Paramedics can ease pressure on health care
The combination of a health-care delivery system that has an unquenchable appetite for tax dollars and a desire by governments to provide the best health care possible within financial boundaries is leading to fundamental change in the way health services are provided.
Some changes have already been instituted, and more are on the way.
While born of economic necessity, many of these changes nonetheless amount to improvements.
An example of this is the changing role of paramedics in our health system. This being Paramedic Week in New Brunswick, it's a good time to look at what's coming down the pike for paramedics because if you are a New Brunswicker who may some day require the services of a paramedic, these changes will affect you.
Last month, the lieutenant governor proclaimed something called Bill 66 or the Paramedics Act.
Understandably, these proclamations usually go unnoticed, as was the case with this one. But this represented a milestone for the paramedic profession, and it is important for the people they serve.
Proclamation of the act gives paramedics much more control over the way their profession is practised, with specific jurisdiction for conduct and quality control. It's a giant step forward for accountability, both of their members and of the service overall.
This includes issues such as response times. In fact, response times have already emerged as a concern, and while the Paramedic Association has no direct control over it, since it does affect quality of service, it is something the association will become involved in, both with the ambulance-service provider and the Department of Health.
One of the biggest changes for paramedics actually began in 2001 as part of an effort to standardize training right across the country. This resulted in the adoption of what is known as the primary-care level as the minimum standard that paramedics have to meet.
Since New Brunswick's level was among the lowest in the country, this change had a major effect here. Primary care requires 1,300 hours of education, up from the previous minimum of just 290.
With more than four times as much training just to reach the minimum standard, you can see that what we have today isn't your father's paramedic service.
Advances in medical research and technology have changed the way paramedics do their job.
The technology now allows paramedics at an accident scene for example, to transmit patient data to the hospital, so that when the ambulance arrives, the patient can be fast-tracked to treatment, saving valuable minutes and, potentially, lives.
Meanwhile, the ongoing search for greater cost efficiency is leading to a new emphasis for paramedics to provide non-emergency primary care.
For example, paramedics often transport people now from their homes to community clinics or their doctors' offices for primary care such as changing dressings or routine blood drawing for diabetics.
When you think about it, this is inefficient because the paramedic is more than qualified to do these kinds of procedures. So now, the move is on to have them do it, right in the patient's home. No need to transport; no need to involve other health-care providers.
This is not only more cost efficient but considerably more convenient for elderly or other people for whom leaving home is a considerable and unnecessary disruption.
Paramedics are also starting to assume a greater role in educating the public on health-related issues.
Sudden death from heart attacks is a case in point. The latest research shows that unless first aid measures are initiated within minutes - in other words, before the ambulance arrives - the outcome is not likely to be good.
Even though the ambulance will be equipped with a defibrillator, it may be too late for it to be of any value.
Paramedics realize that people have to be educated to know that it is vital that first aid in the form of chest compressions must be started right away.
They also realize how life-saving it can be to have defibrillators in public places, and they see part of their role as encouraging the powers that be to ensure they are provided.
Working in partnership with other organizations such as the Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and others to better educate the public on life-saving measures is something paramedics see as a shared responsibility and something you will be see them more involved in in the future.
All these things make up the changing face of today's paramedic.
Don Wilson is the president of the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick.
More Opinion
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
