Hospital hallway waits violate the ethics codes and standards of practice for paramedics. Waiting in hallways robs patients of their dignity, safety, and privacy and is dangerous. It also limits paramedics' ability to properly care for patients and evaluate their care. As evidence shows hallway waiting harms patients, paramedics should refuse to participate in the unsafe practice and work with hospitals to develop better alternatives for patient transport and treatment.

1. END Paramedic Hallway Waits
Alberta College of Paramedics - Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice:
http://www.collegeofparamedics.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/09/CodeOfEthicsStandardsOfPractice-June-
2016_V2.pdf
Hospital hallway waits violate the ACP Code of Ethics.
1. Advocating in the best interests of the patient.
Agreeing to wait in hospital hallways is NOT in the best interest of patients.
2. Advocating in a manner that ensures patient dignity, safety & privacy.
Hospital hallway waiting robs patients of their dignity, safety & privacy.
3. Recognizing our professional limitations.
ER hallway waiting is a dangerous Hospital policy. We should refuse to be part of it.
4. Reporting and, when necessary, stopping unethical conduct.
EMS Managers and Medical Directors must stop enabling failing Hospital policies.
5. Committing to action that prioritizes health and safety of the public.
It is unethical for Paramedics to tell patients and families that ER hallway waiting is safe.
6. Developing health education strategies to maximize health choices.
EMS Leadership must develop alternatives to hospital transport for EMS patients.
Hospital hallway waits violate the ACP Standards of Practice.
1. Being accountable for patient care - advice, treatment and referral.
Paramedics are not really in charge of patients in the ER hallway, Hospital staff are.
2. Continuously evaluating the ongoing management of patient care.
Paramedics are frequently undermined and uninformed of Hospital patient care plans.
3. Applying knowledge of health care models & public safety systems.
There is now a great deal of evidence that Hospital hallway waiting is bad for patients.
4. Applying knowledge developed through experience and research.
There is not one valid study that supports the use of Paramedics in ER hallways.
5. Applying knowledge of quality improvement theory and systems.
Not one public or citizen stakeholder would agree Paramedics belong in ER hallways.
6. Ensuring best practices in infection control standards are maintained.
ER hallway waiting areas are NOT cleaned to same standard as the rest of the Hospital.
7. Ensuring vehicles and equipment are maintained as per regulations.
ER hallway waiting is directly responsible for lowered standards throughout EMS.
8. Reducing disruptions that may lead to error in practice.
ER hallway waiting is a Hospital policy that results in chaos and is set up to fail.
We are all accountable as individual paramedics.
We must question any policy that may be inconsistent with safe practice.
We must prevent adverse events by identifying/reporting unsafe practice.
We must participate in reviews of policies which mandate unsafe practice.
We must be accountable for actions that have implications for the patient.
We must inform the patient of any risk of harm in their provision of care.
We must maintain professional relationship boundaries in providing care.
We must recognize, manage and resolve any conflicts of care in practice.
Registered Paramedics Should Refuse
To Wait With Patients In ER Hallways.