| ALS | Advanced Life Support.
An ALS tech responds to life threatening emergencies such as trouble breathing,
heart attacks, strokes, serious injuries, etc.
A minimum ALS ambulance crew at GVA is a driver and a paramedic. |
| BLS | Basic Life Support.
This is the level of care that can be administered by an EMT.
A minimum BLS ambulance crew is a driver and an EMT. |
| CME | Continuing Medical Education. |
| EMS | Emergency Medical Services.
A network of community resources and medical personnel
that provides emergency care to victims of injury or sudden illness.
Some components are the 911 center, the fire departments,
ambulance corps and hospital emergency rooms.
For many calls
such as vehicle crashes and psychiatric emergencies
the police department is also
an important part of the medical team. |
| EMT | Emergency Medical Technician.
An EMT is certified by New York State to perform non-invasive medical procedures. |
| EMT-D | EMT-Defibrillation.
Since all EMTs are now trained in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED),
the "-D" designation is no longer necessary. |
| EMT-I | EMT-Intermediate.
An EMT-I is certified by New York State to perform additional treatments beyond the EMT level,
particularly related to advanced airway management and establishing intravenous access. |
| EMT-CC | EMT-Critical Care.
An EMT-CC is certified by New York State to perform additional treatments beyond the EMT-I level,
such as the administration of a variety of medications. |
| EMT-P | EMT-Paramedic.
A paramedic is certified by New York State to perform the highest level of prehospital care. |
| CCEMT-P | Critical Care EMT-Paramedic.
A paramedic with additional training related to the medications, procedures and equipment
used during the transport of patients between medical facilities. |
| RSI | Rapic Sequence Induction.
An advanced treatment for patients whose airways are difficult to control.
This is performed by a limited number of specially trained paramedics. |
| Flycar | An emergency vehicle for an ALS technician.
It carries ALS equipment but cannot transport a patient.
Often, an ALS tech and driver form the crew of an ALS ambulance,
but if there are enough BLS personnel available it can add flexibility if the ALS tech uses a flycar.
If the ALS tech is dispatched for a potentially serious call,
but is not needed after patient evaluation, they are available for another call. |
| Mutual aid | Refers to agreements among area emergency services to respond
when requested because the primary service is unable to respond. |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
A federal agency that regulates health and safety in the workplace,
including the ambulance service.
For example, it regulates training and procedures related to
potential exposure to infectious materials. |
| PCR | Pre-hospital Care Report.
It contains medical information about the patient and the treatment provided before arrival at the hospital.
The hospital receives a copy for the patient’s records.
It includes patient information (name, address, etc.),
medical history including drugs being taken,
treatment and observations by the ambulance crew, etc. |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
A federal law requiring that patient's medical information
be handled in a confidential manner. |
| MHA | Mental Hygiene Arrest.
This is a misnomer,
since there is no arrest.
Police officers can detain people for psychiatric evaluation
when there is evidence that
they might be a danger to themselves or to others. |
