learning
student paramedic

A survey of community paramedicine course offerings and planned offerings

21 May 2014
Features
02 May 2014
Volume 4 · Issue 1

Abstract

Introduction: This paper reports on the results of a survey that was sent to every recipient of a standardised Community Paramedic™ (CP) curriculum. The survey was sent out to 223 post-secondary educators and Government officials. Out of 223 total surveys, 68 (30.49%) responses were received. Forty-seven of the 68 responses (69.11%) answered the question: ‘When are you planning on giving a community paramedic course?’; 35 of the 47 respondents (74.46%) indicated that their institution had already conducted a CP course, was currently conducting a CP course, or are planning on conducting a CP course within the next five years; of the additional 12 programmes (25.53%), 6 (13.0%) were waiting for state approval, and the other 6 (13.0%) were unknown as to when they would be offering a course.

Conclusions: At the time of the survey, many CP courses were in planning stages by programmes that had received the standardised CP curriculum, both in the US and internationally. It appears that the CP curriculum that has been disseminated internationally has been broadly accepted and will be widely utilised.

Abroad variety of community paramedic (CP) projects and pilot programmes have been implemented in the US and internationally over more than 25 years with the goal of increasing access to healthcare services for underserved populations, particularly those in remote and rural settings, as well as underserved populations in urban settings. The trend has included programmes that have expanded the clinical scope of practice of the paramedic and emergency medical technician (EMT) (Alaska Community Health Aide Program (ACHAP), 2011; Bigham et al, 2013; Goodwin, 2012a; 2012b; Tan, 2013), and other programmes that have focused on expanding the roles of the paramedic and EMT (Tan, 2013), with only limited, or minimal, changes in the scope of practice, if any. Those programmes that have focused on expanding the roles, rather than the clinical practices of the CP, include expanding the CP roles to pathway care coordinators, mobile healthcare clinic staff (for wellness checks, routine non-acute visits, routine physical examinations, routine blood pressure and blood glucose checks, etc.).

Subscribe to get full access to International Paramedic Practice

Thank you for visiting International Paramedic Practice and reading our archive of expert clinical content. If you would like to read more from the only journal dedicated to those working in emergency care, you can start your subscription today for just £48.

What's included

  • CPD Focus

  • Develop your career

  • Stay informed

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Community paramedic
Curriculum
Education
Integrated mobile health care
Training