Emergency Care 14th Edition Full Flashcard Set

Evidence-Based Techniques

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. Direction can be Given Off-Line or On-Line

911 System

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

Off-Line Medical Direction

Standing orders issued by the Medical Director that allow EMTs to give certain medications or perform 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

Peer Reviewed

submitted to a professional journal and reviewed by several of the researcher's peers.

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

policies or protocols issued by a Medical Director that authorize EMTs and others to perform particular skills in certain situations.

Contamination

The introduction of dangerous chemicals, disease, or infectious materials.

Critical Incident Stress Managment (CISM)

a comprehensive system that includes education and resources to both prevent stress and to deal with stress appropriately when it occurs

Decontamination

The removal or cleansing of dangerous chemicals and other dangerous or infectious materials.

Hazardous Material Incident

the release of a harmful substance into the environment

Multiple-Casualty Incident (MCI)

an emergency involving multiple patients.

Pathogens

the organisms that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Equipment that protects the EMS worker from infection and/or exposure to the dangers of rescue operations.

Resilience

toughness; an ability to recover quickly from difficult situations

Standard Precautions

A strict form of infection control that is based on the assumption that all blood and other body fluids are infectious. Also Known as body Substance Isolation (BSI)

Stress

a state of physical and/or psychological arousal to a stimulus

Bariatric

having to do with patients who are significantly overweight or obese

Body Mechanics

the proper use of the body to facilitate lifting and moving and prevent injury

Direct Carry

a method of transferring a patient from bed to stretcher, during which two or more rescuers curl the patient to their chests, then reverse the process to lower the patient to the stretcher

Direct Ground Lift

A method of lifting and carrying a patient from ground level to a stretcher in which two or more rescuers kneel, curl the patient to their chests, stand, then reverse the process to lower the patient to the stretcher.

Draw-Sheet Method

a method of transferring a patient from bed to stretcher by grasping and pulling the loosened bottom sheet of the bed.

Extremity Lift

A method of lifting and carrying a patient during which one rescuer slips hands under the patient's armpits and grasps the wrists, while another rescuer grasps the patient's knees.

Power Grip

gripping with as much hand surface as possible in contact with the object being lifted, all fingers bent at the same angle, and hands at least 10 inches apart

Power Lift

A lift from a squatting position with weight to be lifted close to the body, feet apart and flat on the ground, body weight on or just behind the balls of the feet, and back locked in. The upper body is raised before the hips. Also called the squat-lift position.

Abandonment

Leaving a patient after care has been initiated and before the patient has been transferred to someone with equal or greater medical training.

Advanced Directive

a DNR order; instructions written in advance of an event

Assault

placing a person in fear of bodily harm

Battery

causing bodily harm to or restraining a person

Confidentiality

The obligation not to reveal information obtained about a patient except to other health care professionals involved in the patient's care, or under subpoena, or in a court of law, or when the patient has signed a release of confidentiality

Consent

permission from the patient for care or other action by the EMT

Crime Scene

The location where a crime has been committed or any place that evidence relating to a crime may be found.

Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)

a legal document, usually signed by the patient and his physician, which states that the patient has a terminal illness and does not wish to prolong life through resuscitative efforts

Duty to Act

an obligation to provide care to a patient

Ethical

regarding a social system or social or professional expectations for applying principles of right and wrong

Expressed Consent

consent given by adults who are of legal age and mentally competent to make a rational decision in regard to their medical well-being.

Good Samaritan Law

A series of Laws, Varying by state, Designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care personnel when they are administering emergency care.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)

A federal Law protecting the privacy of patient-specific health care information and providing the patient with control over how this information is used and distributed.

Implied Consent

the consent it is presumed a patient or patient's parent or guardian would give if they could, such as for an unconscious patient or a parent who cannot be contacted when care is needed.

In Loco Parentis

Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.

Liability

being held legally responsible.

Libel

written defamation

Moral

regarding personal standards or principles of right and wrong

Negligence

A finding of failure to act properly in a situation in which there was a duty to act, that needed care as would reasonably be expected of the EMT was not provided, and that harm was caused to the patient as a result.

Organ Donor

a person who has completed a legal document that allows for donation of organs and tissues in the event of death

Physician's Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Physician orders that state not only the patient's wishes regarding resuscitation attempts but also the patient's wishes regarding artificial feeding, antibiotics, and other life-sustaining care if the person is unable to state the person's desires later.

Res Ipsa Loquitur

A Latin term meaning "the thing speaks for itself"

Safe Haven Law

a law that permits a person to drop off an infant or child at a police, fire, or EMS station or to deliver the infant or child to any available public safety personnel. The intent of the law is to protect children who may otherwise be abandoned or harmed.

Scope of Practice

a set of regulations and ethical considerations that define the scope, or extent and limits, of the EMT's job

Slander

false injurious information stated verbally

Standard of Care

for an EMT providing care for a specific patient in a specific situation, the care that would be expected to be provided by an EMT with similar training when caring for a patient in a similar situation

Tort

A civil not a criminal offense; an action or injury caused by negligence from which a lawsuit may arise

Distal

farther away from the torso

Dorsal

referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot.

Fowler's position

sitting position

Inferior

away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head

Lateral

to the side, away from the midline of the body

Medial

toward the midline of the body.

Midauxillary Line

a line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle

Midclavicular line

the line through the center of each clavicle

Midline

An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

Palmar

referring to the palm of the hand

Physiology

The study of Body Function

Plane

a flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object

Plantar

referring to the sole of the foot

Posterior

the back of the body or body part

Prefix

word part added to the beginning of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning

Prone

lying face down

Proximal

closer to the torso

Recovery Position

lying on the side. also called the lateral recumbent position

Root

foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own

Superior

toward the head.

Supine

lying on the back.

Torso

the trunk of the body; the body without the head and the extremities

Unilateral

Limited to one side

Ventral

referring to the front of the body.

Radial Artery

Artery of the lower arm. It is felt when taking the pulse at the wrist.

Radius

The lateral bone of the Forearm.

Red Blood Cells

Components of the blood. They carry oxygen to and carbon dioxide away from the cells.

Renal System

The body system that regulates fluid balance and the filtration of blood. Also called the urinary system.

Reproductive System

the body system that is responsible for human reproduction

Respiration

the process of moving oxygen and carbon dioxide between circulating blood and the cells

Respiratory System

the system of nose, mouth, throat, lungs, and muscles that brings oxygen into the body and expels carbon dioxide.

Scapula

shoulder blade

Skeleton

Bones of the body

Skin

the layer of tissue between the body and the external environment

Skull

the bony structure of the Body

Small Intestine

The muscular tube between the stomach and the large intestine, divided into the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum, which receives partially digested food from the stomach and continues digestion. Nutrients are absorbed by the body through its walls.

Spleen

an organ located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen that acts as a blood filtration system and a reservoir for reserves of blood.

Sternum

The Breast Bone

Stomach

A muscular and elastic sac that serves mainly to store food, break it up mechanically, and begin chemical digestion of proteins and fat.

Subcutaneous Layer

the layers of fat and soft tissues found below the dermis

Systolic Blood Pressure

the pressure created in the arteries when the left ventricle contracts and forces blood out into circulation

Tarsals

ankle bones

Tendon

tissue that connects muscle to bone

Testes

the male organs of reproduction used for the production of sperm

Thorax

The Chest