Chapter 4 Flashcards
Base station
Any radio hardware containing a transmitter and receiver that is located in a fixed place.
Cellular telephone
A low-power portable radio that communicates through an interconnected series of repeater stations called cells.
Channel
An assigned frequency or frequencies that are used to carry voice and/or data communications.
Chief complaint
The reason a patient called for help; also the patient’s response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” Or “What happened?”
Chief concern
The condition requiring the most urgent intervention as determined by the provider’s assessment of the patient; it is not always the same as the chief complaint.
Close-ended questions
Questions that can be answered in short single-word responses.
Communication
The transmission of information to another person — verbally or through body language.
Cultural disposition
When one person imposes his or her beliefs, values, and practices on another because he or she believe his or her ideals are superiors
Dedicated Line
A special telephone line that is used for specific point-to-point communications;also known as a hotline.
Documentation
The recorded portion of the EMT’s patient interaction, either written or electronic. This becomes part of the patient’s permanent medical record.
Duplex
The ability to transmit and receive simultaneously.
Emotional intelligence
The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and properly respond to the emotions of others.
Ethnocentrism
When a person considers his or her own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate and international telephone and telegraph services and satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity.
Handover
The transfer of pertinent patient information and the responsibility for the patient’s care; often involves the physical movement of the patient and associated equipment; also known as a handoff.
Health Information Exchange (HIE)
A system that allows EMS providers to access relevant health data (eg, last medical issues, medications, allergies, end-of-life decisions), avoid unnecessary duplication of effort in data entry, and view patient outcomes related to hospital care.
Interoperable communications system
A communication system that uses voice over-internet-protocol (VoIP) technology to allow multiple agencies to communicate the transmitted data.
MED channels
VHF and UHF channels that the Federal Communications Commission has designated exclusively for EMS use.
Mental model
The picture an individual has in his or her head of “what’s going on” in a given situation.
Mission critical communications
Any communications where disruption will result in the failure of the mission at hand.
Mobile data terminal (MDT)
A small computer terminal inside the ambulance that directly receives data from the dispatch center.
Multiplex
The ability to transmit audio and data signals through the use of more than one communications channel.
Noise
Anything that dampens or obscures the true meaning of a message.
Open-ended questions
Questions for which the patient must provide detail to give an answer.
Paging
The use of a radio signal and a voice or digital message that is transmitted to pagers (“beepers”) or desktop monitor radios.
Patient care report (PCR)
The legal document used to record all patient care activities. This report has direct patient care functions but also administrative and quality control functions. PCRs are also known as prehospital care reports.
Rapport
A trusting relationship that you build with your patient.
Repeater
A special base station radio that receives messages and signals on one frequency and then automatically retransmits them on a second frequency.
Scanner
A radio receiver that searches or scans across several frequencies until the message is completed; the process is then repeated.
Simplex
Single-frequency radio; transmissions can occur in either direction but not simultaneously; when one party transmits, the other can only receive, and the party transmitting is unable to receive.
Standing orders
Written documents, signed by the EMS system’s medical director, that outline specific directions, permissions, and sometimes prohibitions regarding patient care; also called protocols
Telemetry
A process I’m which electronic signals are converted into codes, audible signals; these signals can then be transmitted by radio or telephone to a receiver with a decoder at the hospital.
Therapeutic communication
Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques that encourage patients to express their feelings and to achieve a positive relationship.
Trunking
Telecommunications systems that allow a computer to maximize utilization of a group of frequencies.
UHF (ultra-high frequency)
Radio frequencies between 300 and 3,000 MHz
VHF (very high frequencies)
Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz; the VHF spectrum is further divided into high and low bands.
