Chapter 1 - EMS Systems

Question 1

Advanced EMT (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 medicines.

Question 2

Advanced life support (ALS)

Answer 2

Advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT.

Question 3

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Automated external defibrillator (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

Continuous quality improvement (CQI)

Answer 7

A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system.

Question 8

Emergency medical dispatch (EMD)

Answer 8

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 9

Emergency medical responder (EMR)

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Emergency medical services (EMS)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Emergency medical technician (EMT)

Answer 11

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 12

Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer 12

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 13

Intravenous (IV) Therapy

Answer 13

The delivery of medication directly into a vein.

Question 14

Licensure

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Medical control

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Medical director

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Mobile integrated healthcare (MIH)

Answer 17

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

Question 18

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Paramedic

Answer 19

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 20

Primary prevention

Answer 20

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring.

Question 21

Primary service area (PSA)

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Public health

Answer 22

Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems.

Question 23

Public safety access point

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Quality control

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Secondary prevention

Answer 25

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