CHAPTER 1 Flashcards
An individual who has training in specific aspects of ALS, such as intravenous therapy, and the administration of certain emergency medications.
AEMT
Advcanced lifesaving procedures, including cardiac monitoring, administration of intravenous fluids & medications, and the use of advanced airway adjuncts. EMTs may be trained in some of these areas.
ALS
Comprehensive legistlation that is designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination.
ADA
A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrallation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electric shock to the patient.
AED
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 patient care.
Certification
A health care model in which experienced paramedics receive advanced training to equip them to provide additional services in the prehospital environment, such as evaluations, monitoring of chronic illnesses or conditions and patient advocacy.
Community Paramedicine
A system of internal & external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system.
CQI
A system that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and provides callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews.
EMD
The first trained professional, such as a police officer, firefighter, lifeguard, or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance.
EMR
A multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured.
EMS
An individual who has training in BLS, including automated external defibrillation, use of a definitive airway adjunct, and assisting patients with certain medications.
EMT
Federal legislation passed in 1996. It’s main effect in EMS is limiting availability of patients’ health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy.
HIPAA
The delivery of medication directly into a vein.
Intravenous Therapy
The process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows people to perform a regulated act.
Licensure
Physician instructions given directly by radio or cell phone (online/direct) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (offline/indirect), as authorized by the medical director of the service program.
Medical Control
The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field.
Medical Director
A method of delivering health care which involves providing health care within the community rather than at a physician’s office or hospital.
MIH
A document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administation (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers.
National EMS Scope of Practice Model
An individual who has extensive training in ALS, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assesment and treatment skills.
Paramedic
Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occuring.
Primary Prevention
The designated area in which the EMS agency is responsible for the provision of prehospital care and transportation to the hospital.
PSA
Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems.
Public Health
A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for polic, fire, and ambulance services.
Public Safety Access Point
The responsibility of the medical director to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call.
Quality Control
Effots to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent.
Secondary Prevention
EMS
System that provides emergency care and transport that is governed by state laws
4 EMS training and licensure levels
EMR, EMT, AEMT, and paramedic
EMR
First responder with very basic training
EMT
Training in BLS including AED, airway adjuncts and assisting with certain medications
AEMT
Training in specific ALS including IV therapy, advanced airway adjuncts and administration of a limited number of emergency medications
Paramedic
Extensive training in ALS including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring and other advanced assessment and treatment skills
ADA 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act
3 Levels of Training
Federal - National EMS Scope of Practice Model
State - Laws that regulate eMS operations
Local - MEdical Director provides oversight & support
ALS
Advanced Life Support
AED
Automated External Defibrillator
CQI
Continuous Quality Improvement
EMD
Emergecny Medical Dispatch - 911 system dispatchers provides vital medical instructions prior to arrival of EMS
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
MIH
Mobile Integrated Health Care
PSA
Primary Service Area
14 Components of the EMS System
- Public Access
- Clinical Care
- Medical Direction
- Integration of Health Services
- Information Systems
- Prevention
- EMS Research
- Communication Systems
- Human Resources
- Legislation & Regulation
- Evaluation
- System Finance
- Public Education
- Education Systems
Offline (Indirect) Orders
Standing orders, training or supervision
Online (Direct) Orders
Physician directions given over the phone or radio
Roles & Responsibilities of the EMT
- Keep vehicles and equipment ready
- Ensure safety of yourself, partner, patient & bystanders
- Be familiar with emergency vehicle operation
- On-scene leadership
- Scene evaluation
- Call for additional resources as needed
- Gain patient access
- Perform patient assessment
- Give medical care while awaiting additional medical resources
- Give emotional support to the patient, family and other responders
- Maintain continuity of care
- Resolve emergency incidents
- Uphold medical and legal standards
- Ensure and protect patient privacy
- Give administrative support
- Constantly continue your professional development
- Cultivate and sustain community relations
- Give back to the profession
Professional Attributes of EMT
Integrity Empathy Self-Motivation Appearance and hygiene Self-confidence Time management Communications Teamwork and diplomacy Respect Patient advocacy Careful delivery of care
What year was the white paper, Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society published?
1966
What is the purpose for providing Mobile Integrated Healthcare?
To facilitate improved access to health care at an affordable price
What is the major goal of continuous quality improvement?
To ensure the public receives the highest standard of care
Who authorizes you, as an EMT, to provide emergency care to a patient?
The medical director
What role has the DoT played in the development of EMS?
The DoT developed guidelines, curricula, funding and assessment tools to develop and improve prehospital care
What does each bar on the Star of Life represent?
Detection On-scene care Care in transit Transfer to definitive care Reporting Response
What are some examples of Public Health accomplishments?
Vaccination programs Fluoridation of water supplies Helmet laws Sewage systems Formation of the FDA Clean drinking water Seat belt laws Tobacco use laws Restaurant inspections Prenatal screenings
What are some skills you need to develop to safely deliver proper care to a patient?
Scene size-up
Patient assessment
Treatment
Packaging
Outline basic history of EMS
- Volunteer ambulances in WW1 1914-1918
- Field care in WW2 1939-1945
- Field medic and repid helicopter evacuation in the Korean conflict 1950-1953
- Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society established EMS in 1966
- DoT published the first EMT training curriculum in the 1970’s
- AAOS Published “The Orange Book” in 1971
- 1980’s - Advanced levels of EMTs
- 1990’s - NHTSA’s EMS Agenda for the Future
ED
Emergency Department - prehospital is continued in the ED and integration ensures comprehensive continuity of care for the patient
EMS systems collaborate with hospitals to improve treatment for patients with:
Heart attacks
Trauma
Stroke
Minmizing errors in the EMS field is one of the biggest goals. What can errors result from:
Rules-based failure
Knowledge based failure
Skill based failure
A combination of the above
