EMR

Do No Harm

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Patient Assessment and Management Guidelines

Vital Signs

  • Adult Evaluation:

    • Pulse: 60-100 beats per minute

    • Respiratory Rate: 12-20 breaths per minute

    • Blood Pressure: 110/70 mmHg

  • Child Evaluation:

    • Pulse: [15-30] beats per minute

    • Respiratory Rate: 25-50 breaths per minute

Practice Guidelines

  • Focus on Patient Assessment/Management:

    • Medical Practice

    • Vital Signs Practice

    • Attention to Circulation

Pain Assessment

Use the OPQRST mnemonic to assess a patient experiencing pain:

  • Onset:

    • When did the pain start?

    • What was the patient doing when the pain began?

  • Palliation/Provocation:

    • Does anything increase or alleviate the pain?

  • Quality:

    • Description of pain (e.g., sharp, dull, aching, burning)

    • Is the pain constant, intermittent, or pulsating?

  • Radiation:

    • Does the pain radiate to other areas?

  • Severity:

    • Rate the intensity of pain on a scale from 0-10.

  • Time:

    • Is the pain intensity the same as when it started or has it changed?

Secondary Assessment

Collecting Patient Information

  • SAMPLE: Collect the following details:

    • Signs/Symptoms

    • Allergies

    • Medications

    • Past Medical History

    • Last Oral Intake

    • Events Leading up to Trauma

  • DCAP-BTLS: Identify pertinent findings:

    • Deformities

    • Contusions

    • Abrasions

    • Punctures

    • Burns

    • Tenderness

    • Lacerations

    • Swelling

Patient Assessment Tools

  • Baseline Vitals:

    • Breathing statistics and measurements

  • Assessment Charts:

    • Ensure accurate documentation of findings and observations.

Pain and Injury Indicators

  1. DCAP: Deformities include misshapen or misaligned body parts (common in fractures).

  2. BTLS:

    • Bruises indicate blunt trauma.

    • Swelling shows fluid accumulation.

  3. Key Terms:

    • Contusions: Bruising under the skin, indicating trauma.

    • Abrasions: Damage loss to the top layer of skin, characterized by redness and minor bleeding.

    • Burns are categorized by severity (superficial, partial thickness, full thickness).

Emergency Medical Training Schedule

  • Full EMR Actual Teaching Dates:

    • Chapter Details:

    • Monday, February 09, 2026: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Chapter 1

    • Thursday, February 12, 2026: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Chapter 2

    • Subsequent chapters are scheduled leading to March 14, 2026.

Emergency Medical Service (EMS)

Essentials for Effective Response

  • EMS Evolution:

    • Integration and development of emergency care systems since 1941.

    • Emphasis on training, public access, and health service communication.

  • Roles and Responsibilities of EMRs:

    • Primary concern for scene safety (self, crew, patient, public).

    • PPE protocols: Gloves, barrier devices, protective eyewear, masks, gowns.

    • Patient-related duties include proper movement and protection of patient privacy in compliance with HIPAA regulations.

Legal and Ethical Considerations in EMS

Abandonment and Consent

  • Abandonment: Leaving a patient after initiating care is legally unacceptable.

  • Advance Directives: Respecting a patient's wishes even if they are unresponsive.

  • Consent Types:

    • Expressed Consent: Patient gives verbal or nods approval.

    • Implied Consent: Assumed from circumstances or the need for emergency care.

    • Informed Consent: Patient is informed and gives explicit permission.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Infection Prevention

  • PPE and BSI (Body Substance Isolation):

    • Importance of gloves, masks, and hygiene protocols to prevent pathogen transmission.

    • Recommendations for handling potential blood exposure and ensuring personal safety.

Physiology and Basic Medical Terms

Common Prefixes and Suffixes

  • Prefixes:

    • Brady-: Slow

    • Tachy-: Rapid

    • Hemo-: Blood

  • Suffixes:

    • -itis: Inflammation

    • -ectomy: Removal of an organ or tissue.

  • Importance of understanding medical terminology for effective communication and documentation.

Childbirth

Stages and Care Steps

  1. Contractions Begin

  2. Delivery Process

    • Assess if head is presenting part.

    • Perform secondary assessment if delivery is imminent.

  3. Post-Delivery Care:

    • Warm, dry, and stimulate newborn. Prepare for transport if necessary.