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Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services.[1] EMTs are trained to respond quickly to emergency situations regarding medical issues, trauma injuries and accident scenes. EMTs operate under the scope of practice as provided by their physician medical director. There are many levels of an EMT, the most common being an EMT-B (EMT-Basic). The highest level is EMT-P or Paramedic, which has the ability to administer a variety of medications, start IVs/IOs and interpret/correct cardiovascular problems along with treatment of various other issues that may arise. They may work in an ambulance service (paid or voluntary), as a member of technical rescue teams/squads, or as part of an allied service such as a fireor police department. EMTs are trained to assess a patient's condition, and to perform such emergency medical procedures as are needed to maintain a patent airway with adequate
breathing and cardiovascular circulation until the patient can be transferred to an appropriate destination for advanced medical care. Interventions include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, controlling severe external bleeding, preventing shock, body immobilization to prevent spinal damage, and splinting of bone fractures. EMT's are trained in BLS, or basic life support. If the patient requires more advanced care during transport that is out of the scope of practice of the EMT, a paramedic or RN will assist in transport. A national exam is required for certification following the mandated in- class hours and patient- contact requirements. A common mistake is to refer to EMTs as "Ambulance Drivers."
Care Paramedic and 'Paramedic' only for those qualified as Advanced Care Paramedics Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers - but almost all provinces are gradually moving to adopting the new titles, or have at least recognized the NOCP document as a benchmarking document to permit inter-provincial labour mobility of practitioners, regardless of how titles are specifically regulated within their own provincial systems. In this manner, the confusing myriad of titles and occupational descriptions can at least be discussed using a common language for comparison sake.
Responder Title
Abbr
Level of Care
CFR
Trained in BLS with emphasis on CPR and the Automated External Defibrillator
OFA
Trained as CFR with additional training in management of bleeding, fractures etc. particularly in the workplace
EFR
Extensive first aid and BLS training with introduction to Oxygen therapy and assisting practitioners with care
Level of Care
Entry-level EMS Healthcare professional. Trained EMT in BLS, Anatomy/Physiology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, ECG Monitoring and Spinal Immobilization
PARAMEDIC
Emergency Ambulance Practitioner. Trained in advanced Pharmacology, advanced Airway management etc.
ADVANCED PARAMEDIC
AP
Trained to Paramedic level plus IV & IO access, a wide range of Medications, tracheal intubation, Manual Defib etc.
Technician grades 1,2,3 or 4, based on their level of experience; in many cases providing a similar level of care to that of a Paramedic. Emergency Medical Technicians are still widely deployed in private ambulance companies with IHCD NHS trained Emergency Technicians being particularly sought after. There also many newer EMT training courses available. IHCD Ambulance Technicians and Assistant Ambulance Practitioners still exist within other UK ambulance services with Emergency Care Assistants employed in some areas as support, however, this grade of staff is now being phased out and replaced with a much lower qualified Emergency care assistants.
requirements as set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) standards for curriculum.[3] The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) is a private organization[4] which offers certification exams based on NHTSA education guidelines.[5] Currently, NREMT exams are used by 46 states as the sole basis for certification at one or more EMT certification levels. [6] The Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2013, H.R. 235 in the 113th United States Congress, would amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration program for states with a shortage of emergency medical technicians to streamline state requirements and procedures to assist veterans who completed military EMT training while serving in the Armed Forces to meet state EMT certification and licensure requirements. The bill passed in the United States House of Representatives, but has not yet been voted on in the United States Senate.[7]
Some states also recognize the Advanced Practice Paramedic[8] or Critical Care Paramedic[9] level as a statespecific licensure above that of the paramedic. In addition, EMTs can seek out specialty certifications such as Wilderness EMT, Wilderness Paramedic and Flight Paramedic.
EMT-Basic is the entry level of EMS.[12] The procedures and skills allowed at this level are generally noninvasive such as bleeding control, positive pressure ventilation with a bag valve mask, oropharyngeal airway, nasopharyngeal airway, supplemental oxygen administration, and splinting (including full spinal immobilization). Training requirements and treatment protocols vary from area to area.[13][14]
providers on air ambulances or as a ground provider.[19] Paramedics perform a variety of medical procedures such as fluid resuscitation, pharmaceutical administration, obtaining IV access, cardiac monitoring (continuous and 12-lead), and other advanced procedures and assessments.[20]
volunteers are hired to fill certain blocks of time to cover emergency calls. These volunteers have the same state certification as their paid counterparts.[36]