Deck 5: Communication

Question 1

You have been called for a 23-year-old male who is completely deaf. To best communicate with this patient, you should:

A) stand in front of the patient and speak loudly.
B) write questions on a note pad.
C) use gestures when asking questions.
D) have the emergency department get the needed information.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which one of the following is the most appropriate way to contact a receiving hospital to alert them that you are en route with a patient?

A) "Inbound with a 76-year-old male complaining of dizziness."
B) "St. Margaret's, can you take a report on a person with chest pain?"
C) "Dr. Jackson, this is EMT Mike Bennet, can you hear me?"
D) "St. Margaret's Hospital, this is BLS ambulance 17-64. How do you copy?"

Answer 2

D

Question 3

While you are returning from lunch, a frantic woman flags you down and states that she just found a young child on the roadside who appears to have been hit by a car. She is not sure if the child is breathing. You should immediately:

A) grab equipment and get to the child's location.
B) advise dispatch that you have been flagged down for a possible emergency.
C) call for paramedic assistance and await their arrival.
D) inform the woman that she will need to calm down.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What role does the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) play in EMS?

A) Inspecting ambulance and base station communication equipment
B) Establishing and enforcing regulations related to the use of radio operations
C) Determining the essential information that EMTs must relay to a receiving hospital about patient care
D) Approving maintenance and repair contracts for communication equipment used by EMS systems

Question 5

Which of the following is a function of providing the physician or nurse with an oral report when transferring care to the hospital emergency department (ED)?

A) To summarize patient assessment and treatment information
B) To provide an opportunity for the ED staff to critique the care provided
C) To inform them of whether or not they need to see the patient immediately
D) To provide input on additional medical care to be given in the ED

Question 6

You are treating an 82-year-old female who is having trouble hearing some of your questions. What technique would be best in helping you get her past medical history?

A) Enlist the help of a neighbor.
B) Speak with a loud and higher-pitched voice.
C) Defer further questions until en route to the hospital.
D) Speak clearly and slowly.

Question 7

What important piece of information has been omitted from the following report: "University Hospital, we are en route with a 61-year-old male complaining of generalized weakness. He states that he was cutting the grass when he suddenly became hot and weak, forcing him to sit down. He has a history of diabetes and prostate cancer, but takes no medications. Right now he is alert and oriented and has the following vital signs: pulse 96, respirations 18, and blood pressure 156/82 mmHg. We have placed him on two liters of oxygen by nasal cannula and are transporting in a semi-Fowler's position. He states that the weakness is starting to resolve. Do you have questions or orders?"

A) Patient's family physician
B) Location of the incident
C) ETA to the hospital
D) Medications the patient is taking

Question 8

You are treating a 2-year-old girl who fell off her bike. She is crying and will not answer any of your questions. Which one of the following would be appropriate to find out where the girl hurts?

A) Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you.
B) Tell the patient she will be okay if she tells you what hurts.
C) Promise the girl a reward like ice cream if she answers the questions.
D) Use an adult-like voice and tell the girl she needs to answer the questions.

Question 9

You are returning from a call when you come across an apartment building with flames coming from several windows on the top story. You see several occupants trapped and hanging out of the windows screaming for help. Which one of the following radio transmissions is most appropriate when advising dispatch of the situation?

A) "Central communications from Unit 118, how do you copy?"
B) "Central communications be advised of a working structure fire on Third Street and Raven with occupants trapped."
C) "Central communication, be advised there is a structure fire with people trapped."
D) "Central communications I need the fire department and additional ambulances for a working structure fire on the north side of town."

Question 10

A 42-year-old female is complaining of shortness of breath. Which of the following questions would best assist you in getting additional information about the patient's chief complaint?

A) "You appear to be short of breath. Are you also having chest pain?"
B) "Why did you wait 2 hours to call for an ambulance?"
C) "Did you get diaphoretic when the shortness of breath started?"
D) "Have you ever had a myocardial infarction before?"

Question 11

Which one of the following is an effective way to improve communication with most patients?

A) Have the patient look up at you.
B) Speak clearly and loudly.
C) Maintain eye contact.
D) Use medical terminology.

Question 12

Your partner accidentally uses a profane word when talking to dispatch. Which agency has the power to fine him and the ambulance service?

A) County Board of Commissioners
B) Department of Homeland Security
C) Local police department's division of communications
D) Federal Communications Commission

Question 13

An effective and reliable communication system is essential to the EMT and the EMS system because:

A) a decrease in the number of lawsuits has been demonstrated.
B) EMTs are better able to assess patients.
C) hospitals can better prepare for the arrival of a patient.
D) the safety of an EMT is guaranteed on a dangerous scene.

Question 14

When using your portable radio, you must push the "press to talk" button and wait one second before speaking. This is essential to effective communication because your EMS system must use:

A) digital equipment.
B) repeaters.
C) portable transmitter/receiver.
D) cellular telephone links.

Question 15

Which one of the following statements is most appropriate when communicating with the medical facility that will receive the patient?

