EMT Chapter 3 Quiz & Flashcards for Exam Success

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Questions and Answers

The law protects EMTs who are off duty.

False

If an action or procedure that was performed on a patient is not recorded on the written report: (Select one)

It was performed haphazardly by the EMT.

It was not performed in the eyes of the law. (correct)

It can be qualified by the EMT in charge.

It cannot be used in establishing negligence.

In the eyes of the court, an incomplete or untidy patient care form indicates: (Select one)

That inadequate patient care was administered. (correct)

That thorough documentation was not required.

That the EMT was too busy providing patient care.

Potential falsification of the patient care form.

Which of the following situations requires you to notify the appropriate authorities? (Select one)

Attempted suicide Signup and view all the answers

When you and your partner are the first to arrive at a potential crime scene with a critically injured patient, your first priority is to: (Select one)

Provide immediate patient care. Signup and view all the answers

Maintaining the chain of evidence at the scene of a crime should include: (Select one)

Not cutting through holes in clothing that were caused by weapons. Signup and view all the answers

Upon arriving at a shooting scene where law enforcement is present, you should: (Select one)

Quickly move the coffee table so you can access and treat the patient. Signup and view all the answers

When two EMTs witness a coworker giving adequate medical care but ignoring the patient's emotional needs, this lack of action is considered: (Select one)

Legal but unethical. Signup and view all the answers

While transporting a woman with diabetes, if you give her oral glucose despite her high blood glucose level, you should: (Select one)

Contact medical control and notify him or her of the error. Signup and view all the answers

When arriving at the residence of a man in cardiac arrest who you recognize as the drunk driver that killed your brother, you should: (Select one)

Begin two-rescuer CPR and apply the automated external defibrillator (AED) as soon as possible. Signup and view all the answers

To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should always:

Provide competent care that meets current standards. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following general statements regarding consent is MOST correct?

A patient can consent to transport but can legally refuse to be treated. Signup and view all the answers

What type of consent is involved when a 39-year-old mentally competent female with a severe headache asks you to take her to the hospital?

Expressed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts informed consent?

An EMT advises a patient of the risks of receiving treatment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of consent allows treatment of a patient who is unconscious or mentally incapacitated?

Implied Signup and view all the answers

You are dispatched to an office building for a 49-year-old male with chest pain. When you arrive at the scene, you find the patient to be conscious and alert, but in obvious pain. He tells you that he did not call 9-1-1; a coworker did. He further states that he does not want to be treated or transported to the hospital. You should:

Ensure that he is aware of the risks of refusing medical care. Signup and view all the answers

You suspect that a pregnant 16-year-old girl has a broken leg after she was hit by a car. You explain that you plan to splint her leg, and she agrees to treatment. What type of consent is her agreement considered?

Expressed Signup and view all the answers

In many states, a minor may be treated as an adult for the purpose of consenting to or refusing medical treatment if the minor:

Is self-supporting and lives by him- or herself. Signup and view all the answers

You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident. The patient, a 13-year-old male, is unconscious and has multiple injuries. As you are treating the child, a law enforcement officer advises you that the child's parents will be at the scene in approximately 15 minutes. What should you do?

Transport the child immediately and have the parents meet you at the hospital. Signup and view all the answers

You are dispatched to a middle school for a 16-year-old female experiencing an asthma attack. She is conscious and alert, but in severe respiratory distress. The school nurse informs you that she has tried several times to contact the patient's parents but has not been successful. You should:

Provide treatment up to your level of training and transport the child at once. Signup and view all the answers

You are treating a man with a closed head injury following an assault by a burglar. The patient, who has slurred speech, becomes verbally abusive and tells you to leave him alone. You should:

Proceed with treatment and utilize law enforcement if necessary. Signup and view all the answers

A patient regains consciousness en route from his office to the emergency department. The patient tells you that he feels fine and does not want to go to the hospital. Under these circumstances, you should:

Assess whether or not the patient's mental condition is impaired. Signup and view all the answers

Shortly after loading your patient, a 50-year-old man with abdominal pain, into the ambulance, he tells you that he changed his mind and does not want to go to the hospital. He is conscious and alert and has no signs of mental incapacitation. Which of the following statements regarding this situation is correct?

