EMS vs MD (in film)

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ItsButter

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I've been writing a book with a general "team" composition. If any of you know the tropes, that means one of the characters is a medic.

Initially I gave the character a failed medical career as a backstory, but the more I lurk, the more I wonder if EMT training might be more suited to his character and timeline.

But here's my question. Hollywood tends to give their EMTs an ungodly amount of medical knowledge. Granted, many of them are "special" or have been on the job a long time, but would that really matter? Would an EMT have the knowledge to patch up the type of wounds/injuries sustained in a typical action movie (within reason)?
 
ItsButter said:
I've been writing a book with a general "team" composition. If any of you know the tropes, that means one of the characters is a medic.

Initially I gave the character a failed medical career as a backstory, but the more I lurk, the more I wonder if EMT training might be more suited to his character and timeline.

But here's my question. Hollywood tends to give their EMTs an ungodly amount of medical knowledge. Granted, many of them are "special" or have been on the job a long time, but would that really matter? Would an EMT have the knowledge to patch up the type of wounds/injuries sustained in a typical action movie (within reason)?
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Bandage or repair? Bandage... yes. Repair? No. Of course, we're talking about a "generic" EMT. If you're referring to a Military Medic/Corpsman type person, it depends upon their training/schooling the person had to get to that point where they're on a "team" of some elite sort.

For that kind of response, I'm going to defer (actually call upon) our Military folks to answer that... they're far more knowledgeable in what they're trained in and to do.
 
In terms of 'action movie' injuries I assume you mean gunshots, blast and blunt trauma? Realistically, nobody is going to be able to fix anything except the most minor injuries without access to substantial equipment and support. However, in terms of patching people up, most EMTs would be just as good as most medics or most doctors. But bigger it, it's your story and your character; they could be a doctor who got bored with medicine and then became an EMT with a special interest in doing surgical airways with a biro and some sticky tape.
 
I'm not sure what context you're going for, but SOF medics on all branches ( 18D's, ranger medics, PJ's, IDC's) have a substantial amount of wound repair skills. If you want more clarification, let me know.
 
The thing about using an EMT rather than an MD is that right away, esp. in an action flick kind of scenario, once the injuries start piling up she's in over her head. Work it, writer!
 
How about this. A veterinarian that lost their license to practice for whatever reason who became a medic to pay the bills :)
 
First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their answers!

Some more info: I believe the current copy of the story gives the character time for 3-4 years of schooling, so he can't be a fully trained MD no matter what the situation. If I understand it correctly, premed is 2 to 4 years depending on the state.

In terms of action-movie injuries, LondonMedic was correct with what they'd need to be able to deal with. A typical action hero is in danger of broken bones, sometimes a character-building laceration (because a hot chick applying disinfectant fixes everything), concussion (although many are typically immune to those unless its important to the plot), occasionally shrapnel from explosions (but not the concussive blast that can rupture organs, for some reason), and gunshot wounds/grazes - although somehow it's always in a magical spot that doesn't cause any real damage (does that even exist? =,= Has anyone with a gunshot wound refused treatment and been okay?)

With that information, and putting a tiny bit of reality aside, could an EMT treat aforementioned conditions if they had to? How about "better than a really smart first or second year medical student"?
 
2-4 years of school and good at treating traumatic injuries?
How about a trauma nurse?
 
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My vote is combat medic
 
ItsButter said:
First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their answers!

Some more info: I believe the current copy of the story gives the character time for 3-4 years of schooling, so he can't be a fully trained MD no matter what the situation. If I understand it correctly, premed is 2 to 4 years depending on the state.
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There is no "length" to premed. It's a state of working on course work ("premed" is not a recognized major at most schools) with the goal of getting into med school. Most often that is just completing the undergrad requirments (which the named courses can often be completed in 2 year if the student pushes themselves, but most schools require a minimum of 90 units including the named coursework).

Med school in the US, with very few exceptions, requires a minimum of 4 years.
In terms of action-movie injuries, LondonMedic was correct with what they'd need to be able to deal with. A typical action hero is in danger of broken bones, sometimes a character-building laceration (because a hot chick applying disinfectant fixes everything), concussion (although many are typically immune to those unless its important to the plot), occasionally shrapnel from explosions (but not the concussive blast that can rupture organs, for some reason), and gunshot wounds/grazes - although somehow it's always in a magical spot that doesn't cause any real damage (does that even exist? =,= Has anyone with a gunshot wound refused treatment and been okay?)
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Yes... and no. Pretty much any shot to the center mass has the chance to cause serious injury or cause minor injury. Luck is a rather big factor. There was a TV show a number of years ago called Trauma: Life in the ER on the Discovery Channel where they filmed inside trauma centers. One of the patients fell and impaled himself on a branch that went a sizable distance through his pelvis and abdomen. Outside of cleaning out the pelvis and abdomen to prevent infection, his biggest injury was a torn bladder. The branch some how missed a number of organs that could have caused much greater damage, including organs that would have led to a rather fast death.

With that information, and putting a tiny bit of reality aside, could an EMT treat aforementioned conditions if they had to? How about "better than a really smart first or second year medical student"?
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First year? Sure. The further along, I have to say no. The depth of even a basic assessment taught to first and second years, including how those exams are taught, dwarf what is taught to EMTs. You can't treat what you can't diagnose. Similarly, during my second year of med school, we were taught suturing and how to cast. On the other hand, EMT and paramedic education focuses much more on treatment than the first two years of medical school. The first two years of medical school are very heavy on theory and very light on the actual skills. "Which medication do you want to give?" Sure. "How much, and how to give it?" Not so much.
 
ItsButter said:
First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their answers!

Some more info: I believe the current copy of the story gives the character time for 3-4 years of schooling, so he can't be a fully trained MD no matter what the situation. If I understand it correctly, premed is 2 to 4 years depending on the state.

In terms of action-movie injuries, LondonMedic was correct with what they'd need to be able to deal with. A typical action hero is in danger of broken bones, sometimes a character-building laceration (because a hot chick applying disinfectant fixes everything), concussion (although many are typically immune to those unless its important to the plot), occasionally shrapnel from explosions (but not the concussive blast that can rupture organs, for some reason), and gunshot wounds/grazes - although somehow it's always in a magical spot that doesn't cause any real damage (does that even exist? =,= Has anyone with a gunshot wound refused treatment and been okay?)

With that information, and putting a tiny bit of reality aside, could an EMT treat aforementioned conditions if they had to? How about "better than a really smart first or second year medical student"?
Click to expand...

In Canada to be a paramedic the education is 3 to 4 years to be a ACP with 3 years being the average. Canadian post secondary courses dont require pre req like USA post secondary doies has those courses are taugh in High School in Canada.
 
To the OP, the TV show Saved had something like you described.

Saved” chronicles medical school dropout turned paramedic Wyatt Cole (Tom Everett Scott) , who finds the breakneck pace of his 24-hour shift a welcome escape from his inner demons.
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Ex combat medic retrained as a paramedic and is concealing his or her past. Or even a former combat nurse (Role3) who does';t want to talk about her past, you could recycle that nice young lady from "Combat Hospital".
 
Ex combat medic retrained as a paramedic and is concealing his or her past. Or even a former combat nurse (Role3) who does't want to talk about her past.
 
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