Chapter 4: Communications and Documentation Flashcards
When a person considers his or her own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture.
ethnocentrism
The ability to transmit audio and data signals through the use of more than one communications channel.
multiplex
The reason a patient called for help; also, the patient’s response to questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “What happened?”
chief complaint
Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz; this spectrum is further divided into high and low bands.
VHF
The federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate and international telephone and telegraph services and satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
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.
patient care report (PCR)
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 decoder at the hospital.
telemetry
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
Anything that dampens or obscures the true meaning of a message.
noise
Questions for which the patient must provide detail to give an answer.
open-ended questions
The transmission of information to another person—verbally or through body language.
communication
Radio frequencies between 300 and 3,000 MHz.
UHF
A trusting relationship that you build with your patient.
rapport
Telecommunication systems that allow a computer to maximize utilization of a group of frequencies.
trunking
The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and properly respond to the emotions of others.
emotional intelligence
Any communications where disruption will result in the failure of the mission at hand.
mission-critical communications
When one person imposes his or her beliefs, values, and practices on another because he or she believe his or her ideals are superior.
cultural imposition
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 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
An assigned frequency or frequencies that are used to carry voice and/or data communications.
channel
A low-power portable radio that communicates through an interconnected series of repeater stations called cells.
cellular telephone
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
A radio receiver that searches or scans across several frequencies until the message is completed; the process is then repeated.
scanner
Any radio hardware containing a transmitter and receiver that is located in a fixed place.
base station
