In most large urban areas people pay little attention to the constant background noise of ambulance sirens until they actually need an emergency service. Acute medical situations happen at all hours, and citizens have come to rely on well-trained personnel to treat them on site, as well as en route to the hospital. The people who make this service possible save hundreds of lives each year, making a strong case for advanced practice paramedic programs.
In the not-very-distant past there were no actual teams dealing with field emergencies. Less than fifty years ago, only a handful of states actually had written descriptions of the standards and practices for this kind of care, and prior to cell phones many ambulances did not even enjoy basic communications. Response personnel usually had certification from the Red Cross, but little formal medical training.
During that period auto accidents killed more people than wars, and the need for advanced field treatment specialists with advanced emergency training became obvious. By the 1970s funding was established, and the current network of services had begun to coalesce. The goal was was to respond quickly to a crisis, providing care both at that location and in an ambulance en route to an emergency room.
Today there are two primary categories of personnel working on the front lines. EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) are the most common, and are considered to the be entry level technicians. Training is comprehensive and extensive, and these individuals are often the first to arrive. Both basic and intermediate EMT personnel can help patients up to a specific point, but cannot inject medications or break skin.
An actual paramedic performs similar functions, but without as many restrictions. They are not considered doctors, but have been formally trained in anatomy, physiology, and cardiology, and are knowledgeable in the latest techniques for resuscitating and saving the lives of people having heart attacks. They routinely administer intravenous solutions, know how to clear air pathways, and can inject medications.
Although the current system is technologically advanced, it still retains the same internal administrative structure. Because there is a realistic need for additional field expertise, increasing the training levels is considered logical and necessary by many planners. This is not really a new idea, but one originally shelved due to concerns over departmental hierarchy and management politics.
This additional level of training actually helps prevent emergencies. Besides performing standard crisis work, these paramedics are also able to more readily make home visits that involve patient education and monitoring, helping to control serious conditions that often lead to a crisis, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart failure. This not only helps prevent emergencies from developing, but also frees personnel to treat other life-threatening occurrences.
Additional training would help fill the gaps that currently exist in emergency services, and opens the door for job advancement. Many valuable paramedics have abandoned field care in favor of in-hospital positions because they want to further their medical careers. Making these improvements will not only help patients, but will also help keep the most talented workers where they are crucially needed.
In the not-very-distant past there were no actual teams dealing with field emergencies. Less than fifty years ago, only a handful of states actually had written descriptions of the standards and practices for this kind of care, and prior to cell phones many ambulances did not even enjoy basic communications. Response personnel usually had certification from the Red Cross, but little formal medical training.
During that period auto accidents killed more people than wars, and the need for advanced field treatment specialists with advanced emergency training became obvious. By the 1970s funding was established, and the current network of services had begun to coalesce. The goal was was to respond quickly to a crisis, providing care both at that location and in an ambulance en route to an emergency room.
Today there are two primary categories of personnel working on the front lines. EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) are the most common, and are considered to the be entry level technicians. Training is comprehensive and extensive, and these individuals are often the first to arrive. Both basic and intermediate EMT personnel can help patients up to a specific point, but cannot inject medications or break skin.
An actual paramedic performs similar functions, but without as many restrictions. They are not considered doctors, but have been formally trained in anatomy, physiology, and cardiology, and are knowledgeable in the latest techniques for resuscitating and saving the lives of people having heart attacks. They routinely administer intravenous solutions, know how to clear air pathways, and can inject medications.
Although the current system is technologically advanced, it still retains the same internal administrative structure. Because there is a realistic need for additional field expertise, increasing the training levels is considered logical and necessary by many planners. This is not really a new idea, but one originally shelved due to concerns over departmental hierarchy and management politics.
This additional level of training actually helps prevent emergencies. Besides performing standard crisis work, these paramedics are also able to more readily make home visits that involve patient education and monitoring, helping to control serious conditions that often lead to a crisis, such as asthma, diabetes, or heart failure. This not only helps prevent emergencies from developing, but also frees personnel to treat other life-threatening occurrences.
Additional training would help fill the gaps that currently exist in emergency services, and opens the door for job advancement. Many valuable paramedics have abandoned field care in favor of in-hospital positions because they want to further their medical careers. Making these improvements will not only help patients, but will also help keep the most talented workers where they are crucially needed.
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