Chapter 4-Communications and Documentation Flashcards
The legal document used to record all patient care activities. This report has direct patient care functions. PCRs are also known as prehospital care reports.
patient care report
A small computer terminal inside the ambulance that directly receives data from the dispatch center.
mobile data terminal
When one person imposes his or her beliefs, values, and practices in another because he is she believes his or her ideals are superior.
cultural imposition
A special telephone line that is used for specific point-to-point communications; also known as a hotline.
dedicated line
The transmission of information to another person—vertically or through body language.
communication
Any communications where disruption will result in the failure of the mission at hand.
mission-critical communications
Telecommunication sister that allows a computer to maximize utilization of a group of frequencies.
trunking
A special base station radio that receives messages and signals on one frequency and then automatically retransmits them then on a serving frequency.
repeater
Any radio hardware containing a transmitter and receiver is located in a fixed place.
base station
When a person considers his or her own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture.
ethnocentrism
A radio receiver that searches or scans across several frequencies until the message is completed; the process is then repeated.
scanner
Written documents, signed by the EMS system’s medical director, that outlines specific directions, permissions, and sometimes prohibitions regarding patient care; also called protocols.
standing orders
The ability to transmit and receive simultaneously.
duplex
A communication system that uses voice-over-internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to allow multiple agencies to communicate and transmit data.
interoperable communications system
The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and properly respond to the emotions of others.
emotional intelligence
A process in which electronic signals are converted into coded, audible signals; these signals can then be transmitted by radio or telephone to a receiver with a decider at the hospital.
telemetry
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.
chief concern
Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques that encourage patients to express their feelings and to achieve a positive relationship.
therapeutic communication
The ability to transmit audio and data signals through the use of more than one communications channel.
multiplex
Radio frequencies between 300 and 3,000 MHz
UHF
The picture and individual has in his or her head off “ what’s going on” in a given situation.
mental model
Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz; this spectrum is further divided into high and low bands.
VHF
Questions for which the patient must provide detail to give an answer.
open-ended questions
The federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate and international telephone and telegraph satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity.
Federal Communications Commission
A low-power portable radio that communicates through an interconnected series of repeater stations called cells.
cellular telephone
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 handoff.
handover
The recorded portion of the EMT’s patient interaction, either written or electronic. This becomes part of the patient’s permanent medical record.
documentation
The reason a patient called for help; also, the patient’s response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?”
chief complaint
An assigned frequency or frequencies that are used to carry voice and/or data communications.
channel
A system that allows EMS providers to access relevant health days (eg. past medical problems, medications, allergies, end-of-life decisions), avoid unnecessary duplication of effort in data entry, and view patient outcomes related to hospital care.
health information exchange
Anything that dampens or obscured the true meaning of a message.
noise
A trusting relationship that build with your patient.
rapport
Single-frequency radio; transmissions can occur in either direction but not simultaneously; when one party transmits, the other can only receive, and the party that is transmitting is unable to receive.
simplex
The use of a radio signal and a voice or digital message that is transmitted to pages (“beepers”) or desktop monitor radios.
paging
VHF and UHF channels that the Federal Communications Commission has designated exclusively for EMS use.
MED channels
Questions that can be answered in short or single-word reponses.
closed-ended questions
