Emergency Medical Dispatch - Glossary Terms
Abandonment - -Unilateral termination of a information pertaining to specific chief
patient-caretaker relationship by the caretaker complaints.
where an adequate replacement for that
caretaker has not been provided when this action
results in some preventable harm. ALI (Automatic Location Identification) - -
The database technology that allows
communication centers to identify the location of
Abrasion - -Scraping or rubbing away of a a caller based on the caller's phone number. The
surface. It is usually the result of traumatic injury. effectiveness of this technology is limited to the
accuracy of the database.
ACE (Accredited Center of Excellence) - -
Centers that have achieved compliance to the ANI (Automatic Number Identification) - -
highest level of standards as set forth by the The database technology that displays the phone
Academy's Twenty Points of Accreditation. number used by the caller to access the
communication center. The effectiveness of this
technology is limited to the accuracy of the
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - - database.
Unified standard of care for cardiac emergencies
including drugs, intubation, and other invasive
procedures. Axioms - -Important statements that serve
as the basis of many decision-making processes
when using the MPDS. They differ from Rules in
Acute - -Sharp, severe, or having rapid that they explain "why", rather than "how" to do
onset and short course; not chronic. things.
ALS (Advanced Life Support) - - BLS (Basic Life Support) - -EMS
Intervention that utilizes cardiac monitoring, procedures (airway positioning, external cardiac
advanced airways, and pharmacology for the compression, and ventilation) to sustain viability
treatment of life-threatening emergencies. This of the brain and heart in the absence of pulse or
term refers to care given prehospital or breathing. The splinting, dressing, and other
inhospital. initial care covered in basic first-aid training.
AED (Automated External Defibrillator) - -A CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) - -
portable, computerized device that interprets Technology that uses computers to facilitate
cardiac rhythms, verbally coaches the user, and calltaking and dispatch operations.
the advises shock (or no shock) for electrically
correctable rhythms.
Cardiac Arrest - -Sudden cessation of heart
functions or blood-pumping ability universally
AI (Additional Information) - -An MPDS resulting in death unless reversed by
protocol component that contains information resuscitation.
necessary to process calls as well as general
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, Emergency Medical Dispatch - Glossary Terms
arrest care.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) - -A
procedure designed to help maintain the flow of
oxygenated blood in a cardiac arrest patient. Chief Complaint Protocols - -Problem-
specific MPDS protocols. Chief complaint
protocols function as a secondary interrogation
Case Entry Protocol - -An MPDS protocol and contain Key Questions, Determinant
that functions as a primary caller interrogation. It Descriptors, Post-Dispatch Instructions, Critical
directs EMDs to collect the essential information EMD Information, Dispatch Life Support Links,
for initial processing and classifying of the and Additional Information.
incident.
Chronic - -Disease or disorder that persists
Case Exit Protocol - -An MPDS protocol for long periods of time.
that standardizes call termination and provides
important instructions for the callers.
Clarifier - -Words in the protocol contained
within parenthesis or brackets that are designed
CC (Chief Complaint) - -The primary to be used only when the caller does not
reason the patient is seeking medical care (in understand the original wording of a question or
some cases only the mechanism of injury). instruction.
CDE (Continuing Dispatch Education) - - Classifications - -Similar to dispatch
Training designed to keep EMDs up-to-date with definitions, classifications list items that should be
current standards of Emergency Medical classified in a specific way when using the
Dispatching practice. MPDS.
CEI (Critical EMD Information) - -Important COLD - -Routine EMS unit driving
information for EMDs that is not designed to be response mode not using lights-and-siren.
read to the caller.
Compliance - -Adherence to protocol
Certification - -The granting of official directives and standards.
approval to an individual by a standard-setting
organization following a formal process.
Connectors - -Colored protocol tabs that
aid in MPDS cardset navigation.
