The ego has landed:rofl: Why do you call it a backwater mindset- my definition is straight and true in the simplicity of the role of a paramedic.
There are entire States that have moved past this, but I'll grant you that California, Florida, and New York still behave like that. They represent a large enough chunk of the population that I can see where this misconception comes from.
What you're describing is a First Aider or Medical First Responder; perhaps Ambulance Attendant / Operator if you live in California.
Perhaps you'd like doctors/surgeons and ER personnel to come to your wagon rather than transport?
Why not? Sometimes the best thing to do is bring the appropriate resources to your patient. This isn't so uncommon outside of the US.
Or perhaps you'd like to enlighten us how your "NASA" system differs from the rest of the world? Johnny and Roy(whoever they are) are long gone, but Smart and Alec should be too--unless they can offer reasoned dialogue rather than cheap and empty one liners.
EMS no longer means "transport", or at least not around here. Advanced Practice Paramedics and Community Paramedics are becoming integrated into systems. We transport or arrange for transports to alternative facilities and diagnose on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, we're doing all of this without the proper fundamentals and are having to play catch up. The next generation of paramedics needs to move beyond 12-week certification programs, and realize they have no business practicing as we do with such a flimsy education.
You miss the point- the point is like most jobs the work is repetitive and the same old injuries appear(in physical therapy- a soft tissue injury is a soft tissue injury and there is a protocol to treat it- it's not brain science) The same for paramedics the same old 99 calls the same old assess,treat and transport.
We're taking the opposite approach. Fewer, better educated paramedics can handle the same old 99 calls and assess and disposition the patients as appropriate. Transport is just one of the options.
The question is, is longer education a gold standard for quality? I don't think so. Is longer hours clinical better-no, "practice doesn't make perfect"-perfect practice makes perfect.
If the bare minimum competency for a nurse to give the same medications we do is an Associates Degree, and they require an order from a physician to do so...you have to wonder where paramedics get off thinking they've got what it takes to do the same thing after a 12-week certificate program. Worse still, we're asked to do surgical procedures and RSI after clinical time less than that of a hair dresser.
We can either accept a lesser scope or accept greater education, I'm honestly Ok with either approach but would rather we go with the education.
Having said that i don't think you understand the big picture of the direction of western medicine-not just the small question of where EMS is going.
Especially in the USA with mammoth changes in the medical aid- which impacts the Big pharma(benefits them) Generally speaking though the local GP is being phased out and replaced by nurses and other specialists(paramedics included here) then they will be referring to specialist physicians and the GP(family doc)will no longer be around.
Correct, except the GP is not being replaced by somebody who has a 12 week certificate. They're being replaced by nurse practitioners with Masters or PhD level educations, or PA-C's with a BA/BS and (roughly) a masters.
Pharmacists will have drop in centres where BP/Glucose/Cholesterol,trig etc can be taken and tests done then and there and medication dished out-without a qualified doc getting involved.
Pharmacists now require a PharmD (PhD). You cannot become a pharmacist through just passing the RPh alone, and besides they still required at least a BA/BS.
Hence i concede you are almost right,paramedics will need to know and do more than they have been taught-up to and just short of operating.
Until that becomes a reality though 12weeks is ample time-depending on the person.
If all they're doing is driving somebody to the hospital, 12 weeks is fine. Except this is not where EMS is going, or at least I hope not.
If i can make it on to the Crowder College course- maybe i can pop over and see how things work at your place. Here in Africa we are always keen to try improve.
We're always open to ride-a-longs (our last one was a black cloud and got a tour of the cath lab). If you're ever in Southeastern North Carolina send me a PM.
