Specific functions that the paramedic should perform prior to contacting medical control are called:

The term that describes specific functions a paramedic should perform before contacting medical control is known as standing orders. Standing orders are pre-established directives created by a medical oversight or governing body that allow paramedics to perform certain medical interventions without prior approval. These orders are essential in emergency situations where immediate decision-making is critical, allowing paramedics to provide care promptly and effectively.

The other choices refer to related concepts but do not fit the definition as precisely. Online protocols typically involve direct communication with medical control for guidance in real-time situations. Physician directives usually imply instructions provided directly by a physician, often in a one-on-one context rather than as a series of standard treatments. Predefined standards are more general frameworks for practice rather than specific actions that paramedics are authorized to take autonomously.