term test 1 Flashcards
what does VSA stand for
vital signs absent
what are the 12 attributes of professionalism
- integrity
- empathy
- self motivation
- appearance & personal hygiene
- self confidence
- communications
- time management
- teamwork & diplomacy
- respect
- patient advocacy
- careful delivery of service
- altruism
what is integrity
Truthfulness, not stealing, providing complete and accurate documentation, accountability (taking ownership of the situation whether good or bad and owning up to your mistakes
what is empathy
Identifying with, and understanding the feelings, situations and motives of your patients
what is self motivation
Internal drive for excellence and self direction, showing enthusiasm for learning, being committed to quality improvement, accepting constructive feedback, taking advantage of all learning opportunities (it is our responsibility to stay on top of our skills and what we know or need to familiar yourself with if it hasn’t been practiced in a little or you are not comfortable with a skill)
what is appearance and personal hygiene
Uniforms, cleanliness and grooming, deportment (wear it with pride and properly)
what is self confidence
Trust and rely on yourself, trust your personal judgment and demonstrate to your peers and partners that you are trustworthy and reliable, knowing and having an accurate assessment of strengths, weaknesses and limitations
what is communication
Exchange information (ability to convey information verbally and in writing), being an active listener, write legibly, speak clearly, adjust communication strategies to patient
what is time management
Organization and prioritizing to make optimal use of time
what is teamwork and diplomacy
Ability to work within multidisciplinary team, using tact and interpersonal skills, archive a common goal, problem resolution, success of the team above personal success
what is respect
Showing consideration and appreciation, being polite avoid derogatory comments
what is patient advocacy
Subjugation and placing the needs of the patient above self interests, protect patient confidentiality
what is careful delivery of service
Highest level of patient care, attention to detail, appropriate prioritization, self evaluation of performance, master and refresh your skills, complete vehicle checks, follow protocols and standards
what is altruism
Unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of other
ethical responsibilities
- Failing to perform the job appropriately can result in civil or criminal liability
- Protect yourself (report yourself if a error was made)
- Complete accurate documentation
- Maintain your ability to continuously improve your skills so you can provide the best and highest form of care
- It is unethical to be rude to any other form of health care worker (police, fire, nurse, PSW)
5 types of legislative
- legislative law
- administrative law
- common law
- criminal law
- civil law
what is a legislative law
federal principle and municipal, criminal code
what is a administrative law
provincially based, depending what provide depends what acts apply and the specifics of the act
what is a common law
english common law, french civil law (common law is judge made law derived over time)
what is a civil law
(civil law is coded law to wherever it applies (contract, personal injury (fall down stairs - you could sue wherever the injury took place ie. eaton center for slippery stairs, wills)
what is a criminal law
area of law where the federal, state or the local government prosecutes individuals (measured beyond reasonable doubt), punished by fines, imprisonment or both
torts
the filing of a civil suit as a result of damages from wrongful acts
how are you measured as a paramedic
- Scope of practice (what you can and cannot do, how you are certified)
- Medical direction (certain things you have medical authorization)
- ALS/BLS standard of care - MOH (ministry of health)
what is the difference between licensure and certification
Licensure - a process of occupational regulation, governmental agency granted
(Alberta, NS allow paramedics to carry licenses)
AND
Certification - grants recognition to an individual who has a net predetermined qualifications
(Base hospital certification and the AEMCA (provincial exam)
mandatory reporting requirements
Child abuse and neglect - Provincial act (example: you see your neighbor beating their child you have to report it as a citizen)
- Elder abuse, spousal abuse
- Sexual assault
- Gunshot and stab wounds
- Animal bites
- Communicable disease
- Traffic accidents causing death
**report to hospital and police
what are the ways paramedics are protected
- infection disease exposure notification
- immunity status
- Good Samaritan laws
- base hospital physician
- Service SOPS
- Regulated health professions act
what is the Good Samaritan law
most people in public don’t have the duty to act
ex. someone faints in front of you and is unconscious and you perform cpr and family sues you, then the good samaritan laws come into effect
example of immunity status
During your shift you start to feel sick and test positive for covid, nobody can say you got someone’s relative sick cause you have covid
medical malpractice insurance
Medical Malpractice Insurance is a specialized professional liability policy that provides financial protection for medical professionals against claims or lawsuits related to their professional activities, such as allegations of misconduct, negligence, errors and omissions, and equipment or treatment-related injuries
4 legal accountabilities of a paramedic
- You are responsible to act in a reasonable and prudent manner (showing good judgment in avoiding risks and uncertainties; careful)
- You are responsible to provide a level of care and transportation consistent with your education and level of medical training - if you are a PCP you cannot form duties and medical procedures of an ACP, you are only qualified as a PCP
- Negligence and failure to do either of the above can result in legal accountability and liability (TROUBLE)
- Standards are considered (BLS and ALS)
breaches of the rules of negligence
- Duty to act (duty to act, assess, treat and transport in a safely and timely manner)
- Breach of duty (you did something that you had a duty not to do, or you failed to do something that you had an absolute duty to do)
- Damage to patient (Any physical, and sometimes emotional injury caused by the breach of a duty can constitute this element of negligence)
- Proximate cause
what are 6 duties to act
- Respond and render car
- Obey laws and regulations
- Operate emergency vehicles reasonable and prudently (with care)
- Provide care and transportation to the expected standard
- Provide care and transportation consistent with the scope of practice/protocols - ALS/BLS standards of care, transportation standards
- Continue care and transportation through to its appropriate conclusion ‘
3 common breaches of duty
- Malfeasance : wrongful or unlawful act
- Misfeasance - legal act which is harmful or injurious
- Nonfeasance - failure to perform required act or duty
what is proximate cause
the question of wether or not the action or inaction of the paramedic caused or worsened the damage or injury to the patient (did what they do or did not do make things worse)
- The act or lack of must have been foreseeable by the paramedic
- Commonly established by expert testimony
what is an example of proximate cause
ran a red light caused a crash and injured someone, they saw the red light and continued to run it
statue of limitations
time limit in which you can file a lawsuit, some things its 6 months, other things its 5 years and others is a lifetime
liability insurance (primary or umbrella policies)
umbrella insurance provides additional liability coverage beyond your customer’s primary liability policy. This liability insurance provides coverage that is in excess of scheduled underlying policies and possible primary insurance for losses not covered by other policies
liability of paramedic medical director
could look at what the medical director told you to do - base hospital physician told you to do something that’s outside of your scope of practice
liability for borrowed servants
he borrowed servant rule is a legal doctrine in which an employer is held liable for the actions of a temporary employee, the student can be held liable
off duty paramedics
most services will cover you a million dollars if you are off duty and see someone that’s in need of medical care and not give medical care because of liability