Chain of Survival - -A universal response
for action in sudden cardiac arrest situations
having five links: immediate recognition of De Luca's Law - -"Emergency dispatchers
cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency will follow all protocols per se, avoiding freelance
response system, early CPR, rapid defibrillation, questioning or information unless it enhances,
effective ACLS, and integrated post-cardiac not replaces, the written protocol questions and
2/7
Abandonment - -Unilateral termination of a information pertaining to specific chief
patient-caretaker relationship by the caretaker complaints.
where an adequate replacement for that
caretaker has not been provided when this action
results in some preventable harm. ALI (Automatic Location Identification) - -
The database technology that allows
communication centers to identify the location of
Abrasion - -Scraping or rubbing away of a a caller based on the caller's phone number. The
surface. It is usually the result of traumatic injury. effectiveness of this technology is limited to the
accuracy of the database.
ACE (Accredited Center of Excellence) - -
Centers that have achieved compliance to the ANI (Automatic Number Identification) - -
highest level of standards as set forth by the The database technology that displays the phone
Academy's Twenty Points of Accreditation. number used by the caller to access the
communication center. The effectiveness of this
technology is limited to the accuracy of the
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - - database.
Unified standard of care for cardiac emergencies
including drugs, intubation, and other invasive
procedures. Axioms - -Important statements that serve
as the basis of many decision-making processes
when using the MPDS. They differ from Rules in
Acute - -Sharp, severe, or having rapid that they explain "why", rather than "how" to do
onset and short course; not chronic. things.
ALS (Advanced Life Support) - - BLS (Basic Life Support) - -EMS
Intervention that utilizes cardiac monitoring, procedures (airway positioning, external cardiac
advanced airways, and pharmacology for the compression, and ventilation) to sustain viability
treatment of life-threatening emergencies. This of the brain and heart in the absence of pulse or
term refers to care given prehospital or breathing. The splinting, dressing, and other
inhospital. initial care covered in basic first-aid training.
AED (Automated External Defibrillator) - -A CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) - -
portable, computerized device that interprets Technology that uses computers to facilitate
cardiac rhythms, verbally coaches the user, and calltaking and dispatch operations.
the advises shock (or no shock) for electrically
correctable rhythms.
Cardiac Arrest - -Sudden cessation of heart
functions or blood-pumping ability universally
AI (Additional Information) - -An MPDS resulting in death unless reversed by
protocol component that contains information resuscitation.
necessary to process calls as well as general
1/7
, Emergency Medical Dispatch - Glossary Terms
arrest care.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) - -A
procedure designed to help maintain the flow of
oxygenated blood in a cardiac arrest patient. Chief Complaint Protocols - -Problem-
specific MPDS protocols. Chief complaint
protocols function as a secondary interrogation
Case Entry Protocol - -An MPDS protocol and contain Key Questions, Determinant
that functions as a primary caller interrogation. It Descriptors, Post-Dispatch Instructions, Critical
directs EMDs to collect the essential information EMD Information, Dispatch Life Support Links,
for initial processing and classifying of the and Additional Information.
incident.
Chronic - -Disease or disorder that persists
Case Exit Protocol - -An MPDS protocol for long periods of time.
that standardizes call termination and provides
important instructions for the callers.
Clarifier - -Words in the protocol contained
within parenthesis or brackets that are designed
CC (Chief Complaint) - -The primary to be used only when the caller does not
reason the patient is seeking medical care (in understand the original wording of a question or
some cases only the mechanism of injury). instruction.
CDE (Continuing Dispatch Education) - - Classifications - -Similar to dispatch
Training designed to keep EMDs up-to-date with definitions, classifications list items that should be
current standards of Emergency Medical classified in a specific way when using the
Dispatching practice. MPDS.
CEI (Critical EMD Information) - -Important COLD - -Routine EMS unit driving
information for EMDs that is not designed to be response mode not using lights-and-siren.
read to the caller.
Compliance - -Adherence to protocol
Certification - -The granting of official directives and standards.
approval to an individual by a standard-setting
organization following a formal process.
Connectors - -Colored protocol tabs that
aid in MPDS cardset navigation.
Chain of Survival - -A universal response
for action in sudden cardiac arrest situations
having five links: immediate recognition of De Luca's Law - -"Emergency dispatchers
cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency will follow all protocols per se, avoiding freelance
response system, early CPR, rapid defibrillation, questioning or information unless it enhances,
effective ACLS, and integrated post-cardiac not replaces, the written protocol questions and
2/7
