When is BASE contact required?

BASE contact, which stands for Base Hospital contact, is required in specific clinical situations where the patient’s condition is critical or potentially life-threatening. In this case, the scenario describes an 80-year-old female presenting with hypotension and altered mental status while requiring bag-mask ventilation (BMV).

This patient profile indicates several critical factors: the advanced age, altered mental status, and hypotension suggest significant underlying health issues, such as shock, stroke, or severe infection. Additionally, the need for BMV implies that the patient is unable to breathe adequately on her own, indicating respiratory distress or failure. In such situations, immediate communication with a base hospital is essential for ensuring appropriate medical guidance and resources, potentially including advanced interventions, medication administration, or the need for rapid transport to a higher level of care.

While the other scenarios may present urgent situations, they do not meet the threshold for BASE contact as clearly as the situation involving the 80-year-old female. For instance, a 60-year-old female with fever may not require the same level of immediate intervention or transport as someone presenting with severe signs of instability like hypotension and altered mental status. Similarly, while patients in respiratory arrest and pediatric transports may also necessitate critical responses, the specific