Chapter 1 - Introduction to Emergency Medical Care

Question 1

Key Term:

an EMT or other person authorized by a Medical Director to give medications and provide emergency care.

Answer 1

Designated Agent

Question 2

Key Term:

description of medical techniques or practices that are supported by scientific evidence and efficiency, rather than merely by supposition and tradition.

Answer 2

Evidence-Based

Question 3

Key Term:

oversight of the patient-care aspects of an EMS system by the Medical Director

Answer 3

Medical Direction

Question 4

Key Term:

a physician who assumes ultimate responsibility for the patient-care aspects of the EMS system

Answer 4

Medical Director

Question 5

Key Term:

a system for telephone access to report emergencies

Answer 5

911 System

Question 6

Key Term:

standing orders issued by the Medical Director that allows EMTs to give certain medications or perform certain procedures without speaking to the Medical Director or another physician

Answer 6

Off-line medical direction

Question 7

Key Term:

orders from the on-duty physician given directly to an EMT in the field by radio or telephone

Answer 7

On-line medical direction

Question 8

Key Term:

the long-term survival of patients

Answer 8

Patient outcomes

Question 9

Key Term:

lists of steps, such as assessments and interventions, to be taken in different situations

Answer 9

Protocols

Question 10

Key Term:

a process of continuous self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement

Answer 10

Quality improvement

Question 11

Key Term:

a policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMTs and others to perform particular skills in certain situations

Answer 11

Standing orders

Question 12

Short Answer:

What are the primary components of the Emergency Medical Services system?

Answer 12

911 and Emergency Medical Dispatchers
Emergency Medical Responders
EMTs (all levels) and Ambulances
Emergency Department and other hospitals

Question 13

Short Answer:

What are some of the special designations that hospitals may have?

Answer 13

Trauma Centers
Burn Centers
Pediatric Care Centers
Poison Control Centers
Cardiac Centers
Stroke Centers

Question 14

Short Answer:

What are the four national levels of EMS training and certification?

Answer 14

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
Paramedic

Question 15

Short Answer:

What are the roles and responsibilities of the EMT?

Answer 15

- Safety of the crew, patient, and 
bystanders
 - Patient assessment
 - Patient care
 - Lifting and moving
 - Transport
 - Transfer of care
 - Patient advocacy 
 - Promotion of public health and safety

Question 16

Short Answer:

What are desirable personal and physical attributes of the EMT?

Answer 16

• Being in good health and able to lift and carry up to 125 pounds
• Having good eyesight and hearing
• Being able to clearly communicate in written and oral forms
• Being pleasant, sincere, cooperative, resourceful, a self-starter, emotionally stable to lead, and neat and clean

Question 17

Short Answer: What is the definition of the term quality improvement?

Answer 17

Quality improvement is a process of continuous self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement.

Question 18

Short Answer: What is the difference between on-line and off-line medical direction?

Answer 18

The difference between on-line and off-line medical direction, the on-duty physician gives orders directly to the EMT by telephone or radio. In off-line medical direction, the EMT carries out written standing orders from the Medical Director.