chapter one: ems systems

Question 1

advanced EMT (AEMT)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

advanced life support (ALS)

Answer 2

advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT

Question 3

americans with disabilities act (ADA)

Answer 3

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

Question 4

automated external defibrillator (AED)

Answer 4

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

Question 5

certification

Answer 5

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

Question 6

community paramedicine

Answer 6

a health care model in which experience 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

Question 7

continuous quality improvement (CQI)

Answer 7

a system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system

Question 8

emergency medical dispatch

Answer 8

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

Question 9

emergency medical responder (EMR)

Answer 9

the first trained professional, such as a police officer, firefighters, lifeguard, or other rescuers, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance

Question 10

emergency medical services (EMS)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

emergency medical technician (EMT)

Answer 11

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

Question 12

health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA)

Answer 12

federal legislation passed in 1996. its main effect in EMS is in limiting the availability of patients’ health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy

Question 13

licensure

Answer 13

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

Question 14

medical control

Answer 14

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

Question 15

medical director

Answer 15

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

Question 16

mobile integrated healthcare (MIH)

Answer 16

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

Question 17

national EMS scope of practice model

Answer 17

a document created by the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) that outline the skills performed by various EMS providers

Question 18

paramedic

Answer 18

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

Question 19

primary prevention

Answer 19

efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring

Question 20

primary service area (PSA)

Answer 20

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

Question 21

public health

Answer 21

focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems

Question 22

public safety access point

Answer 22

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

Question 23

quality control

Answer 23

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

Question 24

secondary prevention

Answer 24

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