SANTA CLARA COUNTY EMS PARAMEDIC PROTOCOL
PATIENT CARE PROCEDURES FINAL REVIEW PACK -
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION 2026 Questions with
Complete Answers
1. How long do you have to report a Level C variance?
a. 3 business days
b. 5 business days
c. 7 business days
d. 10 business days
2. What form is used to make a variance report?
a. EMS System Variance Form #902
b. EMS System Variance Form #903
c. EMS System Variance Form #904
d. EMS System Variance Form #905
3. What must be included with a System Variance Form?
a. Dispatch information, PCR, and statements from others involved in the incident
b. Only the PCR
c. Only dispatch information
d. Only statements from the patient
4. How is policy implementation disseminated to EMS personnel?
a. Via email
b. Via program managers
c. Via the county website
d. Via public announcement
5. What resource can help EMS personnel find new policies and updates?
a. Social media
b. The newspaper
c. Radio broadcasts
d. Television announcements
,6. True or False: When an MCI has 5+ people, you need a PCR for each patient.
a. True
b. False
7. What must each patient in an MCI with 5+ people receive when a multi-patient
tracking tool is in use?
a. A hospital band
b. A triage tag and their number as documented on the patient tracking tool
c. A wristband with their name
d. A treatment card
8. What do you use to communicate ringdowns for IFT and routine patients?
a. County radio
b. Call in on a cellphone/rig phone
c. EMS Command 92
d. EMS Command 93
9. What channel is used for major alert ringdowns when cell phone contact is not
possible?
a. EMS Command 90
b. EMS Command 92
c. EMS Command 93
d. EMS Command 94
10. What type of alerts require the use of county radio for ringdown?
a. Trauma Alert, STEMI, stroke, critical, RLS, anytime cell service is not working
b. Only trauma alerts
c. Only STEMI alerts
d. Only stroke alerts
11. What information is needed for a DECON ALERT ringdown?
a. Decon alert name, chemical name, decon methods used, DOT reference #,
appropriate treatment
b. Only the patient's name
c. Only the chemical name
d. Only the decon methods used
,12. According to Policy 108, Level A variances must be reported within:
a. 5 business days
b. 7 business days
c. 24 hours
d. 48 hours
13. Who must be notified immediately of a Level A variance?
a. The hospital
b. The patient's family
c. EMS Duty Chief via County Communications
d. The medical director
14. A Level B variance is defined as:
a. Any incident that does NOT result in patient harm but is a deviation from EMS
Agency policies
b. Any incident that results in patient harm
c. Any incident that results in death
d. Any incident that involves a medication error
15. A Level C variance is defined as:
a. An incident resulting in patient harm
b. An incident that does not result in patient harm and is not a deviation from policy
c. An incident involving a fatality
d. An incident involving a major trauma
16. What policy addresses System Variance Reporting?
a. Policy 105
b. Policy 106
c. Policy 107
d. Policy 108
17. Which of the following is considered a Level A variance?
a. Minor documentation error
b. Late arrival to a call
c. Medication or procedural errors with patient harm
d. Failure to restock supplies
, 18. Level A variances include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Fraud in procurement of certification
b. Gross negligence
c. Repeated negligent acts
d. Minor paperwork errors
19. What is the primary purpose of the System Variance Reporting Policy?
a. To establish standardized criteria for timely reporting and submission of EMS
system variances
b. To punish EMS personnel
c. To reduce paperwork
d. To eliminate variance reporting
20. Level B variances must be reported within:
a. 24 hours
b. 5 business days
c. 7 business days
d. 10 business days
21. What form is used to file a System Performance Variance Report?
a. Form 901
b. Form 903
c. Form 905
d. Form 907
22. In addition to EMS Form #903, what must be submitted with a Level A variance
report?
