Emergency Care (Chapter 1) Introduction To Emergency Medical Care

Front 1

Trauma Center

Back 1

Surgery teams are available 24-hours a day

Front 2

911 System

Back 2

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 callers phone number and location.

Front 3

EMD

Back 3

Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Front 4

First Responder

Back 4

Police officers, firefighters, industrial health personnel.

Immediate care, controlling the scene, preparing for the arrival of the ambulance.

Front 5

EMT-Basic

Back 5

Minimum leve of certification for ambulance personnel.

Front 6

EMT-Intermediate

Back 6

Additional Training (advanced life support)

Initiation of IV (intravenous) lines, advanced airway techniques, administration of some medications beyond those the EMT is permitted to administer.

Front 7

EMT-Paramedic

Back 7

Can perform relatively invasive field care.

Insertion of endotracheal tubes, initiation of IV lines, administration of a variety of medications, interpretation of electrocardiograms, and cardiac defibrillation--preformed at a more advanced level.

Front 8

EMT Responsibilities

Back 8

Preparation, a safe response to the scene, safe transportation to the hospital, and transferring the patient to hospital personnel for continuity of care.

Front 9

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Safety Concerns

Back 9

Danger from other human beings,
animals,
unstable buildings,
fires,
explosions,
etc.

Front 10

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Patient Assessment

Back 10

Finding out enough about what is wrong with your patient to be able to provide the appropriate emergency care.

ASSESSMENT ALWAYS PRECEDES EMERGENCY CARE

Front 11

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Patient Care

Back 11

An action or series of actions that you take in order to help your patient deal with and survive their illness or injury.

Front 12

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Lifting and Moving

Back 12

You must preform without injury to yourself and without aggravating or adding to the patients existing injuries.

Front 13

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Transportation

Back 13

Securing and caring for the patient in the ambulance while it is moving.

Front 14

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Transfer of Care

Back 14

Provide information on the patient's condition, your observations of the scene, or other important data so that there will be continuity in the patient's care.

YOU MUST NEVER ABANDON CARE OF THE PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL UNTIL TRANSFER TO HOSPITAL PERSONNEL HAS BEEN PROPERLY COMPLETED.

Front 15

Responsibilities of the EMT:
Patient Advocacy

Back 15

You are the person who speaks up for your patient.

You may perform a task as important as reporting information that will enable the hospital staff to save the patients life--or as simple as making sure a relative of the patient is notified.

Front 16

Quality Improvement

Back 16

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

Front 17

Quality Care

Back 17

- Keeping carefully written documentation
- Becoming involved in the quality process
- Obtaining feedback from patients and the hospital staff
- Maintaining your equipment
- Continuing your education

Front 18

Medical Director

Back 18

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

Front 19

Medical Direction

Back 19

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

Front 20

Off-Line Medical Direction

Back 20

Consists of standing orders issued by the Medical Director that allow EMT's to give certain medications or preform certain procedures without speaking to the Medical Director or another physician.

Front 21

On-Line Medical Direction

Back 21

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

Front 22

Protocols

Back 22

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

Front 23

Designated Agent

Back 23

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

Front 24

Standing Orders

Back 24

A policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMT's and others to preform particular skills in certain situations.