Chapter 1 - EMS Systems

Question 1

AEMT

Answer 1

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

ALS

Answer 2

Advanced life-saving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT.

Question 3

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Answer 3

Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect people with disabilities
against discrimination.

Question 4

AED

Answer 4

A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (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

Community paramedicine

Answer 6

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 7

CQI (Continuous Quality Improvement)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Credentialing

Answer 8

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

Question 9

EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch)

Answer 9

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 10

EMR

Answer 10

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 11

EMS

Answer 11

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

Question 12

EMT

Answer 12

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 13

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)

Answer 13

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 14

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer 14

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 15

intravenous (IV) therapy

Answer 15

The delivery of medication directly into a vein.

Question 16

licensure

Answer 16

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

Question 17

medical control

Answer 17

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 18

medical director

Answer 18

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

Question 19

mobile integrated healthcare (MIH)

Answer 19

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

Question 20

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

Answer 20

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

Question 21

paramedicine

Answer 21

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 22

primary prevention

Answer 22

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring.

Question 23

primary service area

Answer 23

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

Question 24

public health

Answer 24

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

Question 25

PSAP (public safety access point)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

quality control

Answer 26

Oversight by the medical director to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs
on each call.

Question 27

secondary prevention

Answer 27

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