1-EMS Systems Flashcards
AEMT
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
An individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy(iv), and the administration of certain emergency medications.
ALS
Advanced Life Support
Advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT.
ADA
Americans With Disabilities Act
Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect individuals with disabilities against discrimination.
AED
Automated External Defibrillator
A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient.
Certification
A process in which a person, an institution, or program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care.
CQI
Continuous Quality Improvement
A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system.
EMD
Emergency Medical Dispach
A system that assists dispatchers in selecting the appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and in providing callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews.
EMR
Emergency Medical Responder
The first trained individuals, such as a police officer, fire fighter, lifeguard, or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance.
EMT
Emergency Medical Technician
An individual who has training in basic life support, including automated external defibrillation, use of a definitive airway adjunct, and assisting patients with certain medications.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Federal legislation passed in 1996. It’s main effect in EMS is in limiting availability of patients health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy.
Intravenous (IV) Therapy
The delivery of medication directly into a vein.
Licensure
The process whereby a state allows individuals to preform a regulated act.
Medical Control
Physician instructions that are given directly by radio or cell phone (online/direct) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line/indirect), as authorized by the medical director of the service program.
Medical Director
The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field.
National EMS Scope of Practice Model
A document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills preformed by various EMS providers.
Paramedic
An individual who has extensive training in advanced life support, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills.
Primary Prevention
Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from occurring.
PSA
Primary Service Area
The designated area in which the EMS service is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital.
Public Health
Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems.
Public Safety Access Point
A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire fighting, and ambulance services.
Quality Controll
The responsibility of the medical director to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call.
Secondary Prevention
Efforts to limit the effect of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent.
