ASTM F2076-01(2022)

Standard Practice for Communicating an EMS Patient Report to Receiving Medical Facilities

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice establishes the national standard for training the EMT in communicating pertinent patient information to the receiving medical facility.  
4.2 Appropriate physiological data and patient assessment information should be collected from the scene or while en route to the receiving medical facility or medical command site.  
4.3 This practice is based on the information needs of a receiving medical facility to assist them in medical triage, ED resource management, and the provision of medical direction.  
4.4 This practice should be used by those who develop curricula, provide continuing medical education, or desire a needs-based reporting approach.  
4.5 This practice should be used to develop documentation aids such as EMS notepads and medical command documentation sheets.  
4.6 The communication format in each PISA subsection in this practice are not necessarily in sequential order. The report may vary dependent upon patient presentation.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice establishes the EMS standard for communications entailing a patient radio (phone) report to a receiving medical facility.  
1.1.1 This report is based on receiving facility needs and is generic for medical, traumatic (ALS), and (BLS) patients.  
1.1.2 This report standard is based on the hierarchical information needs of an average medical receiving facility.  
1.2 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2022
• ICS: 11.140 - Hospital equipment
• Technical Committee: F30 - Emergency Medical Services
• Drafting Committee: F30.04 - Communications

Relations

• Refers: ASTM F1651-95(2009) - Standard Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2009
• Refers: ASTM F1629-95(2007) - Standard Guide for Establishing Operating Emergency Medical Services and Management Information Systems, or Both (Withdrawn 2015)
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2007
• Refers: ASTM F1418-01 - Standard Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) in Roles and Responsibilities (Withdrawn 2007)
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2001
• Refers: ASTM F1418-92 - Standard Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) in Roles and Responsibilities
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2001
• Refers: ASTM F1651-95(2002) - Standard Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic)
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1995
• Refers: ASTM F1651-95 - Standard Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic)
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1995
• Refers: ASTM F1629-95(2002) - Standard Guide for Establishing Operating Emergency Medical Services and Management Information Systems, or Both
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1995
• Refers: ASTM F1629-95 - Standard Guide for Establishing Operating Emergency Medical Services and Management Information Systems, or Both
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-1995

Overview

ASTM F2076-01(2022): Standard Practice for Communicating an EMS Patient Report to Receiving Medical Facilities defines the national and international guidelines for emergency medical services (EMS) professionals when delivering patient reports to receiving hospitals or medical command sites. Developed by ASTM International, this standard aims to ensure effective and consistent communication of critical patient information, facilitating improved medical decision-making, triage, and emergency department resource management.

Key Topics

• Structured Patient Reporting: Introduces a prioritized framework (PISA - Priority, Important, Significant, Additional) for organizing and communicating patient data based on situational urgency.
• Relevance to Receiving Facilities: Focuses on meeting the hierarchical information needs of receiving hospitals to ensure they get the most essential details first, supporting timely and effective patient care.
• Universal Applicability: The standard is applicable to diverse EMS situations, including medical emergencies, trauma (ALS), and basic life support (BLS), offering a flexible yet standardized practice.
• Curriculum Integration: Designed for EMS training curriculum developers, continuing medical education providers, and organizations seeking a needs-based approach to patient reporting.
• Documentation Aids: Serves as a template for creating EMS notepads, medical command documentation sheets, and electronic report forms.

Applications

• EMS Provider Training: Guides instructors in teaching EMTs how to efficiently gather and relay physiological and assessment data from the scene or in transit using the PISA communication model.
• Real-Time Patient Report Delivery: Standardizes the way information is transmitted via radio or phone, assisting EMS providers in rapidly conveying critical data to emergency departments.
• Medical Triage and Resource Allocation: Helps receiving facilities prioritize incoming patients, support emergency triage, and optimize ED resource use by receiving clear, concise, and relevant information.
• Quality Documentation and Compliance: Supports the development of documentation tools that align with industry best practices, promoting regulatory compliance and quality assurance in patient care.
• Continuing Medical Education: Ensures ongoing training and performance improvement for EMS professionals by providing a consistent, evidence-based communication standard.

