Chapter 1

Question 1

advanced EMT (AEMT)

Answer 1

An individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy, and administration of certain emergency medications

Question 2

advanced life support (ALS)

Answer 2

Advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now provided by the EMT

Question 3

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Answer 3

Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect individuals with disabilities against discrimination

Question 4

automated external defibrillator (AED)

Answer 4

A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient.

Question 5

certification

Answer 5

A process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care.

Question 6

continuous quality improvement (CQI)

Answer 6

A system of internal and external reveiws and audits of all aspects of an EMS system

Question 7

emergency medical dispatch (EMD)

Answer 7

A system that assists dispatchers in selected appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and in providing callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews

Question 8

emergency medical responder (EMR)

Answer 8

The first trained individual, such as a policer officer, fire fighter, lifeguard, or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance

Question 9

emergency medical services (EMS)

Answer 9

A multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured

Question 10

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer 10

Federal legislation passed in 1996. Its main effect in EMS is in limiting availability of patients’ health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy.

Question 11

intravenous (IV) therapy

Answer 11

The delivery of medication directly into a vein

Question 12

licensure

Answer 12

The process whereby a state allows individuals to perform a regulated act

Question 13

medical control

Answer 13

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

Question 14

medical director

Answer 14

The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field

Question 15

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

Answer 15

A document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers

Question 16

paramedic

Answer 16

An individual who has extensive training in advanced life support, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills

Question 17

primary prevention

Answer 17

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring

Question 18

primary service area (PSA)

Answer 18

The designated area in which the EMS service is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital

Question 19

public health

Answer 19

Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems

Question 20

public safety access point

Answer 20

A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire fighting, and ambulance services

Question 21

quality control

Answer 21

The responsibility of the medical director to ensure that the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call

Question 22

secondary prevention

Answer 22

Efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent