What challenges do you see paramedicine and EMS facing?

[UMSTUDENT]

Been awhile, but life has been busy.

The only thing that is going to change EMS for the better is a drastic improvement in the education of paramedics, EMS managers, etc around this entire country. Honestly, I believe that the role of a paramedic physician extender will be seen sometime within the next 10 years...someplace. Something at least similar to what is occurring in the UK in regards to their Enhanced Practitioner Paramedics will need to occur to cope with the ever increasing amount of non-emergent calls being put out by dispatch centers around the country. I know a lot of people don't agree with me here, and while I see their points, I respectively disagree. Some level of provider, be it a better educated paramedic or a new level of provider, needs to be able to say no, or at least write referrals.

There is a place for an advanced paramedic, trained in universities at the baccalaureate level. I also believe there is a place for trained EMS managers and clinical specialist at the graduate level. By increasing the education requirement of our newer generation we can begin the process of phasing out those unwilling to succumb to new requirements.