allergies, or contraindications. This process also covers legal and liability safeguards by confirming that any deviation from the standard formulary is clinically justified.

Choosing to give a drug you believe is appropriate bypasses safety and protocol. Asking the patient’s family to decide or pulling a medication from another unit without permission introduces delays, consent issues, and policy violations, respectively, and can jeopardize patient safety.