Chapter 3

Which aspect of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel?

protecting privacy

When is forcible restraint permitted?

when pt poses threat to himself and others

To help protect patients, EMS agencies are required to have

a privacy officer answer questions

Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence?

Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation

In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information?

The patient is competent and signs a release form

In which of the following situations does a legal duty to act clearly exist?

A call is received 15 minutes prior to shift change

Which of the following general statements regarding consent is correct?

A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated

Which of the following statements about the patient care report is correct?

It is difficult to prove actions were performed if they are not included on the report

You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?

Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital

During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you:

are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand

You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious; has slow, shallow breathing; and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient, but they are unable to locate it. You should:

begin treatment and contact medical control as needed

Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor?

drivers license

You are called to attend to an elderly patient with an extensive medical history who is now in cardiac arrest. The patient's family tells you that the patient has a DNR order. There is no paperwork available but the patient does have a MedicAlert bracelet indicating Do Not Resuscitate. You should:

confirm the patient identity and then confirm the DNR by calling the MedicAlert Foundation number on the bracelet

Putrefaction is defined as:

decomposition of body tissues

When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to:

exercise reasonable care and act prudently

Which type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?

expressed

You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:

have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased.

As an EMT, the standards of emergency care are often partially based on:

locally accepted protocols

The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the:

medical director

Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include:

not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons