Chapter 1 EMS Systems

advanced emt (AEMT)

An individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy, and the administration of certain emergency medications

advanced life support (ALS)

Advanced life-saving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination

automated external defibrilator (AED)

A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (ventricular fibrilation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient

certification

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

community paramedicine

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 or chronic illnesses or conditions, and patient advocacy

continuous quality improvement (CQI)

A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system aiming at improving outcomes

credentialing

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

emergency medical dispatch (EMD)

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

emergency medical responder (EMR)

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

emergency medical services (EMS)

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

emergency medical technician (EMT)

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

evidence-based medicine (EBM)

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

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act (HIPAA)

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

intravenous (IV) therapy

The delivery of medication direcetly into a vein

licensure

The process by which a competent authority, usually the state, allows people to perform a regulated act

medical control

Physician instructions given directly by radio or cell phone (online/indirect) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line/indirect), as authorized by the medical director of the service program

medical director

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

mobile integrated health care (MIH)

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

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

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

paramedic

An individual who has extensive training in advanced life support, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills

primary prevention

Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occuring

primary service area

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

public health

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

public safety access point

A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsibile for managing requets for police, fire, and ambulance services

quality control

Oversight by the medical direction to ensure the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call

secondary prevention

Efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that cannot be completely prevented