EMT-B Chapter 1

Advanced Life Support
ALS

Advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT-B

Americans With Disabilities Act
ADA

Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect individuals w/ disabilities against discrimination

Automated External Defibrillator
AED

Device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation & ventricular tachycardia) & delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the PT.

Continuous Quality Improvement
CQI

System of internal & external reviews & audits of all aspect sof an EMS system

Emergency Medical Dispatch
EMD

System that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance & in providing callers w/ vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews

Emergency Medical Services
EMS

A multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals & agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick & injured

Emergency Medical Technician
EMT

A medical professional who is trained & certified/licensed by his/her state to provide emergency life support prior to or w/ more advanced medical providers

EMT-Basic
EMT-B

An EMT who has training in BLS, including AED, use of definitive airway adjunct & assisting PTs w/ certain medications

EMT-Intermediate
EMT-I

An EMT who has training in specific aspects of ALS, such as IV(intravenous) therapy, interpretation of cardiac rhythms & defibrillation & orotracheal intubation

EMT-Paramedic
EMT-P

An EMT who has extensive training in ALS, including IV therapy, pharmacology, cardiac monitoring & other advanced assessment & treatment skills

first responder

first trained individual, such as a police officer, firefighter, lifeguard or other rescuer, to arrive @ the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
HIPAA

Federal Legislation passed in 1996
Main effect in EMS is limiting availability of PT's heath care info. & penalizing violations of PT privacy

intravenous (IV) therapy

the delivery of medication directly into a vein

medical control

Physician instructions that are given directly via radio/cell phone (online/direct) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line/indirectly), as authorized by the medical director of the service program

medical director

the physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field

Primary Service Area
PSA

the designated area in which the EMS service is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care & transportation to the hospital

quality control

the responsibility of the medical director to ensure that the appropriate medical care standards are met by the EMT-Bs on each call