A mentally competent adult can withdraw his or her consent to treat at any time. Signup and view all the answers

You suspect that a 6-year-old girl has broken her leg after falling from a swing at a playground. Shortly after you arrive, the child's mother appears and refuses to allow you to continue treatment. You should:

Try to persuade the mother that treatment is needed. Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following circumstances can the EMT legally release confidential patient information?

The patient is competent and signs a release form. Signup and view all the answers

Your BEST protection against legal liability when a competent patient refuses EMS care and transport is to:

Thoroughly document the entire event. Signup and view all the answers

What section of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) MOST affects EMS personnel?

Protecting patient privacy. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered to be protected health information (PHI)?

Location of the call. Signup and view all the answers

During your monthly internal quality improvement (QI) meeting, you review several patient care reports (PCRs) with the staff of your EMS system. You identify the patient's name, age, and sex, and then discuss the treatment that was provided by the EMTs in the field. By taking this approach to the QI process, you:

Are in violation of HIPAA because you did not remove the PHI from the PCR beforehand. Signup and view all the answers

In order for a do not resuscitate (DNR) order to be valid, it must:

Clearly state the patient's medical problem. Signup and view all the answers

When faced with a situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest, and a valid living will or DNR order cannot be located, you should:

Begin resuscitation at once. Signup and view all the answers

You respond to the home of a 59-year-old man who is unconscious, has slow, shallow breathing, and has a weak pulse. The family states that the patient has terminal brain cancer and does not wish to be resuscitated. They further state that there is a DNR order for this patient; however, they are unable to locate it. You should:

Begin treatment and contact medical control as needed. Signup and view all the answers

You and your partner arrive at the scene of a major motor vehicle crash. The driver, a young male, is severely entrapped in his car. He has an open head injury and massive facial trauma. He is unresponsive, is not breathing, and does not have a palpable carotid pulse. You should:

Have your partner check for a pulse to confirm that the patient is deceased. Signup and view all the answers

You arrive at the scene of an apparent death. When evaluating the patient, which of the following is a definitive sign of death?

Dependent lividity. Signup and view all the answers

Putrefaction is defined as:

Decomposition of the body's tissues. Signup and view all the answers

Where would you MOST likely find information regarding a patient's wishes to be an organ donor?

Driver's license. Signup and view all the answers

At the scene of a mass-casualty incident, you identify a patient as an organ donor. When triaging the other patients, you:

May have to assign the donor patient a lower triage priority. Signup and view all the answers

The EMT's scope of practice within his or her local response area is defined by the:

Medical director. Signup and view all the answers

The manner in which the EMT must act or behave when caring for a patient is called the:

Standard of care. Signup and view all the answers

As an EMT, the performance of your duties will be compared to that of:

Another EMT. Signup and view all the answers

You have been tasked by your medical director to assist in the development of your EMS agency's institutional standards. When developing these standards, it is important to:

Be reasonable and realistic to avoid overburdening your personnel. Signup and view all the answers

When performing his or her duties, the EMT is generally expected to:

Exercise reasonable care and act prudently. Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following situations does the EMT NOT have a legal duty to act?

A response to a motor vehicle crash while off duty. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following MOST accurately defines negligence?

Deviation from the standard of care that may result in further injury. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components are needed to prove negligence?

Duty to act, breach of duty, injury/damages, and causation. Signup and view all the answers

When caring for a 65-year-old male with respiratory distress, you place him in a comfortable position but do not apply oxygen. The patient's condition continues to deteriorate and he develops cardiac arrest and dies at the hospital. This scenario is an example of:

Negligence. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios MOST accurately depicts abandonment?

