EMS Protocols Flashcards
define adolescent
patient aged 8 up to 16 years old
define adult
patient age 16 or older. for medical consent/legal issues, pt must be 18 unless emancipated.
define baseline assessment
scene safety, rapid assessment of emergency scene and determination of need for more resources, airway, breathing, circulation and disability (neurological status),identification of chief complaint, and initial vital signs.
define child
pt 1 year of age up to age 8 years (the general onset of puberty)
define chronic medical problem
a medical condition of any duration, for which the pt is receiving care from a medical professional or is appropriately self treating.
define competent
a pt at least 18 years of age who is capable of making an informed decision will be considered competent only if they demonstrate they are oriented to person, place, and time; and can recite back the nature of their medical condition, the riskd and benefits of the proposed care/transportation, and the risks of refusing the proposed care/transportation and is making a reasoned health care decision.
define emancipated minor
a legal term for a person age 16 through 17 who is married, a member of the armed services, or living apart from their parents, and who is entitled to make their own medical care decisions.
define EMS witnessed arrest
a pt who goes into cardiac arrest while in the presence of HFD personnel
define infant
age one hour up to one year
define neonate
newly born, up to one hour of age
define pediatric
encompasses patients less than 16 years of age or less than 40kg/88lbs. subcategories of pediatric include neonate, infant, child, and adolescent.
who shall ensure that a signed copy of protocols is carried on all EMS apparatus and EMS vehicles under their command in compliance with the EMS act of the state of Texas?
station captains
how are all personnel supposed to act and operate?
all personnel are to operate and conduct themselves in the best interest of the public.
who is to ensure complete and accurate documentation of their units involvement on each incident?
the highest ranking member on each apparatus
what is often the greatest asset provided to the citizens you serve?
often the greatest asset provided to the citizens you serve is your reassurance and caring.
what kind of patients can you bring or not bring to the hospital when the hospital is on emergency department saturation?
hospital emergency department resources are fully committed and have no other resources for additional incoming critical or seriously ill patients and acceptance of additional patients requiring advanced life support would seriously jeopardize the care of other patients in the emergency department.
define ICU saturation
hospital intensive care resources are fully committed and have no other resources available for additional patients requiring intensive care. the emergency department can handle minor illnesses not likely to require ICU admission. avoid bringing chest pain, difficulty breathing, elderly patients with abdominal pain,to hospitals on icu saturation. trauma center hospitals on ICU saturation can generally still handle trauma patients.
when all trauma centers of a specific level are on diversion who’s recommendation should you base your destination decision on?
the base station’s recommendation
what are the two exceptions that you cannot transport a cpr in progress to the closest hospital regardless of diversion request?
- the closest hospital is on diversion due to internal disaster.
- a second hospital is just as close
when an EMS unit is dispatched to an emergency department who should HFD members contact?
Their immediate EMS supervisor to apprise him of the situation.
what is the goal of family centered care?
the goal of family centered care is to achieve the best possible outcome for children, and all other patients, through mutually beneficial collaboration of health care professionals and family members.
what are the errors that are considered unacceptable behavior and which remediation will not be offered?
- willfully inflicting harm of any kind on a patient
- willful neglect of a patient
- willful disregard for pt care policies and procedures
- untruthfulness with medical director or designee
- failure to remediate or repeatedly committing the same or similar errors in spite of remediation and or reeducation.
what is the time frame that a member has to self report an error?
when a member recognizes they have committed a medical error, that member has 24 on duty hours to report the error to a supervising EMS officer.
what are the critical initial elements of CPR in survivable cardiac arrest patients.
chest compressions and early defibrillation
