The paramedic assistant
22 July 2009Recently, I’ve been involved in a couple of internet discussions in which people extolled the value of the EMT-B. I had to pose the question:
If a crew of Basics showed up at someone’s house and said, “We’re here with a tenth the training of the cosmetologist who did your nails this morning to save you,” would that person let the crew come near them, let alone treat them?
(If you don’t believe me, here’s the PA law on the matter: 1250 hours to be a licensed cosmetologist. Hell, it takes 150 hours of training just to be a licensed hair braider. EMT-B is about 140 hours (technically just over 1/10. Sue me). Yes, I know it’s different in other states, so don’t kvetch about that.)
The more I think about it, though, the more I realize that even if my fantasy comes true and we realize that EMT-Bs shouldn’t be in charge of any ambulances, there will always be a need for a BLS technician in the field…in exactly the same way that there will always be a need for nursing assistants when there are nurses. Let’s face it: as the EMT-P program gets longer, medics are going to get more and more expensive. Since no one will be able to afford two medics on an ambulance, but there is definitely a need for a second person to help out, that’s what the Basic will likely become: the Paramedic Assistant.
Now I just need to come up with a new name so that we don’t get those folks previously known as EMT-Basics confused with Physician Assistants. My wife is suggesting “Paramedic Enabler” (among other suggestions), but I’m not so sure….
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