Ch. 1: Emergency Medical Service Systems

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 1: Emergency Medical Service Systems.

EMS

A team of health care professionals who provide emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured.

Scope of Practice Model

National framework describing four levels of EMS practice and their competencies.

National EMS Education Standards

Standards outlining required knowledge and competencies for each EMS level.

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT)

A non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that certifies EMS providers and informs certification exams.

Licensure

State-granted legal authority to practice EMS; varies by state.

Credentialing

Verification of a provider’s qualifications, often overseen by a physician medical director.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

Basic level focusing on managing the emergency scene and initiating life-saving care before ambulance arrival.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Level with broader training in basic emergency care and patient transportation.

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

EMT with additional training in specific advanced life support skills and medications.

Paramedic

Highest EMS level with extensive training in advanced life support and complex procedures.

Medical Director

Physician who authorizes care, establishes standing orders, and provides protocols.

Standing Orders

Pre-approved medical directives that allow EMTs to act without direct physician consultation.

Online Medical Control

Direct guidance from a physician via phone or radio during a call.

Offline Medical Control

Standing orders and protocols approved by the medical director; no direct contact needed during a call.

Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)

Dispatch center that receives 911 calls and coordinates EMS, fire, and police responses.

Enhanced 911 (E-911)

System that displays the caller’s address to the dispatcher.

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)

System that provides vital instructions to callers and helps select responding units.

Mobile Integrated Health Care (MIH)

Delivering health care in the community using EMS resources to improve access and reduce costs.

Community Paramedicine

Paramedics with advanced training delivering in-community health services and chronic care management.

National EMS Information System (NEMSIS)

A national database of EMS data used to improve planning and care.

Just Culture

A learning-centered approach balancing accountability with fairness to improve safety.

High Reliability Organization (HRO)

An organization committed to safety, teamwork, and continuous quality improvement.

Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA)

Quality improvement cycle: plan, implement, study results, and act on changes.

Patient Advocate

EMS professional who keeps the patient’s best interests at the center of care.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; protects patient privacy and governs disclosures.

Interstate EMS Licensure Compact

Agreement allowing EMS personnel to practice across member states on a short-term basis under approved conditions.

Public Health and Prevention

Efforts to prevent illness and injury; EMS participates in primary and secondary prevention.

Primary Prevention

Prevention strategies to stop events from happening (e.g., vaccines, safety programs).

Secondary Prevention

Measures to reduce effects after an event (e.g., helmets, seat belts).

Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ETT)

Pilot model to reimburse for on-scene care and appropriate destination transport, not just ED transport.

Orange Book (Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 1971)

First EMT textbook that helped standardize EMS education.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Federal agency guiding EMS education standards and scope of practice.

EMS Agenda 2050

National plan to modernize EMS toward a people-centered, prevention-focused system.

EMS Agenda 2050 Guiding Principles

Inherently safe and effective; integrated; reliable; socially equitable; sustainable; adaptable; with public access.