Deck 9: Ems System Communications

Question 1

A(n) ________ system uses a computer to route transmissions to the first available frequency.

A) repeater
B) digital
C) encrypted
D) trunked

Answer 1

trunked

Question 2

Which of the following is the key link in the chain that results in the best possible patient outcome?

A) Conceptualization
B) Communication
C) Coordination
D) Confrontation

Answer 2

Communication

Question 3

Cellular telephone systems use ________ to transmit communications.

A) shortwave technology
B) underground cables
C) satellite technology
D) regional radio base stations

Answer 3

regional radio base stations

Question 4

Which of the following is most effective in helping the dispatcher get information from distressed callers?

A) Having supervisors get on the line with the callers
B) A standard set of medically approved questions
C) Empathetic pauses to allow the callers to collect their thoughts
D) Transferring callers to a consulting-nurse advice line

Question 5

Systems that transmit and receive on the same frequency are ________ systems.

A) multiplex
B) duplex
C) simplex
D) trunked

Question 6

Paramedics and other EMTs becoming affordable in rural communities and also helping to fill gaps in primary health care services is a concept of:

A) community paramedicine.
B) creation of ad hoc databases.
C) medical quality video.
D) public safety answering points.

Question 7

The prehospital care report is all of the following EXCEPT a(n):

A) legal record of the incident.
B) public record.
C) indicator of professionalism.
D) part of the patient's permanent medical record.

Question 8

All of the following are other technology applications with broadband implications that the national EMS communications initiatives have suggested, EXCEPT:

A) patient multi-vital-signs monitoring.
B) infrared crowd disease detection.
C) wire-based speech-to-monitor transcription.
D) creation of ad hoc multicomponent patient databases.

Question 9

Without formal transfer of care to the receiving hospital, paramedics could be charged with:

A) malpractice.
B) abuse.
C) abandonment.
D) neglect.

Question 10

In terms of written communication, a neat and complete PCR is a good indicator of which of the following paramedic traits?

A) Professionalism
B) Compassion
C) Promotion suitability
D) Education level

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a guideline for effective radio use?

A) Press the transmit button for one second before speaking.
B) Use codes that are part of the international EMS system.
C) Speak in a normal pitch, keeping your voice free of emotion.
D) Do not waste airtime with unnecessary information.

Question 12

The acronym PSAP stands for:

A) paramedic system answering point.
B) prehospital safety and prevention.
C) public safety answering point.
D) public safety agency paramedics.

Question 13

Multiplex systems transmit:

A) voice simultaneously in two ways.
B) on the same frequency as they receive.
C) using digital encryption technology.
D) voice and data simultaneously.

Question 14

Which of the following radio waves can penetrate through concrete and steel?

A) UHF
B) VHF
C) ICT
D) GIS

Question 15

The emergency medical dispatcher has just finished interrogating a caller. The next step would be for the dispatcher to:

A) follow established guidelines to determine the appropriate level of response.
B) call the patient's insurance company for preapproval.
C) transfer care of the patient to the receiving facility with a hand-off report.
D) send a first responder engine company and paramedics.

Question 16

Because only the necessary resources are sent on each call, priority dispatching has which of the following benefits?

A) Minimizes responder responsibilities
B) Saves time and money
C) Reduces patient anxiety
D) Keeps dispatchers alert

Question 17

The dispatcher's directions to the caller for appropriate emergency measures are known as:

A) enhanced 911 service.
B) priority dispatching.
C) prearrival instructions.
D) call coordination.

Question 18

How can AACN improve outcomes with seriously injured patients?

A) Assisting with field triage destination and transportation decisions
B) Increasing response times by prehospital care providers
C) Predicting the unlikelihood of serious injury among vehicle occupants
D) Increasing the time it takes for patients to receive definitive trauma care

Question 19

What is the last step in the sequence of communications during an EMS response?

A) Calling 911
B) Transferring communications
C) Emergency medical dispatch
D) Citizen detection and access

Question 20

The type of communication system that works like a telephone is:

A) ultrasimplex.
B) multiplex.
C) simplex.
D) duplex.

Question 21

The main duties of the dispatcher, after sending the responders and providing prearrival instructions, include:

A) transferring communications.
B) discussing medical direction.
C) directing the crew to an appropriate receiving facility.
D) supporting and coordinating.

Question 22

The practice of notifying a receiving hospital of an ambulance's impending arrival began in the:

A) 1960s.
B) 1970s.
C) 1980s.
D) 1990s.

Question 23

You are giving a report to the base physician. After stating the patient's age, sex, and weight, you should next:

A) give the patient's chief complaint.
B) give the hospital the ETA.
C) relay treatments already rendered
D) request specific orders.

