(Ch 1-6) Key Terms Flashcards
Medical Direction
Developing and establishing protocols under which EMS personnel function.
Evidence-based medicine
Utilizes research to support or reject medical procedures, medications, and equipment.
Medical Director
Physician who is legally responsible for clinical and patient care of an EMS system.
Medical Oversight
Comprehensive description for the EMS system medical director’s responsibilities.
Off-line Medical Direction
Predetermined, written guidelines that allows EMT to exercise judgement in prehospital treatment.
On-line Medical Directions
Requires permission from a physician to administer specific prehospital care.
Prehospital Care
Care givens to patient before transported to hospital or other facility.
Protocols
Full set of guidelines that define the entire scope of medical care.
QI
(Quality improvement) - system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an emergency medical system.
Standing Orders
Subset of protocols that do not require real-time physician input. May be synonymous with off-line medical direction and/or treatments that can be performed if communication can not be established.
Burnout
State of exhaustion and irritability often caused by a cumulation of stress.
Cleaning
Washing solid object with water and soap.
Critical Incident
Any situation that causes unusually strong emotions that interfere with the ability to function.
CISD
(Critical incident stress debriefing) - held with peer counselors and mental health professionals within 24 to 72 hours of a critical incident.
Defusing
Version of CISN held within 1-4 hours following a critical incident, only by those involved, for 30-45 minutes.
Disinfecting
Cleaning + disinfectant or germicide
Pathogens
Microorganisms that are typically visible only through a microscope.
PPE
(Personal protective equipment) - equipment utilized for Standard Precautions.
PPD
(Purified protein derivative tuberculin test) - TB test.
Standard Precautions
Protecting yourself from disease transmission through exposure to blood and other body fluids.
Sterilization
Process that an object is exposed to chemical or physical substance that kills all microorganisms on the surface of that object.
Communicable Disease
Spread from person to person contact.
Bacteria
Single-celled organisms that reproduce on their own within a host.
Virus
Smaller than bacteria. Unable to grow on their own; require host cell to reproduce. Resistant to antibiotics.
Fungi
Plantlike microorganisms. Normally do not effect normal immune systems.
Protozoa
Single-celled organisms found in soil and are able to move.
Helminths
Parasitic worms.
Abandonment
Stop treatment of the patient without transferring care appropriately (equal or higher level professional).
Advance Directive
Legal document of chronic or terminal patient (written in advance) against resuscitation efforts.
Assault
Willful threat to inflict harm. (May occur without touching the patient without proper consent.)
Battery
Act of touching a patient unlawfully without consent.
Consent
Permission that must be obtained before providing care.
Defamation
Information (written or spoken) that is construed to be damaging to a person’s character.
DNR
Do not resuscitate - resuscitation issues only.
Durable Power of Attorney
(Aka health care proxy) - designates a person to make health care decisions for the signer of the document.
Duty to Act
Legal obligation to provide service. On duty - legally obligated to provide service. Off duty - most states no legal duty to act; however once you stop, you create a legal duty to act.
Expressed Consent
Consent obtained from conscious, mentally competent adult. Confirmation may be verbal (preferred) or nonverbal. Document patient’s approval.
