Santa Clara County EMS – Questions With Detailed
Explanations
What type of incidents are considered Level A? Correct Answer - -
Deviation from EMS agency policy with patient harm
- Medication or procedural errors with patient harm
- Failure to respond to requests for aid
- Equipment failur with patient harm
How soon must you report a Level A variance? Correct Answer -
Immediately report to EMS Duty Chief
Who must be notified ASAP for Level A variances? Correct Answer - EMS
Duty Chief
What type of incidents are considered Level B variances? Correct Answer -
- Potential clinical care variance
- Poor interagency coordination
- Communications system variance
How soon must you report a Level B variance? Correct Answer - Within
5 business days to EMS agency
What type of incidents are considered Level C variances? Correct Answer -
- Good patient outcome
- Outstanding customer service
- Positive provider agency/hospital cooperation
What form would you use to file a variance report? Where can you find it?
Correct Answer - EMS form #903. Found online on website
How will policy implementation be disseminated to you? Correct Answer -
From NORCAL representative or through email or physically posted at
stations
What other resources do you have to find new policies and updates? Correct
Answer - Social media
, When an MCU alert occurs with 5+ patients, is a PCR required? Correct
Answer - No. Use an approved tracking tool instead: Triage tag if agency
allows
For IFT transports, what form of communication is used for ring-downs?
Correct Answer - County radio or company phone
What alerts require use of county radio? Correct Answer - - Trauma
alerts
- STEMI alerts
- Critical patient alerts using lights and sirens
What information is required when giving a "DECON ALERT" ring-down?
Correct Answer - - Chemical name
- Decon methods used
- DOT reference #
- Appropriate treatment
- Routine patient notification report
- Request appropriate representative meet ambulance to evaluate patient
before entry
Who should ask to meet you in ED bay for an exposure-risk patient? Correct
Answer - Appropriate representative
Which EMS providers are allowed to make Base Hospital contact? Correct
Answer - Medics
Who are legally authorized to refuse care? Correct Answer - - 18 yrs +
- Legal minor authorized to consent/refuse
- A legal representative who is not suicidal or in psychiatric hold
An individual is not legally authorized to refuse care if they are: Correct
Answer - - Suicidal
- On psychiatric hold
- Without capacity
- Minor
What are the obvious signs of death an EMT can pronounce? Correct
Answer - - Decapitation
Explanations
What type of incidents are considered Level A? Correct Answer - -
Deviation from EMS agency policy with patient harm
- Medication or procedural errors with patient harm
- Failure to respond to requests for aid
- Equipment failur with patient harm
How soon must you report a Level A variance? Correct Answer -
Immediately report to EMS Duty Chief
Who must be notified ASAP for Level A variances? Correct Answer - EMS
Duty Chief
What type of incidents are considered Level B variances? Correct Answer -
- Potential clinical care variance
- Poor interagency coordination
- Communications system variance
How soon must you report a Level B variance? Correct Answer - Within
5 business days to EMS agency
What type of incidents are considered Level C variances? Correct Answer -
- Good patient outcome
- Outstanding customer service
- Positive provider agency/hospital cooperation
What form would you use to file a variance report? Where can you find it?
Correct Answer - EMS form #903. Found online on website
How will policy implementation be disseminated to you? Correct Answer -
From NORCAL representative or through email or physically posted at
stations
What other resources do you have to find new policies and updates? Correct
Answer - Social media
, When an MCU alert occurs with 5+ patients, is a PCR required? Correct
Answer - No. Use an approved tracking tool instead: Triage tag if agency
allows
For IFT transports, what form of communication is used for ring-downs?
Correct Answer - County radio or company phone
What alerts require use of county radio? Correct Answer - - Trauma
alerts
- STEMI alerts
- Critical patient alerts using lights and sirens
What information is required when giving a "DECON ALERT" ring-down?
Correct Answer - - Chemical name
- Decon methods used
- DOT reference #
- Appropriate treatment
- Routine patient notification report
- Request appropriate representative meet ambulance to evaluate patient
before entry
Who should ask to meet you in ED bay for an exposure-risk patient? Correct
Answer - Appropriate representative
Which EMS providers are allowed to make Base Hospital contact? Correct
Answer - Medics
Who are legally authorized to refuse care? Correct Answer - - 18 yrs +
- Legal minor authorized to consent/refuse
- A legal representative who is not suicidal or in psychiatric hold
An individual is not legally authorized to refuse care if they are: Correct
Answer - - Suicidal
- On psychiatric hold
- Without capacity
- Minor
What are the obvious signs of death an EMT can pronounce? Correct
Answer - - Decapitation
