INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN

INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN - BASIC

Origins of EMS • Accidental Death & Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society • Department of Transportation (DOT) – Highway Safety Act of 1966 • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – Emergency Medical Act of 1973

National Standard Curriculum • Developed by DOT – First developed in early 1970’s – Current - 1994 • Purpose – Standardization of Training Programs – Standardization of Levels of Certification – Standardization of Patient Care

Components of an EMS System • Advisory Council • Medical Direction – The process used by the Medical community to assure quality and accountability in the delivery of pre-hospital care – On-line – Off-line • Protocols • Quality Improvement

Components of an EMS System • EMT Training – Initial – Continuing Education • Instructor Training

Components of an EMS System • Communications Systems – System Communication • Radio • Cellular – System Access • 911 • Other easily remembered numbers

Components of an EMS System • Dispatch Center – Well Designed – Well Equipped – Well Staffed & Trained – Policies & Procedures

Components of an EMS System • Ambulance Service – Well Designed – Well Equipped – Well Maintained – Well Trained Staff • Initial • Continuing Education

Components of an EMS System • Rapport with Other Healthcare Professionals • Reports & Records • System Evaluation – Quality Improvement • Protocol Review/Update • Run Review • Remedial or Continuing Education

Components of an EMS System • System Evaluation (Cont. ) – Risk Management/Loss Control – Outcome Studies – System Status Management • Disaster Plans – Major Incident Response • Designed by EMS • Designed to Integrate with Other Agencies

Components of an EMS System • Public Information & Education • Categorized Hospital Emergency Capabilities • Funding

Components of an EMS System • Management – Well Educated • Initial • Continuing Education – Well Supported • $ • by Upper Level Management

Continuum of Care • 1 st Phase - Out of Hospital Care • 2 nd Phase - Emergency Department Care • 3 rd Phase - Definitive Care

EMS RELATED AGENCIES • First Responders • Law Enforcement – Police – Sheriff's Department – Department of Public Safety – Federal

EMS RELATED AGENCIES • Fire Department • Regional Organizations • Texas Department of Health

Roles & Responsibilities • Safety – Priorities • • Yourself Partner By-standers Patient

Roles & Responsibilities • Safety (cont. ) – Safe Behaviors • Health – – No Destructive Activities Rest Conditioning Do not push body past limitations (Mentally and Physically) – Wear Personal Protective Equipment • Survey Scene – Look for Hazards – Listen to Others

Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care – Patient Assessment – Basic Life Support – Mechanical Aids to Breathing – Pulse-Oximetry – Semi-Automatic External Defibrillator – Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (PASG or MAST)

Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care (cont. ) – Hand-held Metered Dose Nebulizers – Epinephrine Auto-injectors (Epi pens) – Nitroglycerin – Aspirin – Charcoal

Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care (cont. ) – Oral Glucose – Bandaging & Splinting / Traction Splinting – Emergency Childbirth – Spinal Immobilization – Advanced Airway (Optional)

EMT-Intermediate Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care - Intermediate – Intermediate Patient Assessment – Advanced Airway • • Esophageal Airways Endotracheal Intubation (Oral & Nasal) Cricothyrotomy (Needle & Surgical) End-tidal CO 2 Monitoring

EMT-Intermediate Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care - Intermediate (Cont. ) – Vascular Access • Intravenous • Intraosseus – Gastric Tube Placement (Oral & Nasal) – Pleural Decompression

EMT-Intermediate Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care - Intermediate – Drug Therapy • D 50 W • Narcan – Intermediate Recordkeeping – Intermediate Radio Communication

EMT-Paramedic Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care - Paramedic – Advanced Patient Assessment – Drug Administration Techniques – EKG Interpretation – Defibrillation/Cardioversion

EMT-Paramedic Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Care - Paramedic (Cont. ) – External Pacemakers – IV Infusion Pumps – Mechanical Ventilators – Urinary catherization

Roles & Responsibilities • • • Extrication & Rescue Transport Transfer of Care Communications Records & Reports

Roles & Responsibilities • Patient Advocacy • Maintenance – Vehicle Maintenance – Equipment Maintenance – Self

Personal Attitude & Conduct • Professionalism – Appearance – Attitude – Manner – Speech – Writing – Knowledge & Skills • Participation in CE • Participation in QI

Personal Attitude & Conduct • • Confidence Compassion Empathy Leadership

Personal Attitude & Conduct • • Sound Judgement Good Moral Character Stability Adaptability

Texas EMT Certification • Requirements – Successfully complete a TDH approved EMTBasic course – Submit to TDH: • Course Completion Certificate • Completed TDH EMS Personnel Application • TDH application fees (if not exempt) – Schedule state exam appointment with TDH regional office