 | Term | Definition |
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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) |
Comprehensive legislation designed to protect disabled individuals against discrimination. |
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Emergency medical services (EMS) |
System that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured. |
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Emergency medical technician (EMT) |
Member of the EMS system who is trained to provide prehospital medical care. EMTs are categorized into three levels of training: basic, intermediate, paramedic. |
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First Responder |
First medically trained person to arrive at the scene of sudden illness or injury. |
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Medical control |
Physician instructions given directly by radio (on-line) or indirectly by protocol/guidelines (off-line) to EMTs in the field. |
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Medical director |
Physician who authorizes or delegates the authority to perform medical care in the field. |
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Paramedic |
EMT who has completed an extensive course of training in ALS. Skills include IV therapy, advanced pharmacology, cardiac monitoring and defibrillation, and advanced airway management. |
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Quality improvement |
System of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system |