A paramedic transfers patient care to an EMT. Signup and view all the answers

While transporting a stable patient with chest pain to the hospital, you come across a major motor vehicle crash involving several critically injured patients. Your MOST appropriate action should be to:

Continue transporting your patient and notify the dispatcher of the crash. Signup and view all the answers

An EMT would MOST likely be held liable for abandonment if he or she:

Did not make provisions for continued care of an injured patient. Signup and view all the answers

Acting in such a way as to make another person fear immediate bodily harm is called:

Assault. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Legal Considerations in EMT Practice

To avoid litigation, provide care that meets current standards.
Consent: Patients can refuse treatment but must be informed of risks. Intoxicated patients generally cannot refuse care.
Expressed consent occurs when a competent patient verbally agrees to treatment; this includes informed consent where risks are explained by EMTs.
Implied consent applies to unconscious or mentally incapacitated patients.

Decision Making in Emergency Situations

In cases where a conscious patient refuses treatment, ensure they understand the risks before documenting their refusal.
Minor patients may require parental consent for treatment, but self-supporting minors can consent as adults.
When dealing with unconscious minors, prioritize treatment and transport over waiting for consent.

A patient can withdraw consent at any time, even while en route to a hospital.
Ensure that all refusals of care are well documented to protect against legal ramifications.
Seeking to persuade guardians to allow treatment can be crucial when a minor’s care is refused.

Confidentiality and Patient Information

Protecting patient privacy is a core component of HIPAA, which governs information handling in EMS.
Protected health information (PHI) includes patient history and assessments but not the location of the call.
Detailed documentation is vital; incomplete or messy reports can suggest inadequate care.

DNR Orders and Resuscitation

DNR orders must specify the patient's medical condition to be valid; they must be clearly communicated, especially if lost.
Without clear DNR directives, proceed with resuscitation efforts in cardiac arrest situations.
Understand local laws and respect patients' end-of-life wishes during critical care situations.

Negligence and Legal Liability

Negligence includes failing to act according to the established standard of care, leading to patient harm.
Legal duty to act exists under various circumstances, but EMTs are not liable when off-duty unless required by local policy.
Abandonment can occur if care is not transferred properly to another qualified provider.

Good Samaritan Law

Protects EMTs from lawsuits as long as they act within their scope of practice and do not engage in gross negligence.
Legal actions performed without documentation may be viewed as ineffective, increasing vulnerability to claims of negligence.

Triage and Patient Prioritization

In mass-casualty incidents, integrate organ donor status into triage decisions appropriately.
The EMT's scope of practice varies by local medical director directives; adhere to established training and standards.
When faced with new emergencies, prioritize patient care over non-essential actions such as assessing motives behind injuries.

Documentation and Reporting

Documentation must be complete and accurate; anything unrecorded may be interpreted as not performed legally.
Authorities must be notified of specific situations, including suspected suicides, to comply with legal obligations.
Ensure all patient interactions and care actions are noted clearly to safeguard against potential legal issues.### Scenario-Based Questions
In a shooting scenario, if the suspect is in custody and a patient presents with a gunshot wound in a confined space, prioritize treatment by moving obstacles to access the patient.
Emotional needs of patients must be addressed in medical care; rudeness towards patients, especially due to perceived illness (like HIV), is considered unethical behavior.

Medical Decision Making

If an EMT administers oral glucose to a diabetic patient with a high blood glucose level but the patient remains stable, this error should be reported to medical control to ensure patient safety and accountability.

Ethical Considerations in Care

A personal connection to a previous incident can lead to emotional challenges; however, the EMT is expected to provide care impartially, indicating that providing two-rescuer CPR and using an AED on an identified patient is the ethical course of action, despite personal history.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key concepts from Chapter 3 of the EMT course. These flashcards cover essential topics such as patient transport and consent, helping you prepare for your exams. Challenge yourself with these questions to ensure you're ready for real-life scenarios.

EMT Chapter 3 Flashcards