OneOneChapterChapter

Introduction to EMS Systems

Introduction to EMS Systems

Components of the EMS system Roles and Responsibilities of the EMT-B Quality improvement and the role of the EMT-B in the process Medical direction (on-line, off-line, and standing orders)

CORE CONCEPTSCORE CONCEPTSOneOneChapterChapter

BystandersBystanders Emergency MedicalEmergency Medical Dispatchers Dispatchers First RespondersFirst Responders Emergency MedicalEmergency Medical Technicians Technicians

EmergencyEmergency Department Staff Department Staff Specialty CentersSpecialty Centers Allied HealthAllied Health Personnel Personnel

TTHE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM: COMPONENTSSYSTEM: COMPONENTS

The chain of human resources that The chain of human resources that make up the EMS systemmake up the EMS system

Regulation Regulation and Policy and Policy Resource Resource Management Management Human Resources Human Resources and Training and Training TransportationTransportation

FacilitiesFacilities CommunicationsCommunications Public InformationPublic Information and Education and Education Medical DirectionMedical Direction Trauma SystemsTrauma Systems EvaluationEvaluation

NHTSA TechnicalNHTSA TechnicalAssistance ProgramAssistance Program

Components of theComponents of theHealth Care SystemHealth Care System

Emergency departmentsEmergency departments Specialty facilitiesSpecialty facilities

• Trauma centersTrauma centers• Burn centersBurn centers• Pediatric centersPediatric centers• Poison control centersPoison control centers• Other specialty centersOther specialty centers

Hospital PersonnelHospital Personnel PhysiciansPhysicians NursesNurses Other health professionalsOther health professionals

Liaison with OtherLiaison with OtherPublic Safety WorkersPublic Safety Workers Local law enforcementLocal law enforcement State and federalState and federal law enforcement law enforcement

Accessing the EMS SystemAccessing the EMS System 911911 Communities without 911Communities without 911

Levels of EMS TrainingLevels of EMS Training First responderFirst responder Emergency medicalEmergency medical technician technician

• BasicBasic• IntermediateIntermediate• ParamedicParamedic

National EMS Education & National EMS Education & Practice BlueprintPractice Blueprint

Outlines the skills expected atOutlines the skills expected ateach level of EMS training:each level of EMS training:

First ResponderFirst Responder

EMT-BasicEMT-Basic

EMT-IntermediateEMT-Intermediate

EMT-ParamedicEMT-Paramedic

RROLES ANDOLES ANDRESPONSIBILITIESRESPONSIBILITIES

OF THE EMT-BOF THE EMT-B

Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and Responsibilities Personal safetyPersonal safety Safety of crew, patient,Safety of crew, patient, and bystanders and bystanders Patient care based onPatient care based on assessment findings assessment findings Lifting and movingLifting and moving patients safely patients safely

Transport/transferTransport/transfer of care of care Record-keeping/Record-keeping/ data collection data collection Patient advocacyPatient advocacy

Professional AttributesProfessional Attributes Maintains professional appearanceMaintains professional appearance Keeps knowledge and skills up to dateKeeps knowledge and skills up to date Puts patient’s needs as a priorityPuts patient’s needs as a priority without endangering self without endangering self Maintains current knowledge of local, Maintains current knowledge of local, state, and national issues affecting EMS state, and national issues affecting EMS

Help the new EMT-Bs integrate classroom knowledge into the field experience. Allow the newcomer to cement a foundation of knowledge and skills before you provide new “tricks.”

PPRECEPTOR RECEPTOR PPEARLEARL

QQUALITYUALITYIMPROVEMENTIMPROVEMENT

Quality ImprovementQuality Improvement

A system of internal/external reviews A system of internal/external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS and audits of all aspects of an EMS

system to identify those needing system to identify those needing improvement to ensure that the public improvement to ensure that the public

receives the highest quality of receives the highest quality of prehospital care.prehospital care.

Role of EMT-B in QI ProcessRole of EMT-B in QI Process DocumentationDocumentation Reviews and auditsReviews and audits Gathering feedback from Gathering feedback from hospital staff hospital staff Preventive maintenancePreventive maintenance Continuing educationContinuing education Skill maintenanceSkill maintenance

MMEDICALEDICALDIRECTIONDIRECTION

Medical DirectionMedical Direction

A physician responsible for the A physician responsible for the clinical and patient care aspects of an clinical and patient care aspects of an EMS system.EMS system.

Every ambulance/rescue squad must Every ambulance/rescue squad must have physician medical direction.have physician medical direction.

Types of Medical DirectionTypes of Medical Direction On-lineOn-line

• TelephoneTelephone• RadioRadio

Off-lineOff-line• ProtocolsProtocols• Standing ordersStanding orders

EMT-B Relationship withEMT-B Relationship withMedical DirectionMedical Direction

Designated agent of the physician.Designated agent of the physician. Care rendered is considered an Care rendered is considered an

extension of the medical director’sextension of the medical director’s

authority authority (varies by state law)(varies by state law)..

1. What are the components of the1. What are the components of theEMS system?EMS system?

2. What are the roles and responsibilities2. What are the roles and responsibilitiesof the EMT-B?of the EMT-B?

3. What is QI and the EMT-B’s role in it?3. What is QI and the EMT-B’s role in it?

4. What is the difference between on-line4. What is the difference between on-linedirection, off-line direction, and standing direction, off-line direction, and standing orders?orders?

RREVIEW QUESTIONSEVIEW QUESTIONS