Example Of Research Paper On Emergency Medical Technology

The Emergency Medical Technology is a program enabling individuals to practice medical procedures for involved citizens in emergency events. They are often called for first-aid to patch the apparent damages with basic medical procedures necessary to abate further complications, or to prevent serious damages to health. They are also in charge of assessing the extent of medical attention a particular patient needs. However, they may be trained for emergency medicine but they are not allowed to perform advanced medical procedures. Nonetheless, their quick response is necessary especially for nearby emergency accidents for they are capable of prolonging the life of involved individuals using their knowledge of emergency medicine.
The profession of Emergency Medical Technician is often interchanged with the term Paramedic, however, both of them falls under the domain Emergency Medical Technology. Therefore, there is a need to differentiate the two classifications. Both of them respond to emergency medical incidents, however, the difference lies in the extent of training and permission to perform medical procedures. First, it is necessary to understand that different states in the US have varying classifications, nonetheless, Emergency Medical Technicians have less training hours compared to Paramedics. Emergency Medical Technicians usually complete their training with 120 to 150 hours while paramedics with 1,200 ti 1,800 of training hours. Moreover, the ability to perform medical procedures vary between the two, with paramedics having more permissions. The Emergency Medical Technicians are not allowed to give shots, nor perform intravenous lifelines. Paramedics, on the other hand, are trained to perform 30-40 medical procedures, depending on the state (Brouhard, 2014).
Nevertheless, the emergence of the two are intertwined. This means that the Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics have emerged in the US the same time, however, they were not as differentiated as today. The need for emergency medical response was acknowledged only in the 1960s when President Lyndon B. Johnson learned that accidental injuries have become a serious threat. The report entitled "Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society" declares accidental injuries as the leading cause of death of people below the half of average life span. It also showed that vehicular accidents have claimed more American lives than in the Korean War. The report showed that there is a lack of attention with regards to emergency medical response to the point where a seriously injured individual have better survival chances in the zone of combat than on city street. This report was later known as the "White Paper", which led to the birth of emergency medical response teams. Recommendations for rescue squads properly trained for basic emergency medical disciplines were reported, and curriculums for Emergency Medical Technology was created. The need for emergency advanced medical procedures outside the hospitals were added later on, resulting to the birth of the Paramedics (“Birth of EMS: The History of the Paramedic”).
There are various training offered by institutions such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and others with affiliations to emergency medical response. Furthermore, the validations of the training required vary depending on the state. But in most states, the Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic programs consist of two-year education and training while Emergency Medical Technology - Basic requires 120 to 150 hours of training. Some states have an intermediate level between the two. For individuals who have finished their Emergency Medical Technology - Basic training, some institutions offer extension programs to qualify for the Paramedic status (Brouhard, 2014).
Both the training for Emergency Medical Technology - Basic and Paramedic consists of basic anatomy, physiology, and medications. The procedures were to be trained hands-on such that the performance of the trainee would qualify for future use. Skills and familiarity were to be perfected while in training so that no complications would result from mishandling patients or improper use of medication. The training would also prepare the students and trainees in situations they would encounter in real life. The trainees were expected to show efficiency regardless of the amount of pressure and stress within situations.
However, prerequisites exist in order to apply for training for Emergency Medical Technology - Basic and Paramedic. The student may apply for training if they graduated from high school, or the equivalent, and qualifies physically and mentally required by the occupation. Most of the institutions offering Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic programs require the training for the Basic, however, some have programs with joint training (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs).
For accreditations, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians was founded to certify that the individual is qualified for the occupation (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians). As for the Paramedics, the universities and colleges offer the Paramedic program as a degree. Moreover, the programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (The College Board, 2015).
The duties of the Emergency Medical Technology personnel are mainly to assist the people while they are at most critical. The Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics help the individuals with health damages and trauma from accidents. The environment is usually fast-paced and intense, which is why the training is relevant. The technicians and paramedics handle situations such as strokes, heart attacks, asthma attacks, internal bleeding, trauma patients, fractures, and open wounds. As have mentioned before, only the paramedics can give shots and perform advanced medications such as breathing support. However, both of them are required to stabilize, monitor, and care for the status of the patient. Preliminary assessment and diagnosis of injuries and diseases, as well as the assessment of the environment, are also included in their responsibilities (Estrella Mountain Community College).
The qualified Emergency Medical Services practitioners are expected to maintain and enrich their willingness to accept and fulfill their obligations to society. Their code of ethics includes conserving life, alleviating suffering, promoting health, inflicting no harm, and encouraging the quality and equality with regards to emergency medical care. They are also encouraged to disregard stereotypes and discrimination by pledging to provide the services with compassion and respect unrestricted by discrimination, or influenced by the status of the patient. They are restricted to use their knowledge in any way detrimental to public well-being. The practitioners must respect confidentiality while in service unless required by law to share information. Social media must also be used in a professional manner without giving discredit, dishonor, or embarrassment to the organizations, co-workers, or patients. While assuming responsibility, they are required to strive for excellence regarding the delivery of patient care. The laws and legislations regarding the Emergency Medical Service must be given full attention. Cooperation with affiliated individuals is highly encouraged while refusing to participate in unethical procedures. If in this situation, the practitioner has to expose the misconduct of others to authority (National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, 2013).
There are various organizations for the development, regulation, and funding for this profession. Some of which are the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
As for job availability, the nation demands emergency medical service personnel. This is because of the high incidences of accidents nationwide. The graduates of the programs and training can apply for institutions such as hospitals, fire departments, lifeguarding, and agencies specializing in emergency medical care (Estrella Mountain Community College).
As of March 2015, there are 235,760 employed Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics nationwide. However, the demand for Technicians and Paramedics are high in every state. The average hourly wage of the Technicians and Paramedics is $16.88 with average an annual wage of $35,110. The higher demand for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics means that within the next few years, there would be a significant increase in the number of employments related to emergency medical service. Especially for metropolitan areas, the need for more Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics would increase as population also increases (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).
In summary, it can be inferred that the services offered by the Emergency Medical Technology practitioners are necessary. Especially since most of the injuries in emergency accidents are fatal, the need for more students and trainees are required. However, it would seem that the lack of practitioners stems from the small salaries as compared to other occupations. Needless to say, the government should pay more attention to encouraging more applicants for the emergency medical services field. Although the hospitals are credited as the major health care providers, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics must be viewed as significant.

References:

"Birth of EMS: The History of the Paramedic." JEMS. Retrieved from http://www.jems.com/articles/print/volume-38/issue-10/administration-and-leadership/birth-ems-history-paramedic.html.
Brouhard, Rod. (16 December 2014). "The Difference Between an EMT and a Paramedic." Retrieved from http://firstaid.about.com/od/emergencymedicalservices/qt/06_EMTBvsP.htm.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (25 March, 2015). "29-2041 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics." Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292041.htm#top.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. (n.d.). "Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic." Retrieved from http://www.caahep.org/Content.aspx?ID=39.
Estrella Mountain Community College. (n.d.). "Emergency Medical Technology." Retrieved from http://www.estrellamountain.edu/programs/emergency-medical-technology.
"Major: Emergency Medical Technology." The College Board, 2015. Retrieved from https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/health-professions-related-clinical-sciences-allied-health-diagnosis-intervention-treatment-emergency-medical-technology.
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. (14 June 2013). "CODE OF ETHICS FOR EMS PRACTITIONERS." Retrieved from https://www.naemt.org/about_us/emtoath.aspx.
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. (n.d.). "History of the NREMT." Retrieved from https://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/nremt_history.asp.