EMS Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Glossary

• Evidence-based techniques: Techniques or practices supported by scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy, not just by supposition or tradition.
• Medical direction: Oversight of patient care in an EMS system by the Medical Director, either off-line or on-line.
• Medical Director: A physician who is ultimately responsible for patient care in the EMS system.
• 911 system: A telephone system for reporting emergencies. The dispatcher takes information and alerts EMS, fire, or police as needed. Enhanced 911 automatically identifies the caller’s phone number and location.
• Off-line medical direction: Standing orders from the Medical Director that allow EMTs to administer certain medications or perform procedures without direct contact with the Medical Director or another physician.
• On-line medical direction: Orders given directly to an EMT in the field via radio or telephone by the on-duty physician.
• Patient outcomes: The long-term survival of patients.
• Peer reviewed: A process where a professional journal submits research to be reviewed by the researcher's peers.
• Protocols: Lists of steps (assessments and interventions) to be taken in different situations, developed by the Medical Director of an EMS system.
• Quality improvement: A process of continuous self-review to identify and correct aspects of the system needing improvement.
• Standing orders: Policies or protocols issued by a Medical Director that authorize EMTs to perform particular skills in certain situations.

Preparation for Examination and Practice: Short Answer Questions

• Primary components of the Emergency Medical Services system: This question prompts a review of the various elements that constitute a comprehensive EMS system. It likely includes components such as communication systems, trained personnel, medical direction, transportation, and facilities.
• Special designations that hospitals may have: This refers to the different classifications or specializations hospitals can have, such as trauma centers (Level I, II, III, IV, or V), burn centers, stroke centers, or cardiac centers. Each designation implies specific capabilities and resources.
• Specialty centers in your region: Identifying these centers requires local knowledge and awareness of regional healthcare infrastructure. Examples include specialized cancer centers, pediatric hospitals, or rehabilitation facilities.
• Four national levels of EMS training and certification: The four levels are Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), and Paramedic. Each level has a defined scope of practice and required training hours.
• Roles and responsibilities of the EMT: This covers a broad range, including patient assessment, basic life support skills (e.g., CPR, bleeding control), oxygen administration, splinting, and safe transport. EMTs also have responsibilities related to documentation and communication.
• Desirable personal and physical attributes of the EMT: These attributes include physical fitness, the ability to lift and carry patients, effective communication skills, empathy, emotional stability, and the ability to work well under pressure.
• Definition of the term quality improvement: As defined in the glossary, quality improvement is a process of continual self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement.
• Difference between on-line and off-line medical direction: On-line medical direction involves direct orders from a physician to the EMT in the field (via phone or radio). Off-line medical direction involves standing orders or protocols that allow EMTs to perform certain tasks without direct physician contact.