Chapter 1 - Intro to Emergency Medical Care

Designated Agent

An EMT or other person authorized by a Medical Director to give medications and provide emergency care. The transfer of such authorization to a designated agent is an extension of the Medical Director’s license to practice medicine

Evidence-based

Description of medical techniques or practices that are supported by scientific evidence of their safety and efficiency, rather than merely by supposition and tradition

Medical Direction

Oversight of the patient-care aspects of an EMS system by the Medical Director

Medical Director

A physician who assumes ultimate responsibility for the patient-care aspects of the EMS system

911 System

A system for telephone access to report emergencies. A dispatcher takes the information and alerts EMS or fire or police departments as needed. Enhanced 911 has the additional capability of automatically identifying the caller’s phone number and location.

Off-line Medical Direction

Standing orders issued by the Medical Director that allows EMT’s to give certain medications or preform certain procedures without speaking to the Medical Director or another physician

On-line Medical Direction

Orders from the on-duty physician given directly to an EMT in the field by radio or telephone

Patient Outcomes

The long-term survival of patients

Protocols

Lists of steps, such as assessments and interventions to be taken in different situations. Protocols are developed by the Medical Director of an EMS system

Quality Improvement

A process of continuous self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement

Standing Orders

A policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMT’s and others to preform particular skills in certain situations