CH 1 EMS SYSTEMS

Which of the following descriptions most accurately portrays emergency medical services (EMS)?

• A vast network of advanced life support (ALS) providers who provide definitive emergency care in the prehospital setting

• A team of health care professionals who are responsible for providing emergency care and transportation to the sick and injured

• A system composed exclusively of emergency medical responders (EMRs) and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are responsible for providing care to sick and injured patients

• A team of paramedics and emergency physicians who are responsible for providing emergency care to critically injured patients

Which of the following criteria is required to become licensed and employed as an EMT?

• Demonstration of the ability to lift and carry at least 200 pounds

• Proof of immunization against certain communicable diseases

• A minimum of 60 college credit hours that focus on health care

• Successful completion of a recognized bystander CPR course

According to the National EMS Scope of Practice Model, an EMT would require special permission from the medical director and the state EMS office to:

• insert a peripheral intravenous catheter.

• administer oxygen.

• perform CPR.

• use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Which of the following skills would a layperson most likely be trained to perform before the arrival of EMS?

• Obtaining a manual blood pressure

• Bleeding control using a tourniquet

• Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway

• Administration of supplemental oxygen

Which of the following statements regarding the EMS medical director and an EMT’s scope of practice is correct?

• The EMS medical director can expand the EMT’s scope of practice but cannot limit it without state approval.

• The EMS medical director can expand or limit an individual EMT’s scope of practice without state approval.

• An EMT’s scope of practice is exclusively regulated by the state EMS office, not the EMS medical director.

• An EMT’s scope of practice may be expanded by the medical director after proper training and state approval.

Continuing education in EMS serves to:

• confirm research and statistical findings in prehospital care.

• maintain, update, and expand the EMT’s knowledge and skills.

• enforce mandatory attendance at agency-specific training.

• provide an ongoing review and audit of the EMS system.

Obtaining continuing medical education is the responsibility of the:

• individual EMT

• State Bureau of EMS

• EMS training officer

• EMS medical director

The determination that prompt surgical care in the hospital is more important than performing time-consuming procedures in the field on a major trauma patient is based mostly on:

• EMS research

• local protocols

• the lead EMT’s decision

• regional trauma guidelines

EMS as we know it today had its origins in 1966 with the publication of:

• the Emergency Medical Services Act.

• the Department of Transportation’s White Paper: Death and Dying.

• Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured.

• Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society.

EMS is a coordinated network of professionals that provide

• Long-term medical care

• Short term medical care

• Care for minor injuries

• Pre-hospital medical and trauma care