(Ch 1-6) Key Terms

Question 0

Medical Direction

Answer 0

Developing and establishing protocols under which EMS personnel function.

Question 1

Evidence-based medicine

Answer 1

Utilizes research to support or reject medical procedures, medications, and equipment.

Question 2

Medical Director

Answer 2

Physician who is legally responsible for clinical and patient care of an EMS system.

Question 3

Medical Oversight

Answer 3

Comprehensive description for the EMS system medical director’s responsibilities.

Question 4

Off-line Medical Direction

Answer 4

Predetermined, written guidelines that allows EMT to exercise judgement in prehospital treatment.

Question 5

On-line Medical Directions

Answer 5

Requires permission from a physician to administer specific prehospital care.

Question 6

Prehospital Care

Answer 6

Care givens to patient before transported to hospital or other facility.

Question 7

Protocols

Answer 7

Full set of guidelines that define the entire scope of medical care.

Question 8

QI

Answer 8

(Quality improvement) - system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an emergency medical system.

Question 9

Standing Orders

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Burnout

Answer 10

State of exhaustion and irritability often caused by a cumulation of stress.

Question 11

Cleaning

Answer 11

Washing solid object with water and soap.

Question 12

Critical Incident

Answer 12

Any situation that causes unusually strong emotions that interfere with the ability to function.

Question 13

CISD

Answer 13

(Critical incident stress debriefing) - held with peer counselors and mental health professionals within 24 to 72 hours of a critical incident.

Question 14

Defusing

Answer 14

Version of CISN held within 1-4 hours following a critical incident, only by those involved, for 30-45 minutes.

Question 15

Disinfecting

Answer 15

Cleaning + disinfectant or germicide

Question 16

Pathogens

Answer 16

Microorganisms that are typically visible only through a microscope.

Question 17

PPE

Answer 17

(Personal protective equipment) - equipment utilized for Standard Precautions.

Question 18

PPD

Answer 18

(Purified protein derivative tuberculin test) - TB test.

Question 19

Standard Precautions

Answer 19

Protecting yourself from disease transmission through exposure to blood and other body fluids.

Question 20

Sterilization

Answer 20

Process that an object is exposed to chemical or physical substance that kills all microorganisms on the surface of that object.

Question 21

Communicable Disease

Answer 21

Spread from person to person contact.

Question 22

Bacteria

Answer 22

Single-celled organisms that reproduce on their own within a host.

Question 23

Virus

Answer 23

Smaller than bacteria. Unable to grow on their own; require host cell to reproduce. Resistant to antibiotics.

Question 24

Fungi

Answer 24

Plantlike microorganisms. Normally do not effect normal immune systems.

Question 25

Protozoa

Answer 25

Single-celled organisms found in soil and are able to move.

Question 26

Helminths

Answer 26

Parasitic worms.

Question 27

Abandonment

Answer 27

Stop treatment of the patient without transferring care appropriately (equal or higher level professional).

Question 28

Advance Directive

Answer 28

Legal document of chronic or terminal patient (written in advance) against resuscitation efforts.

Question 29

Assault

Answer 29

Willful threat to inflict harm. (May occur without touching the patient without proper consent.)

Question 30

Battery

Answer 30

Act of touching a patient unlawfully without consent.

Question 31

Consent

Answer 31

Permission that must be obtained before providing care.

Question 32

Defamation

Answer 32

Information (written or spoken) that is construed to be damaging to a person’s character.

Question 33

DNR

Answer 33

Do not resuscitate - resuscitation issues only.

Question 34

Durable Power of Attorney

Answer 34

(Aka health care proxy) - designates a person to make health care decisions for the signer of the document.

Question 35

Duty to Act

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Expressed Consent

Answer 36

Consent obtained from conscious, mentally competent adult. Confirmation may be verbal (preferred) or nonverbal. Document patient’s approval.