Related Standards

• ASTM F1418: Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) (Withdrawn)
• ASTM F1629: Guide for Establishing Operating Emergency Medical Services and Management Information Systems (Withdrawn)
• ASTM F1651: Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) (Withdrawn)
• USDOT National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Basic and EMT-Paramedic: National curricula referenced for foundational EMS training models.

Practical Value

Implementing ASTM F2076-01(2022) ensures that EMS agencies, educators, and practitioners use a common, standardized patient report format, supporting patient safety and communication efficiency. By systematically categorizing patient information by urgency, the standard reduces errors, eliminates unnecessary delays, and helps medical facilities prepare resources before patient arrival. Hospitals and EMS agencies that adopt this standard benefit from streamlined communication, improved patient care outcomes, and alignment with internationally recognized best practices.

Keywords: EMS patient report, emergency medical services, ASTM F2076, patient communication standard, emergency department triage, medical facility reporting, PISA framework, EMS documentation, ambulance communication standard.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F2076 − 01 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Practice for
Communicating an EMS Patient Report to Receiving Medical
Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2076; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Throughout all areas of emergency medical services (EMS), there exists a need for the EMS
provider to consult with medical direction and receiving medical facilities.These consultations can be
purely for patient arrival notification, medical consultation, or to request additional medical
intervention orders. Within the EMS community, no “standard” reporting scheme exists. Hundreds of
verbal reporting formats are currently used. Some agencies divide these further for those assessments
involving medical from trauma. Failure to use a standard reporting scheme makes initial student
educationdifficult,makesrecordingofinformationcumbersome,andcanleadtotimedelaysinpatient
care or worse yet an error.
Thisconsensusformatwasdevelopedfromasurveysenttoover100emergencyphysicians,nurses,
and field providers. The 25 that were returned were analyzed to construct the initial draft. One clear
theme was present. Receiving medical facilities want to know the most important information
first . . . medical information that affects the logistics of running a busy emergency department (ED).
With the increased use of standing orders, the traditional detailed report to the ED was often not seen
as time effective or making any change in the patient’s outcome.
Thispracticeusestheacronym PISAtodescribetheinformationtobepresentedinagenericpatient
report. P is priority information that is considered absolutely critical if only 15 s of transmission (or
reception) is accomplished; I is important information that needs to be communicated if an additional
16 to 30 s is available; S is significant information that would be transmitted if an additional 31 to 60 s
were available; A is additional information that should be transmitted if 61+ s are available.
1. Scope mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 This practice establishes the EMS standard for commu-
nications entailing a patient radio (phone) report to a receiving
2. Referenced Documents
medical facility.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1.1 This report is based on receiving facility needs and is
F1418 Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Techni-
generic for medical, traumatic (ALS), and (BLS) patients.
cian (Basic) in Roles and Responsibilities (Withdrawn
1.1.2 This report standard is based on the hierarchical
2007)
information needs of an average medical receiving facility.
F1629 Guide for Establishing Operating Emergency Medi-
1.2 This international standard was developed in accor-
cal Services and Management Information Systems, or
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Both (Withdrawn 2015)
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
F1651 Guide for Training the Emergency Medical Techni-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
cian (Paramedic) (Withdrawn 2018)
1 2
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F30 on Emergency For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.04 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Communications. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2022. Published September 2022. Originally the ASTM website.
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as F2076 – 01 (2014). The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
DOI: 10.1520/F2076-01R22. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2076 − 01 (2022)
2.2 Other Documents: 5. Communication of Pertinent Patient Information
USDOT National Standard Curriculum for EMT-B
5.1 After establishing communications with the receiving
USDOT National Standard Curriculum for EMT-P
medical facility, patient information will be reported in the
following format:
3. Terminology
5.1.1 Organization of patient medical information into the
categories of Priority, Important, Significant, Additional.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
5.1.1.1 Priority = “Need to know” or critical information to
3.1.1 AVPU—a brief neurological examination to determine
be transmitted in the 0 to 15 s time frame.
a baseline level of consciousness and to a
...