Santa Clara County EMS Orientation
2025
Policy 108 - answer System Variance Reporting
What types of incidents are considered Level A? - answer Any incident that results in a
threat to public safety, patient, by-stander or responder harm.
What is the maximum amount of time you must report a Level A variance? - answer
Immediately (paperwork must be done within 24 hours)
Who must be notified ASAP for a Level A variance? – answer EMS Duty Chief
What types of incidents are considered Level B? – answer Any incident that does not
result in patient harm, but is a deviation from EMS Agency policies, procedures, and
protocols.
What is the maximum amount of time you must report a Level B variance? - answer5
business days
What types of incidents are considered Level C variances? - answerIncidents where the
responders provided outstanding care and went above and beyond the normal
expectations of responders.
What is the maximum amount of time you must report a Level C variance? - answer7
business days
What form would you use to to file a variance report? - answerEMS Form #903
Policy 109 - answerPolicy Development
How will policy implementation be disseminated to you? - answerVia program manager
What other resources do you have to find new policies and updates? - answerCounty
Website, App, Social Media, Hardcopy
Policy 500 - answerElectronic Patient Care Record (ePCR)
When an MCI alert occurs with 5 or more patients is a PCR required? - answerNo
What is used instead of a PCR during an MCI with 5 or more patients? - answerTriage
Tags
, Policy 501 - answerHospital Radio Reports
For interfacility and routine patient transports into the ED what form of communication is
used for ringdowns? - answerCellular Phone Communication
What channel can you use for major alert ringdowns on the county radio? -
answerDesignated Hospital Channel (each hospital has its own channel)
For what types of alerts can you use the designated hospital ringdown channel? -
answerTrauma Alerts, STEMI Alerts, Stroke Alerts, and transporting a critical patient
(Code 3; RLS)
What information is required when giving a DECON ALERT ringdown? -
answerChemical name, decontamination methods (used on-scene), DOT reference #,
any appropriate treatment information/considerations, routine patient notification report.
Who should you ask to meet you in the ED bay? And why? - answerAny appropriate
representative. You must meet them in the bay because there could be a likelihood of
contamination in the ED. Further precautions are warranted.
Who can make base contact? - answerOnly Paramedics
What is the best form of communication? - answerCellular Phone Communication
What are the types of radio tones you would hear over the radio? - answerSteady Alert
Tones & Warbler Tones
What is a Steady Alert Tone? - answerA Steady Alert Tone is used anytime the
dispatcher needs to announce a priority message such as "All Points Broadcast" (APB);
"Be on the Look Out" (BOLO); hospital on "Internal Disaster; etc.
What is a Warbler Tone? - answerA Warbler Tone is a fast pace continuous "high-low-
high" sound. When this alert is issued, all non-emergency traffic must stop until the
broadcast is completed. Signifies an eminent safety issue.
What does P.A.R. stand for? - answerPersonnel Accountability Report
Policy 502 - answerPatient Consent and Refusal for EMS Services
Who is legally authorized to refuse care? - answerAdults 18+, AOx4, Minors who are or
were legally married, Minors on active duty, Minors who are emancipated, & Minors who
are pregnant and needs or seeks medical attention in regards to their pregnancy.
An individual is not authorized to refuse care if they are: - answerSuicidal or on a 51/50
hold or similar hold.
2025
Policy 108 - answer System Variance Reporting
What types of incidents are considered Level A? - answer Any incident that results in a
threat to public safety, patient, by-stander or responder harm.
What is the maximum amount of time you must report a Level A variance? - answer
Immediately (paperwork must be done within 24 hours)
Who must be notified ASAP for a Level A variance? – answer EMS Duty Chief
What types of incidents are considered Level B? – answer Any incident that does not
result in patient harm, but is a deviation from EMS Agency policies, procedures, and
protocols.
What is the maximum amount of time you must report a Level B variance? - answer5
business days
What types of incidents are considered Level C variances? - answerIncidents where the
responders provided outstanding care and went above and beyond the normal
expectations of responders.
What is the maximum amount of time you must report a Level C variance? - answer7
business days
What form would you use to to file a variance report? - answerEMS Form #903
Policy 109 - answerPolicy Development
How will policy implementation be disseminated to you? - answerVia program manager
What other resources do you have to find new policies and updates? - answerCounty
Website, App, Social Media, Hardcopy
Policy 500 - answerElectronic Patient Care Record (ePCR)
When an MCI alert occurs with 5 or more patients is a PCR required? - answerNo
What is used instead of a PCR during an MCI with 5 or more patients? - answerTriage
Tags
, Policy 501 - answerHospital Radio Reports
For interfacility and routine patient transports into the ED what form of communication is
used for ringdowns? - answerCellular Phone Communication
What channel can you use for major alert ringdowns on the county radio? -
answerDesignated Hospital Channel (each hospital has its own channel)
For what types of alerts can you use the designated hospital ringdown channel? -
answerTrauma Alerts, STEMI Alerts, Stroke Alerts, and transporting a critical patient
(Code 3; RLS)
What information is required when giving a DECON ALERT ringdown? -
answerChemical name, decontamination methods (used on-scene), DOT reference #,
any appropriate treatment information/considerations, routine patient notification report.
Who should you ask to meet you in the ED bay? And why? - answerAny appropriate
representative. You must meet them in the bay because there could be a likelihood of
contamination in the ED. Further precautions are warranted.
Who can make base contact? - answerOnly Paramedics
What is the best form of communication? - answerCellular Phone Communication
What are the types of radio tones you would hear over the radio? - answerSteady Alert
Tones & Warbler Tones
What is a Steady Alert Tone? - answerA Steady Alert Tone is used anytime the
dispatcher needs to announce a priority message such as "All Points Broadcast" (APB);
"Be on the Look Out" (BOLO); hospital on "Internal Disaster; etc.
What is a Warbler Tone? - answerA Warbler Tone is a fast pace continuous "high-low-
high" sound. When this alert is issued, all non-emergency traffic must stop until the
broadcast is completed. Signifies an eminent safety issue.
What does P.A.R. stand for? - answerPersonnel Accountability Report
Policy 502 - answerPatient Consent and Refusal for EMS Services
Who is legally authorized to refuse care? - answerAdults 18+, AOx4, Minors who are or
were legally married, Minors on active duty, Minors who are emancipated, & Minors who
are pregnant and needs or seeks medical attention in regards to their pregnancy.
An individual is not authorized to refuse care if they are: - answerSuicidal or on a 51/50
hold or similar hold.
