Communication and Documentation 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
Close-ended questions
Questions that can be answered in short or single word responses
Communication
The transmission of information to another person – verbally or through body language
Cultural imposition
When one person imposes his or her beliefs, values, and practices on another because he or she believes his or her ideals are superior
Dedication 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 EMTs patient interaction, either written or electronic. This becomes part of the patients permanent medical record
Duplex
The ability to transmit and receive simultaneously
Ethnocentrism
When a person considers his or her own cultural values as more important than the values of another person
FCC
Federal Communications Commission; the federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate and international telephone and telegraph services and satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS
Interoperable communications system
A communication system that uses voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) technology to allow multiple agencies to communicate and transmit data
MED channels
VHF and UHF channels that the FCC has designated exclusively for EMS use
MDT
Mobile data terminal; a small computer terminal inside the ambulance that directly receives data from the dispatch center
Multiplex
The ability to transmit audio data signals through the use of more than one communication channel
Noise
Anything that dampens or obscures the true meaning of a message
Open-ended question
Questions for which the patient must provide detail to give an answer
Paging
The use of radio signal and voice or digital message that is transmitted to pagers or desktop monitor radios
PCR
Patient care report; 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 the repeated.
Simplex
Single-frequency radio; transmissions can occurs in either direction but not simultaneously in both; when one party transmits, the other can only receive, and the party that is transmitting is unable to receive
Standing orders
Written documents, signed by the EMS systems medical director, that outline specific directions, permissions, and sometimes prohibitions regarding patient care. Also called protocols
