EMS Systems: Chapter 1 Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts, historical milestones, and professional roles of EMS systems as described in the AAOS Twelfth Edition lecture.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System

A team of health care professionals who provide emergency care and transport and is governed by state laws.

National Registry of EMTs (NREMT)

The organization that provides the national certification exam for EMTs.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

An individual with very basic training who provides care before the ambulance arrives and may assist in the ambulance.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

An individual with training in basic life support ($BLS$), including automated external defibrillation, airway adjuncts, and assisting patients with certain medications.

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

An individual with training in specific aspects of advanced life support ($ALS$), including intravenous ($IV$) therapy and administration of a limited number of emergency medications.

Paramedic

An individual with extensive $ALS$ training, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills.

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Federal legislation that prohibits employers from failing to provide full and equal employment; Title I protects EMTs with disabilities seeking employment.

Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society

A report published in $1966$ that established the modern $EMS$ system.

Emergency Medical Services Act

A piece of federal legislation enacted in $1973$.

National EMS Scope of Practice Model

A federal document that provides guidelines for national standardization of $EMS$ levels and operations.

Medical Director

A physician who authorizes EMTs to provide medical care in the field and is responsible for maintaining quality control.

Standing Orders

A component of protocols that describes appropriate care and establishes medical direction for providers through authorized interventions.

Off-line (Indirect) Medical Control

Medical direction consisting of standing orders, training, and supervision.

Online (Direct) Medical Control

Physician directions given to the $EMS$ provider over the phone or radio.

Mobile Integrated Health Care (MIH)

A method of delivering health care that utilizes the prehospital spectrum to facilitate improved access to health care at an affordable price.

Community Paramedicine

A practice where paramedics receive advanced training to provide additional services within a community under the $MIH$ model.

Just Culture

A learning culture that promotes balancing fairness and accountability by holding employees accountable for behavioral choices.

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

A circular system of continuous internal and external reviews and audits to identify areas for improvement and minimize errors.

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)

A system that provides medical instruction to dispatchers so they can assist callers before help arrives.

Primary Prevention

Strategies focusing on preventing an injury or illness from ever occurring.

Secondary Prevention

Strategies focusing on limiting the effects of an injury or illness that has already occurred.

Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM)

Medical practice that focuses on procedures that have been proven useful in improving patient outcomes through research.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Federal legislation regarding patient confidentiality.

Incident Recognition

The first phase of emergency patient care.