Chapter 1: EMS Systems Flashcards
An individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy, and the administration of certain emergency medications.
advanced EMT (AEMT)
Advanced lifesaving procedures, including advanced cardiac monitoring, administration of intravenous fluids and medications, and the use of advanced airway adjuncts. EMTs may be trained in some of these areas.
advanced life support (ALS)
Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect individuals with disabilities against discrimination
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient
automated external defibrillator (AED)
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
certification
A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system
continuous quality improvement (CQI)
A system that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and in providing callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews
emergency medical dispatch (EMD)
The first trained individual, such as a police officer, fire fighter, lifeguard, or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance
emergency medical responder (EMR)
A multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured
emergency medical services (EMS)
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
emergency medical technician (EMT)
Federal legislation passed in 1996. Its main effect in EMS is limiting availability of patients’ health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The delivery of medication directly into a vein
intravenous (IV) therapy
The process whereby a state allows individuals to perform a regulated act
licensure
Physician instructions that are 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
medical control
The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field
medical director
A document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers
National EMS Scope of Practice Model
An individual who has extensive training in advanced life support, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills
paramedic
Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring
primary prevention
The designated area in which the EMS service is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital
primary service area (PSA)
Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems
public health
A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire fighting, and ambulance services.
public safety access point
The responsibility of the medical director to ensure that the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call
quality control
Efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent
secondary prevention
A health care model in which experienced paramedics receive training to equip them to provide additional services in the pre-hospital environment, such as health evaluations, monitoring of chronic conditions, and patient advocacy.
community paramedicine
The method of delivering health care which involves providing health care within a community rather than a physician’s office or hospital
mobile integrated healthcare (MIH)
