Chapter 1 EMS Systems Flashcards
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.
Advanced life support (ALS)
Advanced life-saving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination.
Automated external defibrillator (AED)
A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient.
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.
Community paramedicine
A healthcare 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.
Continuous quality improvement(CQI)
A system of internal and asked ternal reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system.
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.
Emergency medical responder EMR
The first trained professional, such as a police officer, firefighters, lifeguard, or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance.
Emergency medical services EMS
A multi-disciplinary system that presents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured.
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.
Health insurance portability and accountability act HIPAA
Federal legislation passed in 1996. It’s main effect in EMS is in limiting availability of patient’s healthcare information and penalizing violations of patient privacy.
Intravenous IV therapy
The delivery of medication directly into a vein.
Licensure
The process whereby a competent authority, usually the state, allows people to perform a regulated act.
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.
Mobile integrated healthcare MIH
A method of delivering healthcare which involves providing healthcare within the community rather than at a physicians office or hospital.
Medical director
The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field.
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.
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.
Primary prevention
Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring.
Primary service area PSA
The designated area in which the EMS agency is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital.
Public health
Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems.
Public safety access point
A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire, and ambulance services.
Quality control
The responsibility of the medical director to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMT’s On each call.
Secondary prevention
Efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent
