In most urban areas, citizens pay little attention to the background din of sirens until they need help personally. Emergencies occur at any hour, and people feel more secure knowing that trained medical technicians will arrive quickly, administer aid, and provide safe transport to the hospital. The technicians providing this service not only save lives, but also illustrate the need for advanced practice paramedic training and services.
Not long ago there were few mobile teams available to deal with remote emergencies. As late as the 1960s, only a few states had even established written standards detailing this type of care, and before digital technology many ambulances did not even have mobile radio links. Personnel received standard Red Cross certification, but most had very little actual formal medical instruction.
That was an era when car wrecks killed more people than wars, making the need for expanding those services seem obvious. When funding began in the 1970s, it laid the groundwork for the current network response structure. At that time, the goal was formally stated as being a speedy response to a crisis, care as needed for those who are affected, and medical support while en route to a hospital emergency room.
Modern services usually include two categories of emergency workers. The most common are EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), who perform all basic duties, but are considered entry level positions. Even so, their formal training is extensive and comprehensive, specifically designed for those first to arrive on scene. These technicians are allowed to treat patients for basic problems, but cannot administer shots.
Administering medication via needle is one of those restrictions, and must be performed by a paramedic. Paramedics are not considered doctors, but do receive additional instruction in anatomy, physiology, and cardiology, as well as keeping current on the latest methods of resuscitating and sustaining heart attack victims. They know how to clear air pathways, inject drugs, and connect intravenous solutions.
The current emergency system is light years ahead of the old, but is still retains the same structure. There is a genuine need for another level of expertise in the field, and extending the training and capabilities of paramedics is considered a logical next step. The concept was actually conceived many years ago, but was dropped for various reasons, including political and hierarchical concerns.
Additional training can actually prevent emergencies from happening. Paramedics that have undergone advanced instruction are now making house calls intended to inform and instruct patients, as well as monitor and control conditions like diabetes, asthma, or chronic heart failure, all of which can result in a crisis. This not only cuts down on immediate critical care needs, but frees personnel for other duties.
This next-level training provides a critical missing link in medical services, and it also creates a much-needed career path for paramedics. Many leave emergency services for non-field hospital work because there is no way progress further in that particular arena. Advanced training not only improves the state of current emergency field medicine, but it also helps to retain the best and brightest workers.
Not long ago there were few mobile teams available to deal with remote emergencies. As late as the 1960s, only a few states had even established written standards detailing this type of care, and before digital technology many ambulances did not even have mobile radio links. Personnel received standard Red Cross certification, but most had very little actual formal medical instruction.
That was an era when car wrecks killed more people than wars, making the need for expanding those services seem obvious. When funding began in the 1970s, it laid the groundwork for the current network response structure. At that time, the goal was formally stated as being a speedy response to a crisis, care as needed for those who are affected, and medical support while en route to a hospital emergency room.
Modern services usually include two categories of emergency workers. The most common are EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), who perform all basic duties, but are considered entry level positions. Even so, their formal training is extensive and comprehensive, specifically designed for those first to arrive on scene. These technicians are allowed to treat patients for basic problems, but cannot administer shots.
Administering medication via needle is one of those restrictions, and must be performed by a paramedic. Paramedics are not considered doctors, but do receive additional instruction in anatomy, physiology, and cardiology, as well as keeping current on the latest methods of resuscitating and sustaining heart attack victims. They know how to clear air pathways, inject drugs, and connect intravenous solutions.
The current emergency system is light years ahead of the old, but is still retains the same structure. There is a genuine need for another level of expertise in the field, and extending the training and capabilities of paramedics is considered a logical next step. The concept was actually conceived many years ago, but was dropped for various reasons, including political and hierarchical concerns.
Additional training can actually prevent emergencies from happening. Paramedics that have undergone advanced instruction are now making house calls intended to inform and instruct patients, as well as monitor and control conditions like diabetes, asthma, or chronic heart failure, all of which can result in a crisis. This not only cuts down on immediate critical care needs, but frees personnel for other duties.
This next-level training provides a critical missing link in medical services, and it also creates a much-needed career path for paramedics. Many leave emergency services for non-field hospital work because there is no way progress further in that particular arena. Advanced training not only improves the state of current emergency field medicine, but it also helps to retain the best and brightest workers.
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