Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians have fulfilled prescribed requirements by a credentialing agency to practice the art and science of out-of-hospital medicine in conjunction with medical direction. Through performance of patient assessments and providing medical care, their goal is to prevent and reduce mortality and morbidity due to illness and injury. Paramedics primarily provide care to emergency patients in an out-of-hospital setting.
Paramedics possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes consistent with the expectations of the public and the profession. Paramedics recognize that they are an essential component of the continuum of care and serve as linkages among health resources. Paramedics strive to maintain high-quality, reasonable-cost health care by delivering patients directly to appropriate facilities. As an advocate for patients, paramedics seek to be proactive in affecting long term health care by working in conjunction with other provider agencies, networks, and organizations. (Information available at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Areas of Work and Emerging Areas of Specialty
The emerging roles and responsibilities of the Paramedic include public education, health promotion, and participation in injury and illness prevention programs. As the scope of service continues to expand, the Paramedic will function as a facilitator of access to care, as well as an initial emergency medical treatment provider.
Some EMTs and paramedics become instructors, dispatchers, or physician assistants, while others move into sales or marketing of emergency medical equipment. A number of people become EMTs and paramedics to assess their interest in health care, and then decide to return to school and become nurses, physicians, or other allied health professionals.
Paramedics with advanced training may assume positions of responsibility in the provision of Emergency Medical Services to political entities, educational institutions, and private enterprises. They may manage and direct EMS organizations, deliver educational and regulatory information to many and varied communities of interest and students, and satisfy disaster management/planning requirements for localities as emergency managers.
Job Outlook
Employment of emergency medical technicians and paramedics is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014, as full-time paid EMTs and paramedics replace unpaid volunteers. As population and urbanization increase, and as a large segment of the population—aging baby boomers—becomes more likely to have medical emergencies, demand will increase for EMTs and paramedics. There will still be demand for part-time, volunteer EMTs and paramedics in rural areas and smaller metropolitan areas. In addition to jobs arising from growth, openings will occur because of replacement needs; turnover is relatively high in this occupation because of the limited potential for advancement and the modest pay and benefits in private-sector jobs.
Salary Range
Earnings of EMTs and paramedics depend on the employment setting and geographic location as well as the individual’s training and experience. Median annual earnings of EMTs and paramedics were $25,310 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,970 and $33,210. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,090, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,240. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of EMTs and paramedics in May 2004 were:
| Local government |
$27,710
|
| General medical and surgical hospitals |
26,590 |
| Other ambulatory health care services |
23,130 |
Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