A) "Inbound with a 52-year-old suffering from a myocardial infarction."
B) "En route to your facility with a 73-year-old male complaining of dizziness."
C) "Five minutes out with Mr. John Panzer who called us today for high blood pressure."
D) "En route with a drug addict who has overdosed on an unspecified amount of heroin."

Question 16

Which one of the following statements is most appropriate when transferring a patient to the emergency department and giving an oral report?

A) "This is Mr. Benton. He has the state insurance plan."
B) "Mr. Benton has high blood pressure and appears to be having a heart attack."
C) "Mr. Benton called us today because he was having chest pain."
D) "Please refer to the recording of my radio report for specific information about Mr. Benton and his chest pain."

Question 17

Medical direction has advised you to place a patient who is obese and extremely short of breath in a supine position. Knowing that doing so will cause the patient to become more short of breath, your best action would be to:

A) explain your concern to the physician and ask for clarification.
B) place the patient in the supine position and expedite transport.
C) contact a different hospital and transport the patient there.
D) ask your partner what he would do.

Question 18

How should the EMT respond when first making contact with an alert and oriented patient complaining of chest pain?

A) "Did you call for an ambulance? I am here to help."
B) "I am an EMT. Do you want to go to the hospital?"
C) "I am here to help you. Do you have chest pain?"
D) "My name is Charles Smith, and I am an EMT. Can I help you?"

Question 19

You pull up to the scene of a one-car motor vehicle collision and find a physician treating the patient. Which one of the following is the best way to initially communicate with the doctor?

A) "Thank you, doctor, you can go now; we will take over."
B) "Hello, we are EMTs. How can we help you, doctor?"
C) "We will be in the ambulance if you need us."
D) "The law requires you to let us handle the situation."

Question 20

Why is using a standard format for relaying medical information to the emergency department important?

A) The opportunity for forgetting important medical information decreases.
B) A standard format assists the EMT in maintaining his or her assessment skills.
C) Dispatch is better able to monitor and constructively critique the radio traffic to hospitals.
D) The EMS agency can increase its reimbursement from health care insurance companies.

Question 21

A patient who was complaining of a headache is being transported to the hospital. After providing a report to the emergency department, the patient begins to seize. The seizure lasts for 1 minute and then stops. At this time, you are 5 minutes from the hospital. After providing care for the seizure, your next action should be to:

A) continue care and transport to the hospital.
B) call the hospital and inform them of the seizure.
C) contact family via cell phone and determine is the patient has a history of seizures.
D) document the seizure on the prehospital care report.

Question 22

You have accepted the head position on a committee that oversees the operation and maintenance of the communications system for your busy service. Which of the following mandates would you make to maximize the effectiveness and quality of the communication system?
(A) All radios must be sterilized daily with a hospital-grade disinfectant.
(B) Emergency generators must be placed at the base station and repeater stations.
(C) Nonrechargeable batteries are to be used to increase the life of the portable radios.
(D) Batteries must be changed out the same day each week on all mobile radios.

Question 23

Your patient denies difficulty breathing, but displays signs of respiratory distress. You state, "I know that you said you are breathing fine, but you cannot speak more than two to three words at a time without gasping for air." Your response is an example of:

A) confrontation.
B) empathy.
C) contradiction.
D) explanation.

Question 24

Over the radio, medical direction has given the following order for an unstable patient you suspect of having a heart attack: "have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg, and transport as soon as possible." You would show reception of this order by stating:
(A) "copy … we will administer the aspirin as ordered and begin immediate transport"
(B) "copy … we will start transport and administer 324 mg of aspirin enroute"
(C) "copy … we will have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg and transport ASAP"
(D) "copy Dr. Markowitz … we will follow the orders as received and transport to your facility"

Question 25

When relying on a cell for medical communications, the EMT realizes that:
(A) he can relay his diagnosis of the patient's problem to the emergency department.
(B) he should use the same format of communication as used for radio transmissions.
(C) he is free to relay personal and confidential information not allowed over the radio.
(D) he can talk more casually and not as structured as when using the radio.

Question 26

An advantage to asking the patient close-ended questions is a(n):

A) opportunity to get a detailed response from the patient.
B) ability to get medical information very quickly.
C) chance to get a significant amount of information.
D) opportunity for the patient to elaborate about his medical complaint.

Question 27

Which one of the following is a disadvantage in using cell phones as an emergency backup communication system?

A) They do not offer high-quality sound.
B) There is less privacy when using cell phones, as compared to radios.
C) Cell phone use is not monitored by the FCC.
D) Cell phones may not be effective in disaster situations.

Question 28

The wife of a 57-year-old male called 911 because he had chest pain. Which of the following pieces of information would be included in your SBAR report at the hospital?
(A) "… the call originated at the address to which we responded…"
(B) "… the police were called after a neighbor complained about where the ambulance was parked"
(C) "… I am thinking that the patient would benefit from 324 mg of aspirin …"
(D) "… his wife also has a history of high blood pressure, so it appears to run in the family"

Question 29

Your ambulance was dispatched for a patient complaining of shortness of breath at 1512. You arrived on scene at 1523 and left at 1538. You arrived at the hospital with the patient at 1557 and were back in service at 1622. Which one of the following is true?

