Chapter 4: Communications and Documentations

Question 1

What factors and strategies need to be considered for therapeutic communication with patients? (pp 119-133)

Question 2

What are the techniques of effective verbal communication? (pp 122-133)

Question 3

What are the skills that should be used to communicate with family members, bystanders, people from other agencies, and hospital personnel? (pp 122-133)

Question 4

What are some special considerations in communicating with older people, children, patients who are heard of hearing, visually impaired patients and non-english speaking patients? (pp 127-131)

Question 5

What is the use of written communications and documentation? (pp 133-146)

Question 6

What is the purpose of patient care report (PCR) and what is the information required to complete it? (pp 134-143)

Answer 6

The PCR ensures efficient continuity of patient care. Use CHART or SOAPS. Chart is Chief Complaint/Concern, History, Assessments, Treatments, and Transports.

Question 7

What are the legal implications of the PCR? (pp 142-143)

Answer 7

The PCR implies your care for the patient, falsifying any information may result in your license to be revoked

Question 8

How do you document refusal of care? and include legal implications. (pp 143-146)

Answer 8

Document any findings, care given, efforts to get consent, and have a bystander, family, or police officer to sign that the patient refused care. Note patient comments and the medical advice you gave the patient.

Question 9

Discuss state and/or local special reporting requirements? What are some examples? (pp 146)

Answer 9

This could be gunshot wounds, dog bites, abuse.

Question 10

List the correct radio procedures in the following phases of a typical call (pp 151-153)

Answer 10

Initial receipt of call, en route to call, on scene, arrival at hospital (or point of transfer), and return to service.

Question 11

What is the proper sequence of information to communicate in radio delivery of a patient report? (pp 153-156)

Question 12

What are the techniques of successful cross-cultural communication. (p 120)

Question 13

Demonstrate completion of a PCR? (pp 134-143)

Question 14

Make a stimulated concise radio transmission with dispatch. (pp 150-153)

Question 15

Base Station Radio

Answer 15

Any radio hardware the contains a transmitter and a receiver in a fixed position

Question 16

Channel

Answer 16

An assigned frequency/frequencies to carry voice/data communications

Question 17

Are base stations more or less power than mobile/portable radios? Explain.

Answer 17

Base stations usually have more power, often 100 watts or more. They have more efficient antenna systems than mobile or portable radios

Question 18

Dedicated line

Answer 18

Known as a hotline, is used for specific point to point contact, EMS are able to call this number directly without being placed on hold or transferred

Question 19

What is a mobile radio, where is it installed, and what is its power

Answer 19

A mobile radio is used to communicated with the dispatcher/and or medical control. It is installed in the vehicle, and usually would operate at a lower power than a base station.

Question 20

What is the frequency of VHF (Very high frequency) mobile radios?

Answer 20

30-300 MHz

Question 21

What is the frequency of UHF (Ultra-high frequency) mobile radios?

Answer 21

300-3000 MHz

Question 22

How much power to portable radios run on

Answer 22

1-5 watts

Question 23

Repeater

Answer 23

Receives messages on one frequency and automatically retransmits them on a second frequency. It is a base station with a larger antenna. It can receive lower power signals, such as those from a portable radio from a long distance. The signal is then rebroadcasted through its base station.

Question 24

Telemetry

Answer 24

Electronic signals are being converted int coded, audible signals. Can be transmitted by radio or telephone to a receiver with a decoder at the hospital

Question 25

Cellular Telephone

Answer 25

Low-power portable radios that communicate through interconnected repeater stations called cells.

Question 26

Scanner

Answer 26

A radio receiver that searchers/scans across several frequencies and stops when it receives a broadcast and continues ones the message is complete.

Question 27

Simplex

Answer 27

Push to talk, release to listen mode. Radio transmissions can occur either direction but not simultaneously

Question 28

Duplex

Answer 28

Simultaneous talk--listen communications on UHF frequencies and cellular telephones. Can simultaneously transmit and receive communications on one channel

Question 29

Multiplex

Answer 29

2 or more frequencies, enables more than one transmission to occur and provides signals in different channels.

Question 30

MED Channels

Answer 30

Channels that are reserved for EMS use

Question 31

Trunking

Answer 31

800 MHz, assigns many frequencies to a group

Question 32

Interoperable communications system

Answer 32

Allows all agencies to share valuable informations with each other in real time. Uses voice-over-internet protocol to connect landlines, cell phones etc.

Question 33

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Answer 34

Has jurisdiction over interstate and inter national telephone and telegraph services and satelite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity.

Question 35

FCC Five Principal EMS-related Responsibilities

Answer 35

1. Allocate specific radio frequencies for use by EMS providers 2. License base stations and assign appropriate radio call signs for those stations 3. Establish licensing standards and operating specifications for radio equipment used by EMS providers 4. Establish limitations for transmitter power output 5. Monitor radio operations