zzyzx
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Sure it would make financial sense as a NP/PA would command much higher reimbursement.Sounds awesome, but I wonder how the financial aspect of it works out? A NP would command a much higher salary than a paramedic. I could see hospital-based EMS programs doing this, but it seems like it wouldn't make sense financially for private EMS.
It sounds like the NP is employeed with a hospital.Sounds awesome, but I wonder how the financial aspect of it works out? A NP would command a much higher salary than a paramedic. I could see hospital-based EMS programs doing this, but it seems like it wouldn't make sense financially for private EMS.
Generally speaking, I don't see why not. Since neither practitioner (NP or PA) is a physician replacement and usually can be interchangeably used, just hire the most qualified persons to go do those certain calls. Physician oversight is something that's likely easily dealt with, in the grand scheme of things. Getting an EMS system (in general) to buy into this as an early adopter may not be easy.The way of the future?
How about a PA?
It's certainly interesting, but I do wonder about how valuable an NP or PA is on an ambulance. Even if there was an MD on board, what can they really do without labs, chest xray, imaging, etc. Let's consider the most typical call--abdominal pain. They need labs and often they need imaging, so they still need to go to an ER.
It's certainly interesting, but I do wonder about how valuable an NP or PA is on an ambulance. Even if there was an MD on board, what can they really do without labs, chest xray, imaging, etc. Let's consider the most typical call--abdominal pain. They need labs and often they need imaging, so they still need to go to an ER.
That's great, but people shouldn't be using 911 for stuff that should be seen at a clinic.
Diabetic emergencies and sick/general malaise calls, as you mention, require a lot more than what an NP can provide on an ambulance.
"As a side story, I was short on time but really needed to see a doctor. I couldn't wait for urgent care. I stopped by a Target Clinic, walked right in, and was seen by a qualified Nurse Practitioner. I was out in only minutes. This has to be the wave of the future."
That's great, but people shouldn't be using 911 for stuff that should be seen at a clinic.
Diabetic emergencies and sick/general malaise calls, as you mention, require a lot more than what an NP can provide on an ambulance.
An important concept for us EMT's and medics to understand is that the "little stuff" can be a lot more complicated than you think, and can also be potentially very debilitating for the patient if they don't get prompt and fully qualified treatment.
Do you actually work in an agency that responds to 911 calls? Because if you do and actually have a good grasp of what really needs to be done for various complains and why some things are done and still have that attitude...I want to work where you do. Because you must have the world's smartest, nicest, most compliant patients who really only do call 911 for true emergencies.the patients who call 911 are gonna have different complaints than people who seek out a Minute Clinic. Yes we do have people who call for a stubbed toe, but really this is a small percentage of 911 Also, stuff that could be treated, like say a minor lac that needs no xray and only needs suturing, is going to put the ambulance out of service for a long time.
More importantly, we should not be catering to these idiots who call 911 for Fastrack complaints.