Paramedic Practice

Introduction to Paramedic Practice A Program in Paramedicine

Description
This program aims to describe the paramedic's role in the health-care continuum by expanding on the role of paramedics, contextualising the meaning of "pre-hopstial care" including what it means to be the "first point of contact" for patients, as well as introducing patient handover and working in an interdisciplinary team. This program further aims to introduce primary patient assessment and describe what it is paramedics do when first coming into contact with patients.

Goals

 * Paramedic role description
 * What is expected of paramedics prior to hospital admission
 * Paramedic role at receiving facility, i.e. Hospital
 * Patient handover
 * Working with other organizations
 * Primary assessment
 * Understanding that while the key role of a Paramedic is the preservation of life, Paramedics are capable of far reaching changes to patient outcome and quality of life.

Demonstrated Knowledge
By the completion of this program, Users should be able to demonstrate:
 * An understanding of what it means to be a Paramedic from multiple viewpoints.
 * How Paramedics fit in to a patient's healthcare journey.
 * Structured patient handover.
 * Understanding of the elements of a good primary patient assessment.

Outline

 * Paramedics - what do they do and why do they do it.
 * First point of contact - what to do in the first few minutes.
 * At the Hospital - what to do once you get there.
 * Doing more than saving lives - how a paramedic's role spans beyond life support.