How often should a stable patient be assessed?

A stable patient should be assessed every 15 minutes. This frequency allows for adequate monitoring of the patient's condition while minimizing unnecessary interventions. Assessing a stable patient at this interval ensures that any changes in their vital signs or overall status can be detected promptly, allowing for timely adjustments in care if necessary. This approach strikes a balance between vigilant monitoring and resource management, ensuring that EMTs can focus on other patients or tasks while still maintaining oversight of the stable patient’s condition. It is also consistent with established protocols in emergency medical services, which emphasize efficiency and effectiveness in patient care.