International Paramedic Practice (IPP) is a welcome addition to those existing institutions and activities that are contributing to the international development of the paramedic profession. It will provide an opportunity to share front-line experiences and present research evidence among those paramedics who share a desire to provide the best possible care to patients and improve outcomes. The online journal will encourage debate and discussion beyond our own countries and institutions, it will seek to broaden our professional horizons, and encourage innovation and reform.
To achieve these lofty aims, paramedics and others associated with the profession need to build and disseminate a body of knowledge that is based on robust evidence, combined with informed debate and discussion (Tippett et al, 2003; Snooks et al, 2008).
International journals can make important contributions to this process through their role as places of scholarly exchange where practitioners and researchers can challenge readers to look at other ways of doing things, to consider different ways of thinking about problem situations, and to suggest how improvements might be implemented.
One observation of paramedics, ambulance services and our professional associations, is that they can sometimes fall into the temptation of thinking that the best and only approach when confronted with challenges is to do more of the same and to ignore or dismiss other options. For example, should we consider whether efforts to reduce response times through
‘International paramedic practice will seek to broaden our professional horizons, and encourage innovation and reform’
Of even more concern is when there is no knowledge displayed of alternate approaches, or when the same mistakes are repeated because of a failure to share our experiences so that others may learn from them. The point is that we will never know about these situations and potential improvements if the questions are not asked, researched, and published.
While there are many ways to resolve those ‘messy’ issues that confront us, it is also true that improved knowledge and understanding underpin most of the desirable and feasible decisions or actions that we witness. Scholarly journals have a responsibility and an opportunity to develop a balanced and diverse knowledge base to support and sometimes guide the actions of paramedics in their individual clinical practice, managers as they lead service providers, and policy makers who determine the broad parameters in which we all operate.
The achievement of these ideals takes considerable time and effort as scholarly journals develop a strong readership, along with dedicated contributors who are prepared to sometimes press the boundaries of knowledge and to challenge accepted practice. While much valuable and insightful scholarship can be derived from the review and analysis of existing literature, official reports and personal reflections, progress also relies on the funding and support for new research that generates new knowledge and understanding.
In the paramedic discipline, research can cover a broad spectrum of questions using a wide range of research methodologies, extending from randomized control trials to the inductive approaches used in qualitative studies (Rickard et al, 2007; Woollard et al, 2008; Cooper et al, 2009). Research and scholarship is needed to determine whether we are doing the right things, to what extent these activities are effective, and whether services are cost-effective and appropriate in a given context (Jacobs, 2000Sayre et al, 2002).
There is also a demonstrated need to examine systems design and workforce issues to determine how we could better design and manage ambulance services, to examine the extent to which we might usefully integrate and collaborate with other health and emergency services, or to what extent can the community be involved in setting our priorities (Nicholl and Munro 2000; Joyce et al, 2009).
This initiative to launch an international paramedic journal fits well with other international efforts to encourage paramedics throughout the world to talk to each other and to learn the lessons of their diverse experiences. For seven years, the International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine has been encouraging paramedics from across the globe to talk to each other through regular teleconferences and at international meetings in North America and Australasia. These concerted efforts have led to international exchanges and clinical placements for students, invitations to present at paramedic conferences, research proposals, the sharing of curriculum ideas, and the forging of strong friendships.
More recently, we have seen the formation of International Paramedic following a meeting in Ottawa, Canada of like-minded paramedics from five countries. One of the stated aims of this group is to collaborate, learn and share best-practices.
The launch of IPP is building on these foundations and the work of the Journal of Paramedic Practice (JPP) editorial team, contributors, reviewers and readers who have all contributed to its success. The strength of JPP has been the opportunity for practicing paramedics, emerging academics and students to contribute papers with a strong practice orientation (Willis, 2010). This content has made the journal popular with practicing paramedic and students who have welcomed the opportunity to read papers that reflect the world in which they work and learn.
As more paramedic researchers emerge, the papers published will become more research orientated and more likely to influence policy and practice. One hopes that this will occur without a loss of relevance to paramedics, students and those charged with the responsibility of improving our services to the community.
The broadening of the journal to an international audience will go some way toward filling a gap in the paramedic landscape where most scholarly journals have a strong connection to particular parts of the world, whether it is the UK and Ireland, North America or Australasia, to name three parts of the English-speaking world that are making significant contribution to the development of the paramedic discipline. A major challenge will be bring these regions together and then expand the reach of the journal to Europe, Asia and the developing world.