Preparatory

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 life-saving 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 experienced 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 aiming at improving outcomes

Question 8

credentialing

Answer 8

an established process to determine the qualifications necessary to be allowed to practice a particular profession, or to function as an organization

Question 9

emergency medical dispatch (EMD)

Answer 9

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 10

emergency medical responder (EMR)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

emergency medical services (EMS)

Answer 11

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

Question 12

evidence-based medicine (EBM)

Answer 12

an approach to medicine where decisions are based on well-conducted research, classifying recommendations based on the strength of the scientific evidence; also called science-based medicine

Question 13

emergency medical technician (EMT)

Answer 13

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 14

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer 14

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

Question 15

intravenous (IV) therapy

Answer 15

the delivery of medication directly into a vein

Question 16

licensure

Answer 16

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

Question 17

medical control

Answer 17

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 18

medical director

Answer 18

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

Question 19

mobile integrated health care (MIH)

Answer 19

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

Question 20

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

Answer 20

a document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers

Question 21

paramedic

Answer 21

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 22

primary prevention

Answer 22

efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring

Question 23

primary service area

Answer 23

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

Question 24

public safety access point

Answer 24

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

Question 25

public health

Answer 25

the branch of medicine that is focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems

Question 26

quality control

Answer 26

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

Question 27

secondary prevention

Answer 27

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