EMD - Emergency Medical Dispatch Medical Priority Dispatch System Questions and Answers

Question 1

During the Case Entry protocol, which of the following is NOT one of the four mandatory questions an EMD must ask?

Accepted Answer

"What is the patient's name?"

Answer

"What's the address of the emergency?"

Answer

"What's the phone number you're calling from?"

Answer

"Okay, tell me exactly what happened."

Question 2

A caller reports a 54-year-old male is experiencing chest pain. In the MPDS, what is the primary purpose of selecting the correct Chief Complaint Protocol?

Accepted Answer

To guide the EMD through the most appropriate set of Key Questions and instructions.

Answer

To provide a definitive diagnosis to the responding crew.

Answer

To determine the caller's emotional state.

Answer

To decide which hospital the patient should be transported to.

Question 3

A 22-year-old female has fallen from a second-story balcony. She is conscious but reports severe back pain and cannot feel her legs. Which of the following MPDS components provides life-saving instructions, such as how to maintain C-spine stabilization, for the caller to perform before responders arrive?

Accepted Answer

Dispatch Life Support (DLS)

Answer

Determinant Descriptors

Answer

Case Entry Questions

Answer

Response Configuration

Question 4

In the MPDS, a Determinant Code is comprised of a number, a letter, and another number (e.g., 6-D-1). What does the letter component represent?

Accepted Answer

The response priority level based on the patient's acuity.

Answer

The specific Key Question that was answered affirmatively.

Answer

The geographic zone of the incident.

Answer

The type of responding unit required.

Question 5

Which of the following situations would most likely result in the selection of the 'Sick Person' (Protocol 26) Chief Complaint?

Accepted Answer

An 80-year-old male with a generalized feeling of weakness and malaise for three days without priority symptoms.

Answer

A 45-year-old male with sudden, crushing chest pain.

Answer

A 30-year-old female actively having a seizure.

Answer

A 19-year-old who fell off a ladder and has an obvious leg deformity.

Question 6

What is the primary function of Post-Dispatch Instructions (PDIs) within the Medical Priority Dispatch System?

Accepted Answer

To provide instructions for the caller to prepare for the arrival of responders.

Answer

To gather further diagnostic information from the caller.

Answer

To verify the accuracy of the address and callback number.

Answer

To determine the final Determinant Code for the incident.