EMT AAOS Chapters 1-23|593 questions with verified correct answers.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Comprehensive legislation that is designed to protect people with disabilities against discrimination AED A device that detects treatable life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia) and delivers the appropriate electrical shock to the patient. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system. emergency medical dispatch (EMD) A system that assists dispatchers in selecting appropriate units to respond to a particular call for assistance and in providing callers with vital instructions until the arrival of EMS crews. EMS A multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured. EMT An individual who has training in basic life support, including automated external defibrillation, use of a definitive airway adjunct, and assisting patients with certain medications. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) federal legislation passed in 1996; limits availability of patients' health care information and penalizes violations of patient privacy intravenous (IV) therapy delivery of medication into a vein medical control Physician instructions given directly by radio or cell phone (online/direct) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line/indirect), as authorized by the medical director of the service program. medical director The physician who authorizes or delegates to the EMT the authority to provide medical care in the field. mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) A method of delivering health care which involves providing health care within the community rather than at a physician's office or hospital primary prevention Efforts to prevent an injury or illness from ever occurring. primary service area (PSA) The designated area in which the EMS service is responsible for the provision of prehospital emergency care and transportation to the hospital. public health Focused on examining the health needs of entire populations with the goal of preventing health problems. public safety access point A call center, staffed by trained personnel who are responsible for managing requests for police, fire, and ambulance services. secondary prevention Efforts to limit the effects of an injury or illness that you cannot completely prevent. acute stress occurs during a stressful situation airborne transmission spread of an organism via droplets or dust bloodborne pathogens pathogenic microogranisms that are present in human blood and can case disease in humans; these pathogens include hepatitis B and HIV CDC primary federal agency that conducts and supports public health activities; is part of US Department of Health and Human Services communicable disease disease that can be spread from one person or species to another critical incident stress management a process that confronts the responses to critical incidents and defuses them, direction the emergency services personnel toward physical and emotional equilibrium cumulative stress reaction Prolonged or excessive stress delayed stress reaction reaction to stress after a stressful situation designated officer the individual in the department who is in charge with the responsibility of managing exposures and infection control issues foodborne transmission The contamination of food or water with an organism that can cause disease. general adaptation syndrome bodys response to stress that begins with an alarm response followed by a stge of reaction and resistance and then recovery or if the stress is prolonged, exhaustion hepatits inflammation of the liver usually caused by a viral infection that causes fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, fatigue and altered liver function HIV AIDS is caused by _____ which damages the cells in the body's immune system so that the body is unable to fight infection or certain cancers infection The abnormal invasion of a host or host tissues by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, with or without signs or symptoms of disease. infection control Procedures to reduce transmission of infection among patients and health care personnel. occupational safety and health admin OSHA the federal regulatory compliance agency that develops, publishes, and enforces guidelines concerning safety in the workplace vector borne transmission The use of an animal to spread an organism from one person or place to another. abandonment Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient's consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient. advance directive Written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or health care directive. applied ethics The manner in which principles of ethics are incorporated into professional conduct. Assault Unlawfully placing a patient in fear of bodily harm. battery Unlawfully touching a patient or providing emergency care without consent. breach of confidentiality Disclosure of information without proper authorization. compensatory damages Damages awarded in a civil suit that are intended to restore the plaintiff to the same condition that he or she was in prior to the incident complained about in the lawsuit. competent Able to make rational decisions about personal well-being. Contributory Negligence A legal defense that may be raised when the defendant feels that the conduct of the plaintiff somehow contributed to any injuries or damages that were sustained by the plaintiff. defamation The communication of false information about a person that is damaging to that person's reputation or standing in the community. dependent lividity Blood settling to the lowest point of the body, causing discoloration of the skin. depositions Oral questions asked of parties and witnesses under oath. discovery The phase of a civil lawsuit where the plaintiff and defense obtain information from each other that will enable the attorneys to have a better understanding of the case and which will assist in negotiating a possible settlement or in preparing for trial. Discovery includes depositions, interrogatories, and demands for production of records. durable power of attorney for health care A type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity. duty to act A medicolegal term relating to certain personnel who either by statute or by function have a responsibility to provide care. emergency doctrine The principle of law that permits a health care provider to treat a patient in an emergency situation when the patient is incapable of granting consent because of an altered level of consciousness, disability, the effects of drugs or alcohol, or the patient's age. expressed consent A type of consent in which a patient gives express authorization for provision of care or transport. false imprisonment The confinement of a person without legal authority or the person's consent. forcible restraint The act of physically preventing an individual from initiating any physical action. Good Samaritan Law Statutory provisions enacted by many states to protect citizens from liability for errors and omissions in giving good faith emergency medical care, unless there is wanton, gross, or willful negligence. governmental immunity Legal doctrine that can protect an EMS provider from being sued or which may limit the amount of the monetary judgement that the plaintiff may recover; generally applies only to EMS systems that are operated by municipalities or other governmental entities. gross negligence Conduct that constitutes a willful or reckless disregard for a duty or standard of care. health care directive A written document that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient, should he or she become unable to make decisions. Also known as an advance directive or a living will. health care proxies A type of advance directive executed by a competent adult that appoints another individual to make medical treatment decisions on his or her behalf in the event that the person making the appointment loses decision-making capacity. Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care. Implied consent Type of consent in which a patient who is unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal assumption that he or she would want treatment. informed consent Permission for treatment given by a competent patient after the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment have been explained. in loco parentis Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. Interrogatories written questions that the defense and plaintiff send to one another kidnapping The seizing, confining, abducting, or carrying away of a person by force, including transporting a competent adult for medical treatment without his or her consent. libel False and damaging information about a person that is communicated in writing. negligence Failure to provide the same care that a person with similar training would provide. negligence per se A theory that may be used when the conduct of the person being sued is alleged to have occurred in clear violation of a statute. patient autonomy the right of a patient to make informed choices regarding his or her health care protected health information (PHI) Any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient's medical record or payment history. proximate causation When a person who has a duty abuses it, and causes harm to another individual; the EMT, the agency, and/or the medical director may be sued for negligence. Punitive Damages Damages that are sometimes awarded in a civil suit when the conduct of the defendant was intentional or constituted a reckless disregard for the safety of the public. putrefaction Decomposition of body tissues; a definitive sign of death. res ipsa loquitor When the EMT or an EMS system is held liable even when the plaintiff is unable to clearly demonstrate how an injury occurred. rigor mortis stiffening of the body muscles; a definitive sign of death scope of practice Most commonly defined by state law; outlines the care you are able to provide for the patient. slander False and damaging information about a person that is communicated by the spoken word. standard of care Written, accepted levels of emergency care expected by reason of training and profession; written by legal or professional organizations so that patients are not exposed to unreasonable risk or harm. statute of limitations The time within which a case must be commenced. tort A wrongful act that gives rise to a civil lawsuit. cultural imposition When one person imposes his or her beliefs, values, and practices on another because he or she believe his or her ideals are superior duplex the ability to transmit and receive simultaneously ethnocentrism When a person considers his or her own cultural values as more important when interacting with people of a different culture. federal communication commission (FCC) The federal agency that has jurisdiction over interstate and international telephone and telegraph services and satellite communications, all of which may involve EMS activity. interoperable communications system A communication system that uses voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) technology to allow multiple agencies to communicate and transmit data. Mobile data terminal (MDT) A small computer terminal inside the ambulance that directly receives data from the dispatch center. rapport A trusting relationship that you build with your patient.