PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE
ELEVENTH EDITION EXAM PREP 2026
QUESTION BANK AND ANSWER KEY
EMERGENCY MEDICAL MASTER SET
◉ Prehospital care report (PCR)
Answer: A document of data filled out for each patient in all
emergency calls, either in the form of a written or electronic
(computer) record. Documentation is used to ensure that the patient
receives the best/most appropriate continuity of care by medical
personnel. The PCR serves as a record for legal and billing purposes.
This document also provides data for education, research, and
Quality Improvement processes.
◉ Minimum Data Set (MDS)
Answer: Standardized information that the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) recommends all patient care reports include
◉ MDS - Patient Information
Answer: Chief complaint, Level of responsiveness (AVPU) - mental
status, Blood pressure (Pt older than 3 y/o), Skin perfusion -
capillary refill (Pt less than 6 y/o), Skin
,color/temperature/condition, Pulse rate, Respiratory rate and effort,
Patient demographics (age, sex, race, weight).
◉ MDS - Administrative Information
Answer: Time incident was reported, time unit was notified, time of
arrival at patient, time unit left the scene, time unit arrive at
destination (hospital, care facility), time of transfer of care. Times
are recorded through a synchronous clock (timekeeping devices that
are accurately set and agree with each other). Additional
Information may also include: EMS unit number, run/call number,
names of crew members and levels of certification (EMT, AEMT,
Paramedic), and address to which unit was dispatched.
◉ PCR - Patient Demographics
Answer: Most systems require the following patient information in
the PCR: (a) Patient's legal name, age, sex, race, birth date; (b)
Patient's home address; (c) Insurance or billing information; (d)
Location where patient was found; (e) Any care given before the
arrival of the EMTs
◉ Base-Line Vital Signs
Answer: First (initial) set of vital signs obtained for patient at the
scene which includes blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and
effort/quality, skin perfusion (capillary refill), skin
color/temperature/ and condition. Patient's position at the time the
vital signs were take should be noted (supine, standing, sitting).
,◉ Trending Vital Signs
Answer: Second or subsequent set of vital signs obtained after the
base-line set. If a patient is unstable, vital signs will be obtained
every 5 minutes. If a patient is stable, vital signs will be obtained
every 15 minutes.
◉ Patient Narrative
Answer: A section on the prehospital care report (PRC) where the
assessment and care provided to the patient are described.
Information should include: (a) patient's chief complaint, (b)
patent's history, (c) description of mechanism of injury if
appropriate - traumatic injury. In this section of the PRC, the EMT
will "create a picture of the patient and his/her problem" recording
details for other medical personnel to use.
◉ Objective information
Answer: Factual information that is measurable or verifiable in some
way, such as vital signs that can be measured or observations that
the EMT can make using his/her senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch)
◉ Subjective information
Answer: Information based on an individual's perceptions or
interpretations which can be gained by questioning the patient.
Symptoms stated by the patient are subjective findings.
, ◉ Pertinent negatives
Answer: Signs and symptoms that might be expected, based on the
chief complaint, but that the patient denies having. Examples: (a)
denial of back or neck pain after an automobile crash; (b) lack of
difficulty breathing in a case of chest pain.
◉ PRC - Treatment
Answer: Chronological listing of all treatments administered to the
patient and what time they were administered including: (a)
medications administered and dosage used, (b) airway adjunct
utilized and oxygen flow rate, (c) care for sustained injuries, and (d)
indications of how the patient responded to treatment - whether
patient improved or deteriorated following treatment.
◉ S in SOAP (mnemonic)
Answer: Subjective - Refers to information that the patient must tell
you such as symptoms that the patient describes having
◉ O in SOAP (mnemonic)
Answer: Objective - Refers to information that you identify in the
physical examination through inspection (visual observation),
palpation (touching, feeling) and auscultation (listening, may be
aided with the use of a stethoscope). This information includes vital
signs obtained for patient.
