If you ask any EMS provider you will
find that 90% of your calls are non emergent. Many of the patients we
see do not need transport, they need an evaluation. Unfortunately the
Federal Government classifies EMS as transport not as a medical
provider and this is a problem. Paramedics with proper education can
work with doctors effectively to lower the costs of medical care
while providing better care. This would be a great boon to the
Medicare system as it would lower the costs associated with the ER
visits.
So you ask me how I know this can work.
I know that it can work because I have worked as a Remote Paramedic.
In many places including the offshore oil industry there is a need
for an advanced medical provider, but there are not enough doctors to
go around. Enter the Remote Paramedic. What you do in this profession
is be available for the people employed on the installation. You have
communication with a medical doctor that gives you final orders for
treatment of the patient. The Remote Paramedic treats everything from
sinus infections to STEMI's. Oil Companies pay large amounts of money
for these medics and it has proven to be highly effective. So why
can't we bring this to the streets.
This concept isn't new, as I have read
about the idea of Prehospital Physicians Assistants before. But what
I am proposing is that we have a new certification for street
paramedics similar to the CCEMT-P. It isn't quite as glorious as
transporting patients with multiple drips going but I promise it
would do help more people than anyone can realize. It would curb ER
abuse as well as add a new revenue stream for some embattled ems
providers. It would also start moving paramedics to a place that is
more respected and allow us to earn the respect we feel we deserve. I
hope some of you agree with me.
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ReplyDeleteTotally Agree. Community Paramedics.
ReplyDeleteJay