Chapter 1: Key Terms

Question 1

Emergency Care

Answer 1

assessment and basic care for an ill or injured patient in an emergency situation

Question 2

Emergency Medical Services System

Answer 2

EMS; chain of human resources and services linked together to provide continuous care at the scene and during transport to a medical facility

Question 3

Evidence-based practice

Answer 3

integrating clinical expertise with the best available clinical evidence from systematic research

Question 4

Medical director

Answer 4

physician who assumes the ultimate responsibility for medical oversight of the patient care aspects of the EMS system

Question 5

Medical Oversight

Answer 5

Supervision related to patient care provided for an EMS system or one of its components by a licensed physician

Question 6

Scope of Practice Model

Answer 6

National model that defines the scope of care for the four nationally recognized levels of EMS provider (EMR, EMT, AEMT, paramedic)

Question 7

National EMS Education Standards

Answer 7

education and training standards developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the four nationally recognized levels of EMS training

Question 8

Emergency Medical Responde

Answer 8

EMR; member of the EMS system who has been trained to render first aid care for a patient and to assist higher level providers at the emergency scene

Question 9

Scope of practice

Answer 9

Also known as Scope of Care; care that an emergency medical responder, and emergency medical technician, or paramedic is allowed to provide according to local, state or regional regulations or statutes.

Question 10

Emergency Medical Technician

Answer 10

EMT; member of the EMS system whose training emphasizes assessment, care, and transportation of the ill or injured patient. Depending on the level training, emergency care may include start IV (intravenous) lines, inserting certain advanced airways, and administering some medications

Question 11

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician

Answer 11

AEMT; member of the EMS system whose training includes basic level EMT plus the responsibility for minimal level of advanced life support. Additional skills include starting IV (intravenous) lines, inserting certain advanced airways, and administering some medications

Question 12

Paramedic

Answer 12

member of the EMS system whose training includes advanced life support care such as inserting advanced airways and starting IV lines. Paramedics also administer medications, interpret electrocardiograms, monitor cardiac rhythms, and perform cardiac defibrillation

Question 13

Public Safety Answering Point

Answer 13

PSAD; designated 911 emergency dispatch center

Question 14

Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Answer 14

EMD; specially trained member of the EMS system dispatch team capable of providing pre-arrival instructions to callers there by helping to initiate lifesaving care before EMS personnel arrive

Question 15

protocols

Answer 15

written guidelines that direct the care EMS personnel provide for patients

Question 16

Standing orders

Answer 16

component of a protocol that allows EMS personnel to provide specific interventions to a patient

Question 17

off-line medical direction

Answer 17

EMS systems written standing orders and protocols which authorize personnel to perform particular skills in certain situations with out actually speaking to the medical director or their designated agent

Question 18

on-line medical direction

Answer 18

orders to perform a skill or administer care from an on-duty physician given to the rescuer in person by radio or phone

Question 19

chief complaint

Answer 19

primary problem that causes a patient to seek or need medial care

Question 20

continuous quality improvement

Answer 20

CQI; continuous improvement in the quality of the product or service being delivered

Question 21

public health system

Answer 21

local resources dedicated to promoting optimal health and quality of life for the people and communities they serve

Question 22

Disaster Medical Assistance Team

Answer 22

DMAT; specialized team that provides medical care following a disaster

Question 23

research

Answer 23

systematic investigation to establish facts