Definitions

Dispatch priorities – the processes associated with how the dispatch operations centres prioritize the emergency medical calls.

Response to scene – the processes associated with the ground or air operations crew physically responding to scene after being assigned as a resource and dispatched on an event.

Scene access / patient access – the processes associated with physically gaining accessing to the patient’s side at the scene of the incident.

Crew and equipment preparedness – the processes or procedures associated with having equipment and supplies available, stocked in the ambulance, or at the patient side that ought to be part of the standard operational readiness of any prehospital event.

Patient assessment – the processes associated with the clinical assessment of the patient.

Patient treatment at scene – the processes and procedures associated with the physical care delivery at the scene of the event.

Destination decision – the processes or procedures associated with the decision to transport to a specific medical facility.

Transport from scene to hospital – the processes associated with transporting the patient from scene to a hospital.

Treatment on route - the processes and procedures associated with the physical care delivery while on route in a ground or air ambulance to a medical facility.

Transfer of care – the processes and procedures associated with the handoff and handover of care between crews, between care providers, or at a medical facility.

Treat and non-transport – the processes and decisions associated with releasing a patient from your care, either with or against medical advice.

Physician or specialist consult – the processes associated with the escalation to a paramedic specialist, technical advisor, emergency online physician support, or higher level of care consultation, either in task, or by omission not complete the task.

Patient`s disposition or disease process – the specific pathology of the patient’s condition, the underlying disease process, or not yet diagnosed medical problem.

Documentation – the processes related to documenting the care provided and circumstances of the episode of care and history of the chief complaint.

Transitioning back into service - the processes associated with cleaning, stocking, and checking a fully operational ambulance unit ready for duty.