Refusals | August 4, 2026
Date of Presentation: August 4, 2026
Type: Past Presentation
Audience: Clinical
Program: Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Keywords: #emergency #ems #ems evaluation #high risk patient #patient refusal #refusal
In this presentation Dr. Whitney Barrett, MD, provides a practical framework for managing patient refusals of care in the EMS setting, emphasizing that a high-quality refusal requires assessing decision-making capacity, performing a thorough evaluation, ensuring the patient’s decision is voluntary, clearly explaining individualized risks in plain language, and documenting the encounter comprehensively. It also highlights the importance of avoiding leading questions, recognizing high-risk refusals, involving online medical direction when appropriate, and supporting patients in making informed decisions; even when they choose to refuse transport.
Presented by:
Dr. Whitney Barrett
Faculty
Whitney Barrett, MD, is an Emergency Physician at the University of New Mexico. She is also part of the UNM EMS consortium which provides medical direction, education and advocacy for many metro, rural and Tribal agencies in New Mexico. Whitney’s current EMS roles include medical direction for Valencia County and Kirtland Airforce Base as well as medical director for accredited courses at the UNM EMS academy. She is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and attained her medical degree from UNM. Whitney completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Denver Health in Denver, CO. During residency, she had the opportunity to learn about EMS and decided to pursue a fellowship in EMS also at Denver Health. Subsequently, she worked in the emergency department, as an associate medical director for the Denver Health paramedic division, and as the Medical Director for the paramedic school.
Resources Provided:
Date added: August 6, 2026
