Under FACT guidelines, the PCR should be complete unless circumstances dictate it appropriate to omit information.

• A. The PCR should be complete unless circumstances dictate it appropriate
• B. The PCR should always be complete
• C. The PCR should be completed only if the patient signs
• D. The PCR should be completed only by the receiving clinician

Answer: (A)

Complete and accurate documentation is essential in EMS. Under FACT guidelines, the patient care report should be thorough and include the assessment, care provided, times, and relevant observations, unless circumstances justify omitting information. This means you document everything known and performed, and you don’t withhold information unless there’s a valid reason—such as protecting patient privacy, safety concerns, or policy allowances to withhold certain details.

This approach supports safe handoffs to the receiving clinician, legal protection, and quality improvement. The idea that it should always be complete ignores legitimate reasons to omit sensitive or unsafe information. Requiring a patient’s signature before documenting or limiting completion to the receiving clinician are not appropriate requirements, since EMS professionals are responsible for recording the encounter and ensuring a full, usable record.