A) Your scene time was 15 minutes.
B) You arrived on the scene at 5:23 p.m.
C) The call took place in the morning.
D) The time spent at the hospital was 16 minutes and 22 seconds.

Question 30

When interviewing a patient with a medical emergency, the EMT is using the technique of summary when she says:

A) "With one finger, can you point to where it hurts?"
B) "Did you also have diarrhea with the nausea and vomiting?"
C) "So the nausea and vomiting started two days ago."
D) "I know how you feel. I had the same thing last week."

Question 31

When providing a lengthy radio report, the most important reason to pause every 30 seconds is so that:

A) other people can use the radio for an emergency transmission.
B) the repeater can process and pick up all that you are saying.
C) the person receiving the message has time to think about what you are saying.
D) the person receiving the message can write down what you are saying.

Question 32

Throughout a radio transmission to the dispatch center, the EMT periodically uses the term "break." You should recognize this to mean he is:

A) completing his transmission.
B) purposely pausing his transmission.
C) awaiting a response from the dispatcher.
D) taking time to get his thoughts together.

Question 33

You have arrived at the scene of a medical emergency. As you enter the room where the patient is located, you note him to be sitting up and talking without difficulty. Emergency Medical Responders are on scene and providing basic care for the patient. Which one of the following will you do first?

A) Place the patient on your stretcher and transfer him to the ambulance.
B) Ask the patient's family if he has any past medical problems.
C) Get the patient's pulse and respiratory rate, along with his blood pressure.
D) Get a report from the Emergency Medical Responder.

Question 34

Which one of the following is an open-ended question?

A) "Can you describe the pain to me?"
B) "What time did the pain begin?"
C) "Did you get sweaty when the pain started?"
D) "Who is your primary care physician?"

Question 35

You have arrived by the side of an 82-year-old male complaining of generalized weakness. After introducing yourself, he states, "My name is Edward Burns, but everyone calls me Eddy." Which of the following is your most appropriate response?

A) "Alright Eddy, let's see what is going on with you."
B) "Okay, Edward. We need to know what hospital you want to go to."
C) "Alright, Mr. Burns. Is it okay if we get your blood pressure?"
D) "Do you want us to call you Eddy as well?"

Question 36

Over the next three days, your ambulance service is getting new and improved mobile radios. As an EMT with knowledge of communication equipment, you realize that:
(A) the new radios will allow combined radio and cell phone use.
(B) new portable radios will be issued to the field crews.
(C) the new radios will rebroadcast transmissions at a higher power.
(D) new radios will be installed in all of the ambulances.

Question 37

Which one of the following best explains the reason why emergency services communications are recorded?

A) The state EMS agency will use the recording to determine if care was appropriate.
B) The federal government requires that all communications be recorded.
C) Communications can become part of a legal record if need be.
D) The Federal Communications Commission reviews all recordings for communication appropriateness.

Question 38

You arrive in the parking lot of a retail store and find a middle-age male on the ground, unresponsive and with blood coming from a laceration to his forehead. Several shoppers have gathered around the patient and have covered him with a blanket. What should you do first?

A) Ask the bystanders if anyone knows the patient.
B) Place the patient on the stretcher and into the ambulance.
C) Go to the patient and begin providing care.
D) Call for law enforcement to secure the scene.

Question 39

As you drive lights and sirens to the hospital with a critical patient, the paramedic asks you to notify the receiving hospital since he is busy caring for the patient. He tells you to specifically let the emergency department know that the patient's blood sugar is 15 mg/dL (very low). There is no history of diabetes. Of the following reports, which is best?
(A) "… be advised that the blood sugar is 15 … that is one-five mg/dL"
(B) "… the blood sugar is 15 … be advised that the paramedic, not I, checked the blood sugar"
(C) "… the patient is not a diabetic but has a very low blood sugar"
(D) "… we have a blood sugar that is 15 … I think that the patient is very critical"

Question 40

A 31-year-old female with a history of depression took some pills in a suicide attempt. Her husband is visibly upset and her three young children are crying as you place her into the ambulance. She is conscious and stable as you transport her to the hospital. During the transport, she tearfully states she did not mean to take the pills and asks if she is going to die. In regards to therapeutic communication, which one of the following is your best response?

A) "You are going to be fine, don't worry."
B) "You are stable right now and we are transporting you for definitive care."
C) "If you do not want to die, why did you take the pills?"
D) "I think that you have a loving family and you need to be more considerate of them."

Question 41

Which phrase best illustrates the EMT using the summary technique of therapeutic communication?
(A) "It appears that you have been depressed for several weeks now."
(B) "Since you are depressed, we need to transport you to the hospital."
(C) "I know how you feel; my brother suffers from depression."
(D) "Since you are not in a calm state of mind, we have to transport you to the ED."

Question 42

Currently, there is a debate within your organization regarding the use of codes in your medical communications and radio traffic. As you are in favor of plain English, and doing away with codes, a strong argument to justify this position would be:
(A) codes only serve to increase the amount of air time to relay information.
(B) the code system can be made public, thus allowing others to hear confidential information.
(C) the use of codes does not allow the EMT to practice his or her medical terminology.
(D) medical information can be too complex for a simple code system.