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Yeah, I though it turned out quite well also, and I learned about the whole Paramedic Practitioner deal. Something I never even heard of. The internet, while good for learning, is a very difficult way to have a real discussion. Things are often read wrong or out of context. Thanks for the thread UMSTUDENT. Later, Brandon.

Quick F/U, I googled the whole Paramedic Practitioner deal and it seems the UK is working on that already. It seems to be a course that current Medics can take to become a Practitioner. Interesting.

That clears things up a lot. Yes, a totally excellent idea. A paramedic with some additional specialized training could definitely do something like that. Just like most other practitioners choose a specialized field to practice in (as in Peds for myself). Paramedics learn a little about EVERYTHING, MD's/NP's/PA's have to do that and learn a lot about one field. Totally attainable by a Paramedic program, just not with the medic programs currently out there. I think Ridryder 911 was pointing towards that with the whole thing about the "National EMS Scope of Practice Act as it was initially written to allow Paramedic Practitioners and widen the Scope of Practice", but I can't say I have any knowledge about that. If there was a "Paramedic Practitioner" program out there that let me work like I do now, AND be able to let me have my time on the ambulance, I would have been first in line to sign up.

Combined. ... I see about 30, he sees about 40. Give or take. No "exaggerating" needed. With an average 10 hr day that leaves about 20 mins a PT. Where I work, PT's have a 10 min time slot (20 for physicals). Sometimes you run over, sometimes under. I SHOULD have stated that these are the numbers for LI, NY (where there are only 2 paramedic programs to choose from, one being much better then the other IMO). That was a fault on my part. Other parts of the country may, and probably do, differ. Anyhow, this started by stating that a Paramedic could basically do the home visits that an MD (not PA) would do.. and I am pretty sure anywhere in the country, MD's have hands down, more training hours then a Medic.

So what is the issue here, that Doc's are getting more $$$ and doing the same thing as you? Not quite, take a look at the whole picture. A little background. I am an EMT (8yrs) and also a PA (2yrs) in a pediatric setting. We'll do 1-2 house calls after office hours for certain patients who need it. Combined we see about 70 patients/day. We do hospital rounds each morning, and split calls when office hours are over. He gets paid well b/c he has book knowledge AND extensive 'hands-on' experience. How many PT's do you see a day? See a couple hundred a week, and you learn more then you ever will in books. That, along with being on call all night, and having to do hospital rounds every morning ..... yeah, you deserve some more money. It's not just work my hours and go home to relax like when I worked on the ambulance. It's more, work office hours, do a house call or so, get woken up all night by calls, get up early for rounds, and then back to the office. Now, I am not saying that EMT/Medics are paid well.... That used to be my full time job for many years, I know all too well the lack of pay. When time came to further my education, instead of doing a 10 month Paramedic program, I did a 2yr PA program. I now get paid more, not only because of the extra schooling, but because I see a lot more patients in a day. I still hang out on the volley ambulance when I don't have call (that's why I keep my EMT current) to get my fill of that end of things, which I would miss otherwise.