Chapter 1: EMS Systems Flashcards
Define emergency medical services (EMS) systems
EMS is a team of health care professionals who are responsible for and provide emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured
Name the 4 levels of EMT training and licensure
EMR (emergency medical responder)
EMT-B (emergency medical technician)
EMT-I (EMT-A) (advanced EMT)
EMT-P (paramedic)
What does each point mean on the star of life symbol?
- detection
- reporting
- on-scene care
- care in transit
- transfer to definitive care
Owned by NHTSA, represents EMS as a public service
Define: 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
Define: advanced life support (ALS)
advanced life-saving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT
Define: Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect people w disabilities against discrimination
Define: automated external defibrillator (AED)
a device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhthmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the pt
Define: certification
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
Define: 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 pt advocacy
Define: continuous quality improvement (CQI)
a system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of EMS system aiming at improving outcomes
Define: credentialing
an established process to determine the qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function as an organization
Define: emergency medical dispatch (EMD)
a system that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and provides callers w vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews
Define: 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
Define: 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
Define: 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 pts w certain medications
Define: 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
Define: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Federal legislation passed in 1996. Its main effect in EMS is in limiting availability of patients’ health care information and penalizing violations of pt privacy
Define: intravenous (IV) therapy
the delivery of medication directly into a vein
Define: licensure
the process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows people to perform a regulated act
Define: medical control
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
Define: 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
Define: National EMS Scope of Practice Model
a document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers
Define: 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
Define: primary prevention
efforts to prevent an injury or illness from every occurring
Define: primary service area
the designateed area in which the EMS agency is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital
Define: public health
the branch of medicine that is focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems
Define: public safety access point
a call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire, and ambulance services
Define: quality control
oversight by the medical director to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call
Define: secondary prevention
efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent
Generally, what does an EMT have training in?
An EMT has training in basic emergency care knowledge, skills, and attitudes, focusing on initial care and transport of pts that includes identification, assessment, and treatment of many emergency and nonemergency conditions
Generally, what does an AEMT have training in (as compared to just an EMT)?
An AEMT has training in specific aspects of ALS care, such as IV therapy and the administration of certain emergency medications
Generally, what does a paramedic have training in (as compared to just an EMT)?
A paramedic has extensive training in ALS, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills
Why are EMRs important in prehospital care?
They offten arrive at the scene before the ambulance and EMTs
What is the first step for EMTs when arriving on scene?
Scene size up and safety!!
BSI - scene safety!
What provides the guidelines as to what skills each level of EMS provider should be able to accomplish?
The National EMS Scope of Practice Model developed by NHTSA
What is EMS Agenda 2050?
A multidisciplinary national review of all aspects of EMS delivery that provides a framework for the creation of improved, people-centered systems of care
What are attributes that EMTs should have?
Compassion and motivation to reduce suffering, pain, and mortality in those who are injured or acutely ill; a desire to provide each pt with the best possible knowledge and skills that this position requires; and the drive to continually increase your knowledge, skills, and ability
