Chapter 1

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Primary service area

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Emergency medical services

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Public health

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Medical director

Question 5

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

Answer 5

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Advanced life support

Question 7

The delivery of medication directly into a vein

Answer 7

Intravenous therapy

Question 8

A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient

Answer 8

Automated external defibrillator

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Evidence-based medicine

Question 10

An individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy, and the administration of certain emergency medications

Answer 10

Advanced EMT

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Continuous quality improvement

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Americans with Disabilities Act

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Licensure

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Secondary prevention

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Emergency medical dispatch

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Question 17

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring

Answer 17

Primary prevention

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Community paramedicine

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Mobile integrated health care

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Quality control

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Credentialing

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Certification

Question 23

A 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

Answer 23

Emergency medical responder

Question 24

An individual who has extensive training in advanced life support, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills

Answer 24

Paramedic

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Medical control

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Public safety access point

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Emergency Medical Technician