Chapter 5 Communication

Cellular telephones are more advantageous than regular two-way radios because cellular telephones: Answers: A. incorporate GPS technology to help rescuers find the patient. B. enable laypeople to call 9-1-1 for a minimal service charge. C. can transmit long distances with the use of a mobile antenna. D. do not utilize computer technology and are less likely to fail.

A

Many _________ believe that touching the head may put their soul in jeopardy. Answers: A. Asians B. Muslims C. Thais D. Somalis

A

Notification of EMS usually occurs when: Answers: A. a bystander notifies the dispatcher via telephone. B. EMTs contact an emergency medical dispatcher. C. law enforcement requests assistance via two-way radio. D. a sick or injured patient presents to your EMS station.

A

The purpose of a closed-ended question is to: Answers: A. elicit a specific response from the patient. B. obtain reliable information about a patient's complaint. C. allow the patient to describe what he or she is feeling. D. enable the paramedic to gauge the patient's mentation.

A

The use of telemetry to confirm cardiac rhythms before treatment: Answers: A. is less common as most EMS systems rely on paramedics to assess the cardiac rhythm and make independent treatment decisions. B. is not used for 12-lead ECG transmission because interference and artifact makes identification of a STEMI difficult. C. is required in most modern EMS systems because a cardiologist must confirm the cardiac rhythm before treatment begins. D. is no longer the standard of care because treatment algorithms exist that assist the paramedic in identifying the cardiac rhythm.

A

Under the instructions of a good EMD, a layperson should be able to: Answers: A. perform chest compressions. B. immobilize a person's spine. C. assess a patient's pupils. D. obtain a blood pressure.

A

What is the purpose of a universal timeout? Answers: A. It allows time for all providers to silently review important aspects of a procedure with minimal distraction. B. It enables the paramedic to contact medical control and request permission to perform a high-risk procedure. C. It allows the paramedic to provide better care by removing all bystanders and unnecessary personnel from the scene. D. It enables the paramedic in charge to do his or her job by ensuring that all other personnel at the scene remain silent.

A

When communicating medical information via radio, you should be: Answers: A. simple, brief, and direct. B. thorough yet rapid. C. as expeditious as possible. D. comprehensive but brief.

A

When relaying medical information to a physician in person, you should: Selected Answer: A. include information that you did not provide during your radio report. B. routinely give your report at the patient's bedside so he or she can hear. C. ensure that another physician or a nurse is present to avoid confusion. D. provide a lengthy, detailed report that includes all patient information.

A

When transmitting data over the radio, you should NOT disclose the patient's: Answers: A. date of birth B. age and sex. C. vital signs. D. chief complaint.

A

When transmitting information via radio, you should: Answers: A. use a normal conversational tone of voice. B. keep your mouth 1 inch from the microphone. C. speak with your voice slightly elevated. D. break long messages into 60-second segments.

A

A(n) __________ receives a weak signal and retransmits it at a higher power on another frequency. Answers: A. encoder B. repeater C. simplex D. duplex

B

At minimum, sending the 12-lead ECG of a patient with chest pain to the emergency department physician via telemetry would: Answers: A. enable the paramedic to begin treatment in the field. B. decrease the time from diagnosis to treatment. C. allow the physician to choose the appropriate fibrinolytic. D. decrease the likelihood of prehospital cardiac arrest.

B

In urban settings, radio dead spots MOST often occur in areas with: Answers: A. bodies of water. B. tall buildings. C. high cell phone use. D. a lot of trees.

B

When a caller requests EMS in an area that uses an enhanced 9-1-1 system: Answers: A. known hazards at or near the scene will be displayed on the computer. B. the caller's name and address are automatically displayed. C. the fastest route to the scene will be displayed on the computer. D. the caller's GPS coordinates will display on the computer.

B

When asking a man a question about his chest pain, he responds in a disorganized manner. What should you do? Answers: A. Defer that particular question until the patient is delivered to the hospital. B. Put his response into simpler terms and asks if he agrees with your synopsis. C. Rephrase your question using medical terminology to elicit a reliable response. D. Proceed under the assumption that he is impaired by drugs or alcohol.

B

Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question? Answers: A. "Can you describe the pain you are feeling?" B. "Does the pain radiate to your arm or jaw?" C. "How did you feel when you awoke today?" D. "Can you tell me how this all started?"

B

A _____________ receives a weak signal and retransmits it at a higher power on another frequency. Answers: A. base station B. multiplex system C. repeater D. duplex system

C

Automatic crash notification (ACN) systems can provide all of the following information about a car crash, EXCEPT: Answers: A. whether or not seatbelts were in use at the time of the crash. B. the geographic location of the crash. C. the speed of the other vehicle at the time of the crash. D. the principle direction of force at the impact point.

C

Before you begin to transmit over the radio, you should check the volume and then: Selected Answer: Answers: A. press the transmit key for 1 second before talking. B. key the microphone two or three times to reach the repeater. C. listen to make sure that the channel is clear of traffic. D. turn the squelch setting to zero to ensure a good signal.

