Who makes patient care decisions during 911 calls?

• A. The nurse on scene.
• B. The paramedic.
• C. The dispatcher.
• D. The physician on call.

Answer: (B)

On-scene patient care decisions in a 911 call are made by the EMS clinician who arrives first—the paramedic. They’re trained to rapidly assess the patient, determine what needs to be done for airway, breathing, and circulation, and choose the appropriate interventions within established protocols. This includes deciding what medications to give, what procedures are appropriate, and whether to transport to a hospital, all under medical control from a physician. The dispatcher coordinates the emergency, provides caller instructions, and activates resources, but does not perform medical treatment on the patient. The physician on call provides remote medical direction and orders, but the on-scene decisions come from the paramedic.