Chapter 1: EMS System

Question 1

What is an advanced EMT (AEMT)

Answer 1

advanced EMT (AEMT) An individual who has training in specific aspects of
advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy, and the
administration of certain emergency medications.

Question 2

What is certification?

Answer 2

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 3

Define community paramedicine?

Answer 3

A health care model in which experienced paramedics receive advanced training to equip them to provide additional services in the prehospital environment, such as health evaluations, monitoring of chronic illnesses of condition and patient advocacy.

Question 4

What is continuous quality improvement (CQI)?

Answer 4

A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system aiming at improving outcomes.

Question 5

Define credentialing

Answer 5

An established process for determining the qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function as an organization.

Question 6

What is licensure?

Answer 6

The process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows people to perform a regulated act.

Question 7

Define ALS

Answer 7

advanced life support (ALS) Advanced life-saving procedures, some of which
are now being provided by the EMT.

Question 8

What is the ADA and why does it matter?

Answer 8

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Comprehensive legislation that is
designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination.

Question 9

What is an AED?

Answer 9

automated external defifibrillator (AED) A device that detects treatable lifethreatening
cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular
tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient.

Question 10

Explain certification

Answer 10

certifification 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 11

What is community paramedicine?

Answer 11

community paramedicine A health care model in which experienced
paramedics receive advanced training to equip them to provide additional
services in the prehospital environment, such as health evaluations, monitoring of chronic illnesses or conditions, and patient advocacy.

Question 12

What does CQI stand for?

Answer 12

continuous quality improvement (CQI) A system of internal and external
reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system aiming at improving
outcomes.

Question 13

Explain the process of credentialing

Answer 13

credentialing An established process to determine the qualifications
necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function
as an organization.

Question 14

What is an emergency medical dispatch (EMD)?

Answer 14

emergency medical dispatch (EMD) 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.

Question 15

What is an emergency medic responder?

Answer 15

emergency medical responder (EMR) A first trained professional, such as
police officer, firefighter, lifeguard, or other rescuer, who may arrive first
at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance.

Question 16

What are the emergency medical services?

Answer 16

emergency medical services (EMS) A multidisciplinary system that
represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to
provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured.

Question 17

What defines an EMT?

Answer 17

emergency medical technician (EMT) 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.

Question 18

What is evidence based medicine?

Answer 18

evidence-based medicine (EBM) An approach to medicine where decisions
are based on well-conducted research, classifying recommendations
based on the strength of the scientific evidence; also called science-based
medicine.

Question 19

What is licensure?

Answer 19

licensure The process whereby a competent authority, usually the state,
allows people to perform a regulated act.

Question 20

What is medical control?

Answer 20

medical control - Physician instructions 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 21

Who is the medical director?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is Mobile Integrated Healthcare?

Answer 22

mobile integrated health care (MIH) A method of delivering health care that
involves providing health care within the community rather than at a
physician’s office or hospital.

Question 23

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

Answer 23

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

Question 24

What differentiates an EMT and a Paramedic?

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occuring are called…

Answer 25

primary prevention

Question 26

The branch of medicine that is focused on examining the
health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems is called?

Answer 26

public health

Question 27

When you call 9-1-1 your call goes to a ______ .

Answer 27

public safety access point - A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire, and ambulance services.

Question 28

What is secondary prevention?

Answer 28

secondary prevention - Efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent.

Question 29

What are the components of a people centered EMS System?

Answer 29

The components outlined in the EMS Agenda 2050 include clinical care that is comprehensive, quality, convenient, evidence-based, efficient, and well-rounded, as well as promoting preventive care and comprehensive, easily accessible patient records.

Question 30

In the overall scheme of pre-hospital medicine, what are the primary roles and responsibilities of an EMT?

Answer 30

The primary roles and responsibilities of an EMT relate to being prepared for a call, emergency vehicle operation, scene safety, patient access and assessment, emergency medical care, emotional support of patient/others, and maintaining continuity of care by working with other medical professionals. It also involves being an on-scene leader, obtaining additional resources as needed, resolving emergency incidents, maintaining privacy/confidentiality, and upholding medical/legal standards. Additional roles may involve performing administrative support duties, participating in community relations, maintaining professional development, and contributing to the EMT profession.