Chapter 1 Introduction To Emergency Medical Care

Front 1

An EMT or other person authorized by a Medical Director to give medication and provide emergency care. The transfer of such authorization to a designated agent is and extension of the Medical Director's license to practice medicine.

Back 1

Designated agent

Front 2

Description of medical techniques or practices that are supported by scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy, rather than merely by supposition and tradition.

Back 2

Evidence-based

Front 3

Oversight of the patient-care aspects of an EMS system by the Medical Director.

Back 3

Medical Direction

Front 4

Consists of standing orders issued by the Medical Director that allows EMTs to give certain medications or perform certain procedures without speaking to the Medical Director or another physician.

Back 4

Off-line medical direction

Front 5

Consists of orders given directly by the on-duty physician to an EMT in the field by radio or telephone

Back 5

On-line medical direction

Front 6

A physician who assumes ultimate responsibility for the patient-care aspects of the EMS system

Back 6

Medical Director

Front 7

A system for telephone access to report emergencies. A dispatcher takes the information and alerts EMS or the fire or police departments as needed. Enhanced 911 has the additional capability of automatically identifying the caller's phone number and location

Back 7

911 System

Front 8

The long-term survival of patients

Back 8

Patient outcomes

Front 9

Lists of steps, such as assessments and interventions, to be taken in different situations. Protocols are developed by the Medical Director or an EMS system.

Back 9

Prorocols

Front 10

A Process of continuous self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement

Back 10

Quality improvement

Front 11

A policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMTs an others to perform particular skills in certain situations

Back 11

Standing orders