EMD
Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) involves the combination of what two things? -
ANS-Telecommunications skills and medical knowledge
The APCO Institute EMD Course is based on information from what two sources? -
ANS-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's EMD: National Standard
Curriculum
& ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials)
Prior to this course, APCO requires the completion of what two things? - ANS-APCO
Public Safety Telecommunicator 1 course OR Formalized Telecommunicator Training
course
& current CPR certification
What are the responsibilities of the EMD? - ANS-1. Receive and process calls for EMS
assistance
2. Determine the nature and severity of the medical incident type without diagnosing the
medical problem or condition
3. Coordinating and dispatching EMS resources based in the predetermined response
configurations found in the local medically approved EMD guidecards
4. Provides emergency medical assistance using local medically approved guidecards
and software
5. Maintain confidentiality
6. Maintain contact with the caller
What are the characteristics of a successful EMD? - ANS-1. Helpful, compassionate,
and polite
2. Effectively handles the emotional stress involved in caller/patient crisis situations and
clearly guides callers
3. Should be clear, concise, and use accurate speech
What is the EMS system? - ANS-Complex arrangement of components
including:statewide legislation, system management, Human Resources and training,
communications, transportation, public information and education, facilities, trauma
systems, medical direction, and evaluation * all designed to serve the needs of the
public in medical emergencies. All the pieces must be present for the system to be
complete
, What are the common resources of the EMS system? - ANS-*Hospitals*
Medical centers/ trauma centers/specialty units/crisis centers/hyperbaric chamber
facilities
Rescue squads/extrication units helicopters/ *air ambulances*
Ambulances
Special care facilities: burn centers, prenatal units, psychiatric centers, etc
HAZMAT resources
Gas and electric utilities
*police and fire*
Poison control
Sexual assault centers/counselors
Translator services
US Coast Guard
Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic
What are ALS and BLS and what is the difference? - ANS-ALS: Advanced Life Support
BLS: Basic Life Support
They vary in the type of resources/equipment they carry, their transport capacities,
available treatments, and training
What are the tiers of the EMS System? - ANS-First Responders
BLS: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)- Basic
ALS: EMT- intermediate or EMT- Paramedic
Air ambulance/aeromedical services
What are some common myths about EMD? - ANS-All EMS calls must be answered
"lights and sirens"- in most cases this is unnecessary because most situations are not
life threatening
Using the EMD guidecards increases the time and resources required to process the
call- very little difference, and sometimes is shorter
What is liability? - ANS-You are ultimately responsible for your actions
What is negligence? - ANS-Failure to act or perform in a particular situation in the way
that a reasonable, prudent person would give under similar circumstances
Is intent to harm required to prove negligence? - ANS-No
What are the elements required to prove negligence? - ANS-*Duty: responsibility to act
or perform according to established standards of care*
Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) involves the combination of what two things? -
ANS-Telecommunications skills and medical knowledge
The APCO Institute EMD Course is based on information from what two sources? -
ANS-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's EMD: National Standard
Curriculum
& ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials)
Prior to this course, APCO requires the completion of what two things? - ANS-APCO
Public Safety Telecommunicator 1 course OR Formalized Telecommunicator Training
course
& current CPR certification
What are the responsibilities of the EMD? - ANS-1. Receive and process calls for EMS
assistance
2. Determine the nature and severity of the medical incident type without diagnosing the
medical problem or condition
3. Coordinating and dispatching EMS resources based in the predetermined response
configurations found in the local medically approved EMD guidecards
4. Provides emergency medical assistance using local medically approved guidecards
and software
5. Maintain confidentiality
6. Maintain contact with the caller
What are the characteristics of a successful EMD? - ANS-1. Helpful, compassionate,
and polite
2. Effectively handles the emotional stress involved in caller/patient crisis situations and
clearly guides callers
3. Should be clear, concise, and use accurate speech
What is the EMS system? - ANS-Complex arrangement of components
including:statewide legislation, system management, Human Resources and training,
communications, transportation, public information and education, facilities, trauma
systems, medical direction, and evaluation * all designed to serve the needs of the
public in medical emergencies. All the pieces must be present for the system to be
complete
, What are the common resources of the EMS system? - ANS-*Hospitals*
Medical centers/ trauma centers/specialty units/crisis centers/hyperbaric chamber
facilities
Rescue squads/extrication units helicopters/ *air ambulances*
Ambulances
Special care facilities: burn centers, prenatal units, psychiatric centers, etc
HAZMAT resources
Gas and electric utilities
*police and fire*
Poison control
Sexual assault centers/counselors
Translator services
US Coast Guard
Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic
What are ALS and BLS and what is the difference? - ANS-ALS: Advanced Life Support
BLS: Basic Life Support
They vary in the type of resources/equipment they carry, their transport capacities,
available treatments, and training
What are the tiers of the EMS System? - ANS-First Responders
BLS: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)- Basic
ALS: EMT- intermediate or EMT- Paramedic
Air ambulance/aeromedical services
What are some common myths about EMD? - ANS-All EMS calls must be answered
"lights and sirens"- in most cases this is unnecessary because most situations are not
life threatening
Using the EMD guidecards increases the time and resources required to process the
call- very little difference, and sometimes is shorter
What is liability? - ANS-You are ultimately responsible for your actions
What is negligence? - ANS-Failure to act or perform in a particular situation in the way
that a reasonable, prudent person would give under similar circumstances
Is intent to harm required to prove negligence? - ANS-No
What are the elements required to prove negligence? - ANS-*Duty: responsibility to act
or perform according to established standards of care*
