Chapter 1; Introduction

Describe at least five steps you can take to protect your own safety as an EMT.

-wear ppe -use seat belts -do not enter potentially hazardous sites -never enter a volatile crowd situation until it has been deemed safe -take extra precautions when dealing with people under the influence -wear reflective vest -create a safe area to treat patients.

Name two ways the public accesses the EMS system. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.

1. universal 911 telephone number; advantages are central dispatch is generally staffed by trained technicians (EMDs), the number is easy to remember, access to police and fire as well as ems 2. a non-911 number. - inherit delay in reaching appropriate services.

List the four levels of prehospital emergency care training.

EMR EMT AEMT Paramedic

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

The level of EMS practitioner who is likely to be the first person on the scene with emergency care training.

quality improvement

a system of internal and external reviews and audits of an ems system to ensure a high quality of care.

Describe the EMT's role in quality improvement

careful documentation on every call becoming involved in the QI process by performing reviews and audits as requested gathering feedback from pts, other ems personnel, and hospital staff conducting preventive maintenance on vehicles and equipment participating in refresher courses and CEs

on-line medical direction

direct orders from a physician to a prehospital care provider given by radio or telephone

prehospital care

emergency medical treatment given to pts before they are transported to a hospital or other facility

Describe evidence-based EMS care

focuses on research to provide substantiation that certain procedures, medications, and equipment improve the pt's outcome. EMS has often had to rely on research conducted fro the emergency department for changes in practice because there is currently limited research in prehospital care

medical direction

medical policies, procedures, and practices that are available to EMS providers either off line or on line.

off-line medical direction

medical policies, procedures, and practices that medical direction has established in written guidelines.

evidence-based medicine

medical practice based on scientific evidence that certain procedures, medications, and equipment improve pt outcome.

List the general responsibilities of an EMT

personal safety and the safety of others, patient assessment and emergency medical care, safe lifting and moving, transport and transfer, record keeping and data collection, and patient advocacy.

medical director

physician who is legally responsible for the clinical and patient care aspects of an EMS system.

Explain the role of the EMT in public health.

play an integral role in the mission of public health through activities such as health education, disease and health screening, disease surveillance and injury prevention through the promotion of safety equipment such as seat belts and helmets.

standing orders

preauthorized treatment procedures; a type of treatment protocol

Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)

the level of EMS practitioner who performs the responsibilities of an EMT with the addition of the use of advanced airway devices, monitoring of blood glucose levels, initiation of intravenous and intraosseous infusions, and administration of a select number of medications.

Emergency Medical Technician

the level of EMS practitioner who provides basic emergency medical care and transportation to the pt who access the EMS system including oxygen therapy and ventilation equipment, pulse oximetry, use of automatic blood pressure monitoring equipment, and limited medication administration.

Paramedic

the level of EMS practitioner who provides the highest level of prehospital care, including advanced assessments and care, formation of a field impression, and invasive and drug interventions.

medical oversight

the medical director's broad responsibilities, including all clinical and administrative functions and activities necessary to exercise ultimate responsibility for the emergency care provided by individual personnel and the entire emergency medical service system.

protocols

the policies and procedures for all components of an ems system

Describe the purpose of the modern EMS system

the purpose of the modern ems system is to allow those who need it easy access, a prompt response, and high-quality prehospital emegency care from trained professionals.

Describe the EMS physician medical director's primary responsibility

to oversee the clinical and pt care aspects of the system. Responsible for providing medical direction by developing and establishing the guidelines under which the emergency medical service personnel function.

List six types of special facilities, other than a hospital emergency department, to which some patients may need to be transported.

trauma centers burn centers ob centers pediatric centers poison centers stroke centers

Describe at least 3 ways you might act as the patient's advocate.

- protect the pt's privacy and confidentiality - be truthful when answering pt's questions -honor pt's request when possible - make sure family knows how to get to the hospital

EMS system

Emergency Medical Service system

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

a federal law passed in 1990 that protects individuals with a documented disability from being denied initial or continued employment based on their disability.

List the goals of quality improvement.

identify those aspects of the system that can be improved and to implement plans and programs that will remedy any shortcomings of the system.