SANTA CLARA COUNTY EMS PARAMEDIC PROTOCOL
EMERGENCY CARE STANDARDS EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALS.
Section 1: System Operations and Policy Framework (Questions 1-
10)
1. What is the minimum passing score required for the Santa Clara County EMS
System Orientation Exam?
Correct answers: 85%
Rationale: According to Santa Clara County EMS Policy, the examination consists of 50
questions and requires a minimum score of 85% to successfully pass. Applicants are
limited to three attempts within a twelve-month period .
2. Which policy covers System Variance Reporting?
Correct answers: Policy 108
Rationale: Policy 108 establishes the standards for reporting variances within the Santa
Clara County EMS system. It defines the three levels of variances (A, B, C) and establishes
reporting timelines and requirements .
3. What type of incidents are considered Level A variances?
,Correct answers:
1. Gross negligence
2. Fraud of certifications
3. Repeated negligence/incompetence
4. Any deviation from policy with patient harm
5. Medication/procedural errors with patient harm
6. Failure or refusal to respond to a request for aid
7. Equipment failure with patient harm
Rationale: Level A variances represent the most serious deviations involving patient
harm, negligence, or fraud. These must be reported immediately to the EMS Duty Chief
and within 24 hours to the EMS Agency via Form 903 .
4. What is the maximum time to report a Level A variance?
Correct answers: 24 hours (reported immediately to EMS Duty Chief)
Rationale: Level A variances require IMMEDIATE notification to the EMS On-Duty Chief
via County Communications, followed by submission of the EMS System Variance
Report Form (EMS Form 903) within 24 hours .
5. What is the maximum time to report a Level B variance?
Correct answers: Within five (5) business days
Rationale: Level B variances involve deviations that do NOT result in patient harm but
represent a deviation from policies, procedures, or protocols. These include potential
,clinical care variances, policy variances, poor interagency coordination, public
complaints, communications system variances, or equipment failures .
6. What is the maximum time to report a Level C variance?
Correct answers: 7 business days
Rationale: Level C variances are positive reports documenting when responders
provided outstanding care and went above and beyond normal expectations. Examples
include good patient outcomes, outstanding customer service, positive provider-agency
cooperation, and field providers exceeding normal expectations .
7. What form is used to file a variance report?
Correct answers: EMS Form #903 (System Performance Variance Report)
Rationale: All variance reports must be submitted using EMS Form #903. This form is
used for tracking and documenting all Level A, B, and C variances within the Santa Clara
County EMS system .
8. How will policy implementation be disseminated to EMS personnel?
Correct answers: Via the EMS Program Manager
, Rationale: Policy 109 (Policy Development and Implementation) specifies that the EMS
Program Manager is responsible for disseminating policy implementation information to
EMS personnel .
9. Who is the Medical/Health Operational Area Coordinator for Santa Clara
County?
Correct answers: County Health Officer
Rationale: The County Health Officer serves as the Medical/Health Operational Area
Coordinator for Santa Clara County. This role coordinates medical and health resources
during emergencies and operational area activations .
10. How many acute hospitals are in Santa Clara County?
Correct answers: 12 Acute Hospitals (11 emergency departments)
Rationale: Santa Clara County has 12 acute care hospitals, of which 11 have emergency
departments. These hospitals serve approximately 1.8 million residents and 2.2 million
daytime population .
Section 2: Communications and Hospital Reports (Questions 11-
20)
11. What alerts require use of the county radio for hospital ringdowns?
EMERGENCY CARE STANDARDS EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALS.
Section 1: System Operations and Policy Framework (Questions 1-
10)
1. What is the minimum passing score required for the Santa Clara County EMS
System Orientation Exam?
Correct answers: 85%
Rationale: According to Santa Clara County EMS Policy, the examination consists of 50
questions and requires a minimum score of 85% to successfully pass. Applicants are
limited to three attempts within a twelve-month period .
2. Which policy covers System Variance Reporting?
Correct answers: Policy 108
Rationale: Policy 108 establishes the standards for reporting variances within the Santa
Clara County EMS system. It defines the three levels of variances (A, B, C) and establishes
reporting timelines and requirements .
3. What type of incidents are considered Level A variances?
,Correct answers:
1. Gross negligence
2. Fraud of certifications
3. Repeated negligence/incompetence
4. Any deviation from policy with patient harm
5. Medication/procedural errors with patient harm
6. Failure or refusal to respond to a request for aid
7. Equipment failure with patient harm
Rationale: Level A variances represent the most serious deviations involving patient
harm, negligence, or fraud. These must be reported immediately to the EMS Duty Chief
and within 24 hours to the EMS Agency via Form 903 .
4. What is the maximum time to report a Level A variance?
Correct answers: 24 hours (reported immediately to EMS Duty Chief)
Rationale: Level A variances require IMMEDIATE notification to the EMS On-Duty Chief
via County Communications, followed by submission of the EMS System Variance
Report Form (EMS Form 903) within 24 hours .
5. What is the maximum time to report a Level B variance?
Correct answers: Within five (5) business days
Rationale: Level B variances involve deviations that do NOT result in patient harm but
represent a deviation from policies, procedures, or protocols. These include potential
,clinical care variances, policy variances, poor interagency coordination, public
complaints, communications system variances, or equipment failures .
6. What is the maximum time to report a Level C variance?
Correct answers: 7 business days
Rationale: Level C variances are positive reports documenting when responders
provided outstanding care and went above and beyond normal expectations. Examples
include good patient outcomes, outstanding customer service, positive provider-agency
cooperation, and field providers exceeding normal expectations .
7. What form is used to file a variance report?
Correct answers: EMS Form #903 (System Performance Variance Report)
Rationale: All variance reports must be submitted using EMS Form #903. This form is
used for tracking and documenting all Level A, B, and C variances within the Santa Clara
County EMS system .
8. How will policy implementation be disseminated to EMS personnel?
Correct answers: Via the EMS Program Manager
, Rationale: Policy 109 (Policy Development and Implementation) specifies that the EMS
Program Manager is responsible for disseminating policy implementation information to
EMS personnel .
9. Who is the Medical/Health Operational Area Coordinator for Santa Clara
County?
Correct answers: County Health Officer
Rationale: The County Health Officer serves as the Medical/Health Operational Area
Coordinator for Santa Clara County. This role coordinates medical and health resources
during emergencies and operational area activations .
10. How many acute hospitals are in Santa Clara County?
Correct answers: 12 Acute Hospitals (11 emergency departments)
Rationale: Santa Clara County has 12 acute care hospitals, of which 11 have emergency
departments. These hospitals serve approximately 1.8 million residents and 2.2 million
daytime population .
Section 2: Communications and Hospital Reports (Questions 11-
20)
11. What alerts require use of the county radio for hospital ringdowns?
