I'm not entirely familiar with the process due to the fact i'm still a student at basic school, but I have a few buddies who are paramedics-cc and flight medics, they seem to think its to reduce stress on the ED, and have somebody in the "field" that can alleviate that stress somewhat. They also mention they try to take PA's from the ED, and put them out since they kind of have a preference to the system already, and then translate people into the vacant positions there. Rather then throwing an oncology(or similar non ER environments) PA out to EMS. THIS IS ALL HEAR SAY FROM MY FRIENDS. I do not want to mislead you or anybody, but this may give you higher education folks a lead in the right direction?