Week 3 Study Guide: Public Health & Medical-Legal EMS PDF

**Week 3 Study Guide: Public Health and Medical-Legal Aspects in EMS** **Key Concepts** **Public Health Principles ** 1. **Definition**: The science and practice of protecting and improving community health through preventive medicine, education, and environmental safety. 2. **Accompli...

**Week 3 Study Guide: Public Health and Medical-Legal Aspects in EMS** **Key Concepts** **Public Health Principles ** 1. **Definition**: The science and practice of protecting and improving community health through preventive medicine, education, and environmental safety. 2. **Accomplishments in Public Health**: - Vaccinations - Motor vehicle safety - Workplace safety - Control of infectious diseases - Tobacco use reduction 3. **Epidemiology**: - Study of disease incidence and prevalence in populations. - Key terms: epidemic, pandemic, carrier, host, vector, virulence. 4. **EMS and Public Health**: - EMS providers as injury prevention advocates. - Collaboration with public health sectors to create disaster plans, conduct community education, and secure funding. 5. **Community Prevention Programs**: - Addressing infant and child safety, geriatric falls, work-related injuries, and medication misuse. - Implementation strategies include scene education, defensive driving classes, and elder-care clinics. **Medical-Legal and Ethical Aspects ** 1. **Legal Foundations**: - Types of law: Constitutional, common (case law), statutory, and regulatory. - Tort law: Civil wrongs like negligence or intentional harm. 2. **Negligence Components**: - Duty to act - Breach of duty - Actual damages - Proximate cause 3. **Defenses Against Negligence**: - Good Samaritan laws - Governmental immunity - Proper documentation and education 4. **Consent in EMS**: - Types: - Informed: Full disclosure of treatment risks and benefits. - Expressed: Verbal or written consent. - Implied: When the patient is incapacitated. - Withdrawal or refusal of care: Ensure patients are fully informed of risks. 5. **Confidentiality**: - Governed by HIPAA. - Breaches like defamation or invasion of privacy can result in legal consequences. 6. **Provider-Patient Relationship**: - Abandonment: Terminating care without ensuring continued care. - Assault and battery: Providing treatment without consent. **Focus Areas for Prevention and EMS Practice** 1. **Communicable Diseases**: - Universal precautions to prevent disease transmission. - The Ryan White Act protects EMS providers exposed to infectious diseases. 2. **Patient Safety and Autonomy**: - Always prioritize \"do no harm.\" - Respect patients\' right to refuse care. 3. **Community Education**: - Reduce death and disability through programs like car seat installation and defensive driving. 4. **Documentation**: - Complete, accurate, and objective reporting protects providers legally and improves patient care quality. **Important Laws and Regulations** 1. **HIPAA**: - Ensures patient confidentiality and governs data handling. 2. **Ryan White Care Act**: - Allows providers to request patient testing for communicable diseases after exposure. 3. **Disaster Laws**: - Provide flexibility for government adaptation during emergencies. 4. **DNR Orders**: - Must be valid and signed by the patient and physician to be followed.