Term
|
Definition
| an individual who has training in specific aspects of advanced life support, such as intravenous therapy, and the administration of certain emergency medications |
|
|
Term
| advanced life support (ALS) |
|
Definition
| advanced lifesaving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT |
|
|
Term
| Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) |
|
Definition
| Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect individuals with disabilities against discrimination |
|
|
Term
automated external defibrillator (AED) |
|
Definition
| a device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a process in which a person, an institution, or a program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain predetermined standards to provide safe and ethical care |
|
|
Term
| continuous quality improvement (CQI) |
|
Definition
| a system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system |
|
|
Term
| emergency medical dispatch (EMD) |
|
Definition
| a system that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and in providing callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews |
|
|
Term
| emergency medical responder (EMR) |
|
Definition
| the first trained individual, such as a police officer, fire fighter, lifeguard or other rescuer, to arrive at the scene of an emergency to provide initial medical assistance |
|
|
Term
| emergency medical services (EMS) |
|
Definition
| a multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured |
|
|
Term
| emergency medical technician (EMT) |
|
Definition
| an individual who has training in basic life support, including automated external defibrillation, use of a definitive airway adjunct, and assisting with patients with certain medications |
|
|
Term
| Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) |
|
Definition
| Federal legislation passed in 1996. Its main effect in EMS is in limiting availability of patients' health care information and penalizing violations of patient privacy |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the delivery of medication directly into a vein |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the process whereby a state allows individuals to perform a regulated act |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| physician instructions that are given directly by radio or cell phone (online/direct) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line/indirect), as authorized by the medical director of the service program |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field |
|
|
Term
| National EMS Scope of Practice Model |
|
Definition
| a document created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that outlines the skills performed by various EMS providers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an individual who has extensive training in advanced life support, including endotracheal intubation, emergency pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring |
|
|
Term
| Primary Service Area (PSA) |
|
Definition
| the designated area in which the EMS service is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems |
|
|
Term
| public safety access point |
|
Definition
| a call center, staffed by trained personel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire fighting, and ambulance services |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the responsibility of the medical director to ensure that the appropriate medical care standards are met by EMTs on each call |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent |
|
|
