EMD Questions & Solutions

EMD Questions & Solutions Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) combination of telecommunications skills and medical knowledge Determine Nature of Call without diagnosing the medical problem or condition Successful E.M.D should be clear, concise and use accurate speech Law Enforcement Police officers are also part of many E.M.S systems Hospital/Emergency Care Facilities Hospital emergency departments and other emergency care facilities also are included in most E.M.S systems Tiers of E.M.S System Structure - First Responders provide immediate response to events that are determined to be highly urgent - Advanced Life Support (ALS) - Many E.M.S systems have air-ambulance support available if needed Myths/Facts of E.M.D MYTH: All E.M.S calls must be answered with lights and siren MYTH: Using the E.M.D Guidecards increases the amount of time and resources required to process a call (FACT: Sometimes response time even decreases) FACT: C.P.R instructor certification is not as vital as being able to tell a caller how to do it via telephone instructions using the approved E.M.D Guidecards Liability you are ultimately responsible for your actions Negligence Intent to harm is not required to prove this Proximate Cause/Causation Plaintiff has to show a direct relationship between the action or inaction of the E.M.D and the injury and claimed damages to the patient Good Samaritan Laws These laws do not apply to you while on the job Patient Confidentiality Medical calls demand a higher standard of this HIV Patients These patients can and have been discriminated against and it is for this reason that the US Dept of Justice recommends against relaying this information about them Standard of Care Judged in comparison to: - others with similar training and experience - locally approved guidecards - local or state statutes - professional standards Risk Management To reduce liability; it must be approached at two levels - agency and individual Personal Risk Management Follow the guidecards instructions word-for-word. Always start with instructions as written and reword only if the caller doesn't understand you Sources of Litigation Not providing instructions when they are needed and you have the time; certification and guidecards for it Resource Allocation One of most important functions of an E.M.D. It demands an in-depth knowledge of the local E.M.S system. Knowing the capabilities of each and understanding what they can and cannot do Response Mode how they get to the scene (lights and siren or no lights and siren) Determining Appropriate Resources - Obtaining the proper information - Knowledge and use of your E.M.D Guidecards - Recognizing when specialty resources are needed E.M.D Guidecards Provide the key questions designed to help determine what is happening medically. The cards then give information about what resources are to be sent and if any medical instructions are warranted. If instructions are needed, the E.M.D Guidecards make giving medical information consistent and accurate. All Callers Interrogation to gather information upon which dispatch and pre-arrival instruction decisions can be made Scripted Medical Instructions These cards must be read directly to the caller, word-for-word. Gathering Info Order The order is VERY important. Where, What, Who, How and When. Where? Get the address first! Three Call Types Individual Chief Complaints Traumatic Incidents Time/Life Critical Events Three Phases of Dispatch Function Phase 1 - Call-Receiving Activities (Collect) - an E.M.D takes an incoming call and goes through an "All Callers Interrogation" sequence Phase 2 - Dispatch Activities (Dispatch) Phase 3 - Post-Dispatch Activities ( Provide) - providing medical instructions as indicated by the E.M.D Guidecards Hysteria Threshold "an emotional state that prevents callers from being focused during the interrogation process." - Until you break through a caller's hysteria threshold you cannot control the call Insufficient information If after talking with a caller, you find you don't have enough information, or the responding personnel need further information, then you need to be able to reach the caller, so get a call-back number Trauma cases USE EXTREME CAUTION. Additional movement of the victim may cause further injury Screaming/Emotional Callers Never allow a caller's emotional status to dictate a response mode. Different people react to emergency situations in different ways. Unfamiliar Medical Information Just because you have never heard of a particular medical condition or term, does not mean it is more severe than one you have heard of. Nervous System controls all of your body functions and allows for interaction with the outside world Circulatory System composed of the heart, arteries, capillaries and veins Respiratory System it also helps maintain your body temperature, known as "temperature regulation" Digestive System responsible for your eating, digesting food and liquids and eliminating waste Female Reproductive System made of the organs necessary for reproduction, including the birth canal The Skin - the outer covering of the body, is the largest organ of the body. - Serves as a protective barrier against microorganisms, protects the soft tissues and organs below it from injuries - acts like insulation against heat and cold - It even helps remove wastes from the body through sweat Vital Signs - are used by the responding personnel as well as the E.M.D to determine the severity of the patient's condition - Vital signs are: Pulse, Blood Pressure, Respirations, Temperature, Skin and Pupils Levels of Consciousness Acronym is AVPU Alert (Highest level of consciousness) Verbal Pain Unresponsive (lowest and most dangerous level of consciousness)