CED Medical Dispatch Protocols Flashcards
6 cards from real CED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CED Medical Dispatch Protocols flashcards as text
In EMD priority coding, which level indicates an immediately life-threatening situation requiring the fastest possible response?
Answer: Echo (Priority 1)
Echo is the highest MPDS priority, indicating conditions such as cardiac arrest or major trauma where every second counts.
A caller reports an adult patient who is conscious, breathing, and has a minor laceration with controlled bleeding — what MPDS priority level is most appropriate?
Answer: Alpha (Priority 4 — non-urgent)
Alpha priority is assigned to situations that are low-acuity and unlikely to deteriorate rapidly, such as minor wounds in a stable, conscious patient.
What is 'call screening' in the context of Emergency Medical Dispatch?
Answer: The process of gathering information to determine the appropriate priority and response level
Call screening involves structured interrogation of the caller to classify the medical emergency and assign the correct priority code before or during dispatch.
Which combination of symptoms would most likely result in a HIGH EMD priority assignment?
Answer: Chest pain with difficulty breathing
Chest pain combined with respiratory distress is a classic indicator of a potentially life-threatening cardiac or pulmonary event requiring an immediate high-priority response.
What does an 'Omega' priority level typically represent in the MPDS system?
Answer: A non-emergency situation that may be handled by referral or scheduled transport
Omega is the lowest MPDS priority, used for clearly non-urgent calls that do not require emergency ambulance response and may be referred to other services.
When a caller reports finding an adult who is unconscious and not breathing, which response action is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Assign the highest priority (Echo), dispatch immediately, and begin CPR instructions
An unconscious, non-breathing patient is in cardiac arrest — the most time-critical medical emergency — requiring immediate Echo-level dispatch and concurrent CPR pre-arrival instructions.