a. Copies of dispatch records, patient care record (PCR), and statements from those
involved
b. Only the PCR
c. Only dispatch records
d. Only witness statements
23. How will policy implementation be disseminated to EMS personnel?
a. Policies will be sent to the EMS program manager (compliance officer)
b. Policies will be posted on social media only
c. Policies will be mailed to each provider's home
d. Policies will be announced on the radio
PATIENT CARE PROCEDURES FINAL REVIEW PACK -
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION 2026 Questions with
Complete Answers
1. How long do you have to report a Level C variance?
a. 3 business days
b. 5 business days
c. 7 business days
d. 10 business days
2. What form is used to make a variance report?
a. EMS System Variance Form #902
b. EMS System Variance Form #903
c. EMS System Variance Form #904
d. EMS System Variance Form #905
3. What must be included with a System Variance Form?
a. Dispatch information, PCR, and statements from others involved in the incident
b. Only the PCR
c. Only dispatch information
d. Only statements from the patient
4. How is policy implementation disseminated to EMS personnel?
a. Via email
b. Via program managers
c. Via the county website
d. Via public announcement
5. What resource can help EMS personnel find new policies and updates?
a. Social media
b. The newspaper
c. Radio broadcasts
d. Television announcements
,6. True or False: When an MCI has 5+ people, you need a PCR for each patient.
a. True
b. False
7. What must each patient in an MCI with 5+ people receive when a multi-patient
tracking tool is in use?
a. A hospital band
b. A triage tag and their number as documented on the patient tracking tool
c. A wristband with their name
d. A treatment card
8. What do you use to communicate ringdowns for IFT and routine patients?
a. County radio
b. Call in on a cellphone/rig phone
c. EMS Command 92
d. EMS Command 93
9. What channel is used for major alert ringdowns when cell phone contact is not
possible?
a. EMS Command 90
b. EMS Command 92
c. EMS Command 93
d. EMS Command 94
10. What type of alerts require the use of county radio for ringdown?
a. Trauma Alert, STEMI, stroke, critical, RLS, anytime cell service is not working
b. Only trauma alerts
c. Only STEMI alerts
d. Only stroke alerts
11. What information is needed for a DECON ALERT ringdown?
a. Decon alert name, chemical name, decon methods used, DOT reference #,
appropriate treatment
b. Only the patient's name
c. Only the chemical name
d. Only the decon methods used
,12. According to Policy 108, Level A variances must be reported within:
a. 5 business days
b. 7 business days
c. 24 hours
d. 48 hours
13. Who must be notified immediately of a Level A variance?
a. The hospital
b. The patient's family
c. EMS Duty Chief via County Communications
d. The medical director
14. A Level B variance is defined as:
a. Any incident that does NOT result in patient harm but is a deviation from EMS
Agency policies
b. Any incident that results in patient harm
c. Any incident that results in death
d. Any incident that involves a medication error
15. A Level C variance is defined as:
a. An incident resulting in patient harm
b. An incident that does not result in patient harm and is not a deviation from policy
c. An incident involving a fatality
d. An incident involving a major trauma
16. What policy addresses System Variance Reporting?
a. Policy 105
b. Policy 106
c. Policy 107
d. Policy 108
17. Which of the following is considered a Level A variance?
a. Minor documentation error
b. Late arrival to a call
c. Medication or procedural errors with patient harm
d. Failure to restock supplies
, 18. Level A variances include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Fraud in procurement of certification
b. Gross negligence
c. Repeated negligent acts
d. Minor paperwork errors
19. What is the primary purpose of the System Variance Reporting Policy?
a. To establish standardized criteria for timely reporting and submission of EMS
system variances
b. To punish EMS personnel
c. To reduce paperwork
d. To eliminate variance reporting
20. Level B variances must be reported within:
a. 24 hours
b. 5 business days
c. 7 business days
d. 10 business days
21. What form is used to file a System Performance Variance Report?
a. Form 901
b. Form 903
c. Form 905
d. Form 907
22. In addition to EMS Form #903, what must be submitted with a Level A variance
report?
a. Copies of dispatch records, patient care record (PCR), and statements from those
involved
b. Only the PCR
c. Only dispatch records
d. Only witness statements
23. How will policy implementation be disseminated to EMS personnel?
a. Policies will be sent to the EMS program manager (compliance officer)
b. Policies will be posted on social media only
c. Policies will be mailed to each provider's home
d. Policies will be announced on the radio
