By Amy Cotton on October 21st, 2011
The Forgotten Health Profession
A commentary highlighting the forgotten role of paramedics and out-of-hospital Emergency Medical Services in the debate on national health care policy.
Recently updated and revised – if you haven’t read it yet, it is well worth a look!
View the commentary here.
Well done – great article and completely agree with the key points and goals …… this is the universal hot potato when it comes to professional recognition / registration of paramedics as with that comes expense to employers. one does not have to look far for successful examples of how this was overcome, my previous host nation South Africa went through this as early as 1992 and all levels of EMS staff were registered and still are today. What this registration and national scope of practice brought to us was unity, consistency, professionalism, better conditions, increased pay amongst many others. It was from “ambulance driver” to health care professional overnite and many other health professionals were not prepared for it however hard work and good information packages ensured the successful system of today. The only danger I see is the possible outcome that afflicts South Africa’s EMS profession today and that is that we have 8 levels of pre-hospital scope of practice thanks to a “global scope of practice driven profession”……. with that said the HPCSA is well on its way to promote and create a two level system ie: a technician and a clinician model. Bottom line is that this debate has taken place with successful outcomes so lets all hope ……….