Practice Test Geeks(EMD) Emergency Medical Dispatch Practice Test
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Prioritization and Dispatch Flashcards

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  1. A caller reports a 60-year-old female with sudden severe headache she describes as 'the worst of her life.' Which EMD chief complaint protocol should be used?

    Answer: Headache/Back Pain/Neck Pain

    A sudden severe headache is interrogated under Protocol 18 (Headache/Back Pain/Neck Pain), though stroke protocol may also apply depending on additional symptoms.

  2. Under MPDS, when a patient is reported as 'not alert,' what is the correct next step for the dispatcher?

    Answer: Send a first responder and continue protocol questioning

    An 'not alert' finding triggers an immediate high-priority dispatch while the dispatcher continues gathering information through the protocol.

  3. Which of the following is a Charlie-level determinant for the Breathing Problems protocol in MPDS?

    Answer: Abnormal breathing

    Abnormal breathing that does not meet the highest Delta threshold is typically coded at Charlie level in the Breathing Problems protocol.

  4. A caller reports a 30-year-old male who was in a motor vehicle collision but is walking around and refusing transport. Which MPDS response is most appropriate?

    Answer: Continue with the appropriate trauma protocol to determine the correct determinant

    The dispatcher must follow the trauma protocol completely; the patient's ambulatory status is one data point but does not override full protocol adherence.

  5. In the MPDS stroke protocol, which symptom combination is considered a high-priority finding?

    Answer: Facial droop, arm weakness, and speech difficulty

    Facial droop, arm weakness, and speech difficulty correspond to the FAST stroke recognition tool and trigger a high-priority stroke response.

  6. When a caller reports that a patient 'might be' having a seizure but cannot confirm, the dispatcher should:

    Answer: Select the protocol that matches the highest-risk interpretation of the chief complaint

    EMD protocol directs dispatchers to code ambiguous situations to the highest reasonable priority until more information is available.

  7. Which MPDS protocol is used when a caller reports a patient who 'just doesn't look right' with no specific complaint identified?

    Answer: Unknown Problem (Protocol 32)

    Protocol 32 (Unknown Problem/Person Down) is designed for calls where the chief complaint cannot be clearly identified.

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