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EMT and Paramedic Frequently Asked Questions
What are the protocols for administering drugs?
Although pharmacology training prepares paramedics to identify when a patient is in need of certain drugs, and how to go about administering these drugs, physician over-site is still a requirement in following the protocols for administering many of these pharmaceuticals. Physicians are the only medical professionals endowed with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license number which legally allows them to green-light the use of pharmaceuticals. For this reason an MD must be involved at some level whenever drugs are administered. When paramedics administer drugs, it is always done under the DEA license number of a practicing MD. In most cases paramedics who work for a hospital have standing physician’s orders that allow them to administer many drugs without having to contact the physician for specific consent each time these drugs are needed. Certain drugs, however, have a greater potential for harm if misused or administered without need. These are not amongst the pharmaceuticals covered under physician’s standing orders, and would require a paramedic to call a physician before administering them. In the case of private ambulance companies that don’t operate under standing physician’s orders, a call would need to be made for physician approval to administer drugs under his DEA license number. This approval, in effect, makes the physician the overseer of the administration of the drugs. There was a time when it was standard procedure for paramedics to call hospitals to receive physician’s orders to administer any drug at all. Though this is still the case in some jurisdictions it is increasingly rare as most states grant paramedics the ability to make their own judgment calls with regard to administering many therapeutic drugs.What’s involved in becoming an ambulance driver?
Ambulance drivers are much more than just drivers. They are in fact trained EMTs who have also elected for the additional
responsibility of driving the ambulance to and from emergency calls. Opting to take on this additional responsibility can mean additional differential pay. Ambulance drivers have a unique responsibility since getting to a critically injured person and providing medical attention fast has a tremendous impact on reducing brain damage caused by lack of oxygen. In general, the faster the response time the greater the likelihood of surviving a critical injury.Find out more about EMT & paramedic certification.
Most states require an EMT who wishes to double as an ambulance driver to apply for an Ambulance Driver Certification issued through the state’s DMV. Some states, however, don’t require any additional licensure beyond a standard driver’s license. For states that do require additional certification, the expectation is that applicants have an existing driver’s license and a spotless driving record. EMTs must pass an Ambulance Driver written examination, but are not required to hold a commercial driver’s license in order to drive a BLS ambulance. They will, however, be held in strict account for their driving conduct both on and off the job, and their certification will be swiftly revoked if any driving infraction is committed.
What is a dual role provider?
About 30% of all EMTs and paramedics are employed through fire departments or other city or state-specific agencies. The vast majority of calls to fire departments, about 85% in fact, are actually emergency medical calls. Of these about 20% require the unique expertise of a paramedic, so most fire departments arrange it such that at least one paramedic is assigned to each fire station within the department. Firemen who also have paramedic training are referred to as dual role providers. Receiving fire academy and paramedic training, rather than paramedic training alone, is now standard for paramedics working in fire departments. Training dual role providers has the obvious benefit of creating emergency responders that are less role-specific and therefore better equipped to handle a variety of emergency situations.Learn more about EMT and paramedic training.
What are the character traits of a good EMT?
EMTs must possess the kind of unique psychological stability required of anybody in any field of medicine that deals with victims of severe injury. It may even be said that EMTs require an even greater level of stoicism since they are the first to arrive at the scenes of accidents or violence to treat victims outside the more sterile setting of a hospital or emergency room.Paramedics we’ve talked to said that anybody can be trained to perform the tasks the job requires, but aptitude and ability are only the basic groundwork for a career as an EMT or Paramedic. Paramedics say it takes a special person to bring deep empathy to an emergency medical call, and offer sympathy while treating an injured or dying person. This level of humanity gives injury victims a degree of dignity and assurance in their most desperate hour. This is what it takes to be an exceptional EMT or Paramedic.
EMTs and paramedics must also have strong communication skills since they frequently need to communicate the specifics of pre-hospital care to doctors and other medical staff. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are also a must given that EMTs and paramedics work as part of a very close team, and also frequently interact with the public.
What are the physical demands and risks associated with EMT work?
EMTs are usually in good physical condition since their work is often physically demanding. Frequent kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting are part of the daily routine. The work will require the ability to move quickly and operate deftly in a very tight environment like the back of an ambulance. EMTs will often lift and carry heavy medical equipment over considerable distances if roads are unable to reach injured victims.Find out more about EMT & paramedic salary.
When using a backboard to move an injured person to the stability of a gurney, or when extracting a person from an area where a wheeled gurney won’t go, the safety of a patient is dependent on the EMT’s ability to support and balance the injured person’s weight on a stretcher or backboard.
The most significant risk factor is exposure to infectious diseases like AIDS or hepatitis-B, especially considering that the nature of the work often involves stopping bleeding and treating open wounds. Every possible precaution is taken to mitigate the risk of infection to EMS workers.