C

Compared to lower frequency bands, higher frequency bands: Answers: A. have a longer transmission range. B. are not regulated by the FCC. C. generally have less interference. D. are not effective for public safety use.

C

Mobile transceivers: Answers: A. do not require an externally-mounted antenna. B. have transmission output power of less than 5 watts. C. can have a line of sight range of up to 15 miles. D. are hand-carried devices used for on-scene operations.

C

What is the benefit of communicating over an assigned tactical channel? Answers: A. It ensures that communication is only with law enforcement. B. It enables you to transmit personally identifiable information. C. It leaves the main dispatch channel open for other radio traffic. D. It ensures that no outside party can monitor your communication.

C

When communicating with a patient whose cultural background differs from the paramedic's, the paramedic should: Answers: A. know the specifics about the patient's culture. B. agree with the patient's cultural differences. C. treat the patient with the utmost respect at all times. D. use his or her own culture as the sole reference.

C

When providing patient care, it is MOST important that you maintain effective communication with: Answers: A. medical control. B. the dispatcher. C. your partner. D. bystanders.

C

When relaying critical information using the situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) technique, which component would address the question, "What got us to this point?" Answers: A. Recommendation B. Situation C. Background D. Assessment

C

Which of the following is a drawback of using the ten-code system when communicating by radio? Answers: A. They disclose too much information. B. They do not convey accurate information. C. The codes' meanings vary by jurisdiction. D. They are difficult to hear over the radio.

C

Which of the following statements conveys empathy? Answers: A. "I understand exactly how you feel. In time, this will work out." B. "Based on my assessment, I think you may be having a heart attack." C. "I understand how difficult this must be. I'm here to help you." D. "So if I understand you correctly, you say that you want to kill yourself."

C

Which of the following statements regarding 12-lead ECG telemetry is correct? Answers: A. Telemetry has never proven to increase diagnosis times for patients with a cardiac event. B. A decoder is required to ensure that voice communication does not filter out the ECG. C. Most newer systems use facsimile technology to allow transmission of 12-lead ECGs. D. Telemetry over UHF frequencies enables transmission and analysis of all 12 leads.

C

Biotelemetry is MOST accurately defined as: Answers: A. a common radio frequency assigned to EMS by the Federal Communications Commission. B. linking two frequencies together so that the paramedic and physician can converse directly. C. the ability of more than one public safety agency to share the same radio frequency during a crisis. D. the capability to measure vital signs and ECG tracings and transmit them to a distant terminal.

D

If a patient is reluctant to share personal information with you, you should: Answers: A. advise the patient that treatment cannot begin without it. B. defer all questions and simply transport to the hospital. C. ask a law enforcement officer to obtain the information. D. explain why you need his or her name and date of birth.

D

If you want reliable answers to personal questions, you should: Selected Answer: Answers: A. tell the patient that his or her responses to your questions are confidential. B. tell the patient that personal questions are a routine part of your exam. C. request law enforcement presence when asking a personal question. D. manage the scene so you can ask such questions quietly and privately.

D

In order for the paramedic to talk and transmit an ECG simultaneously on one frequency, a __________ system is required. Answers: A. duplex B. low-band C. simplex D. multiplex

D

Maintaining eye contact with a patient enables the paramedic to: Answers: A. relay the seriousness of the situation. B. rapidly gain any patient's trust. C. defuse a potentially violent situation. D. evaluate the patient's neurologic status.

D

Paramedics respond to a dimly lit bar for a woman with chest pain. The jukebox is playing and several patrons are present. What should they do? Answers: A. Assess the patient only after moving her to the ambulance. B. Order the patrons to leave the scene and begin their assessment. C. Ask the bartender to turn on the lights and turn off the music. D. Move the patient to the restroom and begin their assessment.

D

Repeating the key parts of a patient's responses to your questions demonstrates: Answers: A. sympathy. B. an exchange of information. C. passive communication. D. active listening.

D

The ability of multiple agencies or systems to share the same radio frequency is called: Answers: A. telemetry. B. a duplex. C. patching. D. trunking.

D

The term "frequency," as it applies to radio communications, is MOST accurately defined as: Answers: A. a predefined station designed for emergency use only. B. the number of megahertz per cycle that the radio transmits. C. a relatively long wavelength that produces audible sound. D. the number of oscillations per second of the carrier wave.

D

The use of specialized computer terminals and networks that permit secure two-way transmission of sound, video, ECG tracings, and other diagnostic data is called: Answers: A. interoperability. B. telemetry. C. trunking. D. telemedicine.

D

The use of ten-codes over the radio: Answers: A. should be carried out whenever possible to ensure effective communication. B. increases the likelihood of miscommunication during the radio transmission. C. is prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and should be avoided. D. is not recommended by the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

D