Is Treating To CYA enabling 911 abuse?

Too often we get patients who don't need an ambulance never mind the care we can give. Call it job security, just part of the job, whatever. 

But does responding and transporting these "patients" just give them the green light to keep calling 911 for a high priced taxi ride? 

People talk. When we start IV's, give oxygen, do EKG's on patients who clearly don't need it and we are doing it to CYA with our QA/QI or hospital staff. It just sends a message to these people that "hey, last time I called 911 I got all this treatment and was whisked right into the ED". 

Shouldn't we be treating each patient as needed? What do you think? We want your opinion on this. Come join this episode and share your frequent flyer story.