EMS Systems

Licensure

Legal authority to practice in their state.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Has very basic training and provides care before ambulance arrival.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Has training in BLS including automated external defibrillation, airway adjuncts, and assisting patients with certain medications.

Advanced EMT (AEMT)

Has training in specific aspects of advanced life support including IV therapy and limited emergency medication administration.

Paramedic

Has extensive ALS training including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, and cardiac monitoring.

Credentialing

Verification process of a health care provider’s qualifications.

Medical Director

Authorizes EMTs to provide care in the field and oversees ongoing training.

Off-line (indirect) Interaction

Consists of standing orders, training, and supervision authorized by the medical director.

Online (direct) Interaction

Direction given over the phone or radio from a medical director or designated physician.

Dispatcher

Obtain information and dispatch resources.

Quality Assurance

Measures care against a predefined standard or benchmark.

Quality Improvement

Continuous cycle that measures behavior and implements actions to improve performance.

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Responsibility for self-directed learning to maintain, update, and expand knowledge and skills.

Role of the EMT

Focus on initial stabilization of the scene and act as a primary link between emergency scene and health care system.

State and national EMS conferences

Events that help keep EMTs current about local, state, and national issues affecting EMS.