ELEVENTH EDITION EXAM PREP 2026
QUESTION BANK AND ANSWER KEY
EMERGENCY MEDICAL MASTER SET
◉ Prehospital care report (PCR)
Answer: A document of data filled out for each patient in all
emergency calls, either in the form of a written or electronic
(computer) record. Documentation is used to ensure that the patient
receives the best/most appropriate continuity of care by medical
personnel. The PCR serves as a record for legal and billing purposes.
This document also provides data for education, research, and
Quality Improvement processes.
◉ Minimum Data Set (MDS)
Answer: Standardized information that the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) recommends all patient care reports include
◉ MDS - Patient Information
Answer: Chief complaint, Level of responsiveness (AVPU) - mental
status, Blood pressure (Pt older than 3 y/o), Skin perfusion -
capillary refill (Pt less than 6 y/o), Skin
,color/temperature/condition, Pulse rate, Respiratory rate and effort,
Patient demographics (age, sex, race, weight).
◉ MDS - Administrative Information
Answer: Time incident was reported, time unit was notified, time of
arrival at patient, time unit left the scene, time unit arrive at
destination (hospital, care facility), time of transfer of care. Times
are recorded through a synchronous clock (timekeeping devices that
are accurately set and agree with each other). Additional
Information may also include: EMS unit number, run/call number,
names of crew members and levels of certification (EMT, AEMT,
Paramedic), and address to which unit was dispatched.
◉ PCR - Patient Demographics
Answer: Most systems require the following patient information in
the PCR: (a) Patient's legal name, age, sex, race, birth date; (b)
Patient's home address; (c) Insurance or billing information; (d)
Location where patient was found; (e) Any care given before the
arrival of the EMTs
◉ Base-Line Vital Signs
Answer: First (initial) set of vital signs obtained for patient at the
scene which includes blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and
effort/quality, skin perfusion (capillary refill), skin
color/temperature/ and condition. Patient's position at the time the
vital signs were take should be noted (supine, standing, sitting).
,◉ Trending Vital Signs
Answer: Second or subsequent set of vital signs obtained after the
base-line set. If a patient is unstable, vital signs will be obtained
every 5 minutes. If a patient is stable, vital signs will be obtained
every 15 minutes.
◉ Patient Narrative
Answer: A section on the prehospital care report (PRC) where the
assessment and care provided to the patient are described.
Information should include: (a) patient's chief complaint, (b)
patent's history, (c) description of mechanism of injury if
appropriate - traumatic injury. In this section of the PRC, the EMT
will "create a picture of the patient and his/her problem" recording
details for other medical personnel to use.
◉ Objective information
Answer: Factual information that is measurable or verifiable in some
way, such as vital signs that can be measured or observations that
the EMT can make using his/her senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch)
◉ Subjective information
Answer: Information based on an individual's perceptions or
interpretations which can be gained by questioning the patient.
Symptoms stated by the patient are subjective findings.
, ◉ Pertinent negatives
Answer: Signs and symptoms that might be expected, based on the
chief complaint, but that the patient denies having. Examples: (a)
denial of back or neck pain after an automobile crash; (b) lack of
difficulty breathing in a case of chest pain.
◉ PRC - Treatment
Answer: Chronological listing of all treatments administered to the
patient and what time they were administered including: (a)
medications administered and dosage used, (b) airway adjunct
utilized and oxygen flow rate, (c) care for sustained injuries, and (d)
indications of how the patient responded to treatment - whether
patient improved or deteriorated following treatment.
◉ S in SOAP (mnemonic)
Answer: Subjective - Refers to information that the patient must tell
you such as symptoms that the patient describes having
◉ O in SOAP (mnemonic)
Answer: Objective - Refers to information that you identify in the
physical examination through inspection (visual observation),
palpation (touching, feeling) and auscultation (listening, may be
aided with the use of a stethoscope). This information includes vital
signs obtained for patient.
