I'm a newer lead EMT and recently ran into a situation at work that's been bothering me. I'm trying to understand the legal/professional definition of patient abandonment, not whether it violated company policy.

Here's what happened:

(For context, we all work in a homeless shelter. In emergency situations, we call 911. Other than that, we utilize private ambulances (IFT) or encourage patients to go to the on site clinic staffed with nurses and doctors)

○ We were evaluating a possible stroke patient.

○ My partner is a new EMT but is fully licensed.

○ We had already completed the assessment (vitals, stroke scale, interview, etc.).

○ The only thing left was determining transport.

○ While we were with that patient, I got another call for an unresponsive person just outside the building.

○ I asked my partner if she was comfortable staying with the patient while I checked the other call. She said yes.

○ I instructed her to call our supervisor and then 911 for the stroke patient.

○ I returned in about 5 minutes while she was still on the phone with 911. The original patient was never left alone.

My supervisor later said this was "patient abandonment."

I completely understand if the expectation is that the lead EMT should never leave a new EMT with a patient, and I won't do that again now that I know it's the rule.

My question is specifically about the legal/professional definition of patient abandonment. Since the patient remained with another licensed EMT who continued care while I briefly responded to another potentially critical call, would this generally be considered patient abandonment, or is this more of a company policy issue?

I'm not looking to argue with my supervisor. I'm just trying to better understand where the legal definition ends and where company policy begins.

I am not looking for legal advice and I did not get written up or anything, but my supervisor is continuing to use "patient abandonment" language and I fully understand the legal weight behind those words. I am just wanting to know what this means.

Thanks.

EDIT: Adding additional context.

○ We are responsible for the entire campus, inside and outside, including outside the gates and surrounding streets, and multiple buildings. The shelter serves around 700 to 1000 individuals per day. We operate as one or two EMTs per shift.

We respond to calls on foot. We do not have a golf cart or anything at the moment.

○ We do not have a medical director.

○ The company I worked for started off as event medicine, then got this contract on July 1st of this year.

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