Question 24

In addition to giving emergency instruction to the caller, a dispatcher can also use prearrival instructions to: 1. comfort a distressed caller.
2) elicit additional information.
3) provide emotional support.
4) coordinate responders.

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 3, and 4
C) 1, 2, and 3
D) All of the above

Question 25

Immediate repetition of medical orders received during radio communications is known as the:

A) verification protocol.
B) echo procedure.
C) standard format.
D) response algorithm.

Question 26

Which of the following best explains the reason for the need to communicate effectively with other responders?

A) To coordinate and implement the treatment plan
B) To summon EMS through a PSAP
C) To make sure you can recover your equipment afterward
D) To exchange career information

Question 27

________ communications are condensed and ease the overcrowding of radio frequencies.

A) Cellular
B) Analog
C) Digital
D) Telephone

Question 28

The transfer of care to the receiving facility staff should always include:

A) physician examination of the report.
B) a formal verbal briefing.
C) a nurse signature on the prehospital chart.
D) immediate notification to the dispatcher that the unit is back in service.

Question 29

Specialized terms for radio use enhance communications by:

A) lengthening airtime and transmitting thoughts quickly.
B) shortening airtime and transmitting thoughts quickly.
C) rationing airtime and transmitting thoughts reasonably accurately.
D) shortening airtime and transmitting thoughts reasonably accurately.

Question 30

In most systems, 911 callers are first routed to the ________, which then sends the call to ________.

A) EMS-C; PSAP
B) PSAP; base station
C) EMD; PAAP
D) PSAP; EMD

Question 31

Regulation of communications at the federal level includes all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) licensing technical personnel.
B) establishing technical standards.
C) establishing terminology.
D) allocating radio frequencies.

Question 32

The federal agency that controls and regulates nongovernmental communications is the:

A) FCC.
B) FAC.
C) FCA.
D) FAA.

Question 33

Without proper terminology and verbal communications skills, the receiver will be unable to ________ the message.

A) decode
B) resend
C) encode
D) receive

Question 34

The verbal report to the receiving hospital should always include vital information, chief complaint, and:

A) personal physician's information.
B) treatments rendered.
C) next-of-kin name and telephone number.
D) EMS unit status.

Question 35

Information on the prehospital care reports may be used by which of the following in certain circumstances?

A) Hospital staff
B) Insurance claims departments
C) Attorneys
D) All of the above

Question 36

What is semantics?

A) A standard format for delivering information
B) The meaning of words
C) Effective communications
D) Process of exchanging information between individuals

Question 37

Medical audits, research, and policy changes can improve patient care through information collected from:

A) prehospital care reports.
B) crew activity logs.
C) vehicle maintenance logs.
D) disciplinary action records.

Question 38

The ________, the public's first contact with the EMS system, plays a crucial role in every EMS response.

A) emergency medical technician
B) emergency medical dispatcher
C) paramedic
D) first responder

Question 39

The first part of the EMS response to an incident is:

A) discussion with medical direction.
B) prearrival instructions.
C) detection and citizen access.
D) call coordination.

Question 40

In addition to being a part of your patient's medical record, a written report can also be used as:

A) a representation of the care you provided.
B) a legal record.
C) a document used for continuous quality improvement.
D) all of the above.

Question 41

The process of interrogating callers with medical questions to elicit information and then determine the proper level of response is known as:

A) telephone triage.
B) acuity assignment.
C) call queueing.
D) priority dispatching.

Question 42

One of the first bits of information to be transmitted to the base physician is the:

A) estimated time of arrival to the hospital.
B) request for specific orders.
C) unit and provider information.
D) treatments already rendered.

Question 43

The prehospital care report (PCR) is a written record of events that includes administrative and ________ information.

A) weather
B) medical
C) vehicle maintenance
D) extraneous

Question 44

Health organizations are responding to the rise of VOIP phones and the ability to send photos, videos, and text messages from mobile devices via the Internet with:

A) an initiative called Next Generation 911 (NG-911).
B) advanced automatic crash notification (AACN).
C) a coordinated system known as priority dispatching.
D) computerized hand-off reports.

Question 45

Using terminology widely accepted by the emergency services and medical community when giving a report to emergency department personnel is important because:

A) semantics enhance effective communication.
B) the receiver must be able to decode the message.
C) verbal communication is the preferred medium.
D) "10-codes" are meaningless to physicians.

Question 46

How do reports to the base physician differ for trauma and medical patients?

A) It is less important to include ETA for medical patients.
B) Only trauma patients require a description of the scene.
C) Medical reports describe a chief complaint, whereas trauma reports do not.
D) Medical reports emphasize history; trauma reports emphasize injuries and exam findings.