Chapter 3: Communications And Documentation

Question 1

Chief Complaint

Answer 1

The reason a patient called for help; also, the patient’s response to questions such as ‘What’s wrong?’ or ‘What happened?’

Question 2

Chief Concern

Answer 2

The condition requiring the most urgent intervention as determined by the provider’s assessment of the patient; it is not always the same as the chief complaint.

Question 3

Closed-ended Questions

Answer 3

Questions that can be answered in short or single-word responses.

Question 4

Communication

Answer 4

The transmission of information to another person verbally or through body language.

Question 5

Cultural Imposition

Answer 5

When one person imposes his or her beliefs, values, and practices on another because he or she believes his or her ideals are superior.

Question 6

Dedicated Line

Answer 6

A special telephone line that is used for specific point-to-point communications; also known as a hotline.

Question 7

Documentation

Answer 7

The recorded portion of the EMT’s patient interaction, either written or electronic. This becomes part of the patient’s permanent medical record.

Question 8

Duplex

Answer 8

The ability to transmit and receive simultaneously.

Question 9

Emotional Intelligence

Answer 9

The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and properly respond to the emotions of others.

Question 10

Ethnocentrism

Answer 10

When a person considers his or her own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture.

Question 11

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Answer 11

The federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate and international telephone and telegraph services and satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity.

Question 12

Handover

Answer 12

The transfer of pertinent patient information and the responsibility for the patient’s care; often involves the physical movement of the patient and associated equipment; also known as handoff.

Question 13

Health Information Exchange (HIE)

Answer 13

A system that allows EMS providers to access relevant health data (e.g., past medical problems, medications, allergies, end-of-life decisions), avoid unnecessary duplication of effort in data entry, and view patient outcomes related to hospital care.

Question 14

Interoperable Communications System

Answer 14

A communication system that uses voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) technology to allow multiple agencies to communicate and transmit data.

Question 15

MED Channels

Answer 15

VHF and UHF channels that the Federal Communications Commission has designated exclusively for EMS use.

Question 16

Mental Model

Answer 16

The picture an individual has in his or her head of ‘what’s going on’ in a given situation.

Question 17

Mission-critical Communications

Answer 17

Any communications where disruption will result in the failure of the mission at hand.

Question 18

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

Answer 18

A small computer terminal inside the ambulance that directly receives data from the dispatch center.

Question 19

Multiplex

Answer 19

The ability to transmit audio and data signals through the use of more than one communications channel.

Question 20

Noise

Answer 20

Anything that dampens or obscures the true meaning of a message.

Question 21

Open-ended Questions

Answer 21

Questions for which the patient must provide detail to give an answer.

Question 22

Paging

Answer 22

The use of a radio signal and a voice or digital message that is transmitted to pagers (‘beepers’) or desktop monitor radios.

Question 23

Patient Care Report (PCR)

Answer 23

The legal document used to record all patient care activities. This report has direct patient care functions but also administrative and quality control functions. PCRs are also known as prehospital care reports.

Question 24

Rapport

Answer 24

A trusting relationship that you build with your patient.

Question 25

Repeater

Answer 25

A special base station radio that receives messages and signals on one frequency and then automatically retransmits them on a second frequency.

Question 26

Scanner

Answer 26

A radio receiver that searches or scans across several frequencies until the message is completed; the process is then repeated.

Question 27

Simplex

Answer 27

Single-frequency radio; transmissions can occur in either direction but not simultaneously; when one party transmits, the other can only receive, and the party that is transmitting is unable to receive.

Question 28

Standing Orders

Answer 28

Written documents, signed by the EMS system's medical director, that outline specific directions, permissions, and sometimes prohibitions regarding patient care; also called protocols.

Question 29

Telemetry

Answer 29

A process in which electronic signals are converted into coded, audible signals; these signals can then be transmitted by radio or telephone to a receiver with a decoder at the hospital.

Question 30

Therapeutic Communication

Answer 30

Verbal and nonverbal communication techniques that encourage patients to express their feelings and to achieve a positive relationship.

Question 31

Trunking

Answer 31

Telecommunication systems that allow a computer to maximize utilization of a group of frequencies.

Question 32

Ultra High Frequency (UHF)

Answer 32

Radio frequencies between 300 and 3,000 MHz.

Question 33

Very High Frequency (VHF)

Answer 33

Radio frequencies between 30 and 300 MHz; the VHF spectrum is further divided into high and low bands.