EMS Systems

EMS Systems & The Roles of The Advanced EMS Professional Past, Present & Future Department of EMS Professions Temple College EMS Systems EMS History  Key Elements of a Modern EMS System  Critical Players in the EMS System  Levels of Education & Training  Attributes of the Paramedic  EMS History Emergency Medicine and Ambulance services predate Modern EMS  1950s – 1960s: Creation of CPR  1966: Modern EMS born with Highway Safety Act and “The White Paper”  1973: EMSS Act: 15 Components  1968-1970: First Paramedic Programs  1977, 1985 & 1998: Paramedic Curricula  Key Elements in a Modern EMS System  “a comprehensive network of personnel, equipment, and resources established for the purpose of delivering aid and emergency medical care to the community” (Bledsoe, Paramedic Care, p. 46) Personnel, Equipment & Resource Examples  EMS System Components     Regulation & Policy Resources Management Human Resources & Training Facilities      Communications Trauma Systems Public Information & Education Medical Direction Evaluation Critical Players in the EMS System  EMS Personnel – First responders – BLS responders – Advanced responders         EMS MD EMS Dispatchers Public Safety Orgs Specialized Resources      Medical Educators Citizens Regulatory Agencies EMS System Leaders Receiving Facilities Receiving Physicians Health Care staff Researchers Community Leaders EMS Credentialing Process   Certification – Agency or association grants recognition Licensure – Governmental agency’s competency standards are met   National Registry – National organization grants standardized recognition Reciprocity – Agency grants certification/licensure to person with equivalent certification/licensure from another agency Certification Levels of EMS Education & Training  National EMS Certification Levels – BLS First responder  EMT-B  – ALS EMT-I  Paramedic  Current Texas Requirements  Future Level/Role?  Medical Direction Required for ALS providers and many BLS providers  Providers are the designated agent of the medical director  Texas: EMS patient contact establishes a patient-physician relationship  Medical Director grants authority to practice within a specific EMS system  Scope of Practice in Texas?  Medical Control/Direction  On-Line – Direct Orders from a qualified physician – Occurs at the time of need – Intervener physician  Off-Line – In form of policies, standing orders, protocols, etc. – Established prior to the time of need – Includes clinical review processes – Should allow for flexibility Attributes of the Professional Paramedic  Group Discussion: What are the characteristics, skills, tools, or behaviors that a Professional Paramedic should have? The Roles of the Advanced EMS Professional Department of EMS Professions Temple College Key Topics to Discuss The Paramedic: Health Care Provider or Emergency Worker?  Emerging Role Issues for the Paramedic  The Various Roles of the Paramedic  Paramedic Education & Training  The Paramedic: Health Care Provider or Emergency Worker  What roles does the paramedic play in the: – Health care system? – Public safety network?  What tasks does the paramedic perform related to: – The delivery of health care? – The protection of and service to the public? – Prevention of disease and injury? Emerging Role Issues for the Paramedic  Disposition – Primary care – Transport to non-emergency facilities – Treatment without transport  Public Health & Preparation – Community Injury & Illness Prevention – Community training and education – Follow-up care  Research & Education Define tasks associated with each of these paramedic roles?        Emergency responder Field Triage specialist Diagnostician (limited) Emergency health care provider Transporter Record keeper Data Manager          Primary care provider EMS Profession Advocate Patient advocate Emergency Planner EMS Educator Public Educator Community servant Clinical Researcher Life-long Student Initial vs. Continuing Education    Education vs. Training Initial EMS Education Continuing Medical Education – Medicine not just EMS – Should benefit the patient or community  If Education has no value, it is WORTHLESS! – The things we hold to be most valuable have a cost: usually effort, sacrifice and dedication.