EMT- NYS PSI 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS with rationales 2026
NYS EMT PSI Exam 2026: Practice Questions with Rationales
Medical/Legal & Ethics
Question 1
Which of the following is NOT true of medical control?
A) It is determined by the dispatcher.
B) It may be written or "standing orders."
C) It may require online radio or phone consultation.
D) It describes the care authorized by the medical director.
Correct Answer: A) It is determined by the dispatcher.
Rationale: Medical control is established by the medical director, not the
dispatcher. It includes off-line (standing orders, protocols) and online (direct
physician consultation via radio/phone) components .
Question 2
The major goal of quality improvement is to ensure that:
,A) Quarterly audits of the EMS system are performed.
B) EMTs have received BLS/CPR training.
C) The public receives the highest standard of care.
D) The proper information is received in the billing department.
Correct Answer: C) The public receives the highest standard of care.
Rationale: Quality improvement (QI) is a continuous system of reviews and audits
designed to improve patient outcomes and ensure the highest standard of care.
Audits and training are methods, not the ultimate goal .
Question 3
Federal legislation concerning patient confidentiality is known as:
A) HIPAA
B) NAACS
C) EMTALA
D) FLCPC
,Correct Answer: A) HIPAA
Rationale: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the
federal law that protects patient health information from being disclosed without
consent .
Question 4
While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher.
Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was
transmitted to another EMT several days later. What route of transmission does
this scenario describe?
A) Direct contact
B) Indirect contact
C) Airborne transmission
D) Vector-borne transmission
Correct Answer: B) Indirect contact
, Rationale: Indirect contact transmission occurs when a pathogen is transferred via
a contaminated intermediate object (fomite)—in this case, the stretcher. Direct
contact requires person-to-person touch .
Question 5
What type of stress reaction occurs when an EMT is exposed to many insignificant
stressors over a period of several months or years?
A) Acute stress reaction
B) Cumulative stress reaction
C) Posttraumatic stress reaction
D) Critical incident stress reaction
Correct Answer: B) Cumulative stress reaction
Rationale: Cumulative stress builds over time from repeated low-level stressors.
This differs from acute (single incident) or critical incident stress .
Question 6
To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should always:
NYS EMT PSI Exam 2026: Practice Questions with Rationales
Medical/Legal & Ethics
Question 1
Which of the following is NOT true of medical control?
A) It is determined by the dispatcher.
B) It may be written or "standing orders."
C) It may require online radio or phone consultation.
D) It describes the care authorized by the medical director.
Correct Answer: A) It is determined by the dispatcher.
Rationale: Medical control is established by the medical director, not the
dispatcher. It includes off-line (standing orders, protocols) and online (direct
physician consultation via radio/phone) components .
Question 2
The major goal of quality improvement is to ensure that:
,A) Quarterly audits of the EMS system are performed.
B) EMTs have received BLS/CPR training.
C) The public receives the highest standard of care.
D) The proper information is received in the billing department.
Correct Answer: C) The public receives the highest standard of care.
Rationale: Quality improvement (QI) is a continuous system of reviews and audits
designed to improve patient outcomes and ensure the highest standard of care.
Audits and training are methods, not the ultimate goal .
Question 3
Federal legislation concerning patient confidentiality is known as:
A) HIPAA
B) NAACS
C) EMTALA
D) FLCPC
,Correct Answer: A) HIPAA
Rationale: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is the
federal law that protects patient health information from being disclosed without
consent .
Question 4
While providing care to a patient, blood got onto the ambulance stretcher.
Because the stretcher was not properly cleaned afterward, a virus was
transmitted to another EMT several days later. What route of transmission does
this scenario describe?
A) Direct contact
B) Indirect contact
C) Airborne transmission
D) Vector-borne transmission
Correct Answer: B) Indirect contact
, Rationale: Indirect contact transmission occurs when a pathogen is transferred via
a contaminated intermediate object (fomite)—in this case, the stretcher. Direct
contact requires person-to-person touch .
Question 5
What type of stress reaction occurs when an EMT is exposed to many insignificant
stressors over a period of several months or years?
A) Acute stress reaction
B) Cumulative stress reaction
C) Posttraumatic stress reaction
D) Critical incident stress reaction
Correct Answer: B) Cumulative stress reaction
Rationale: Cumulative stress builds over time from repeated low-level stressors.
This differs from acute (single incident) or critical incident stress .
Question 6
To minimize the risk of litigation, the EMT should always:
