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American College of Emergency Physicians. 2013. www.acep.org/Clinical---Practice-Management/Freestanding-Emergency-Departments/ (accessed 6 June 2016)

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innovation
role evolution
professional

Why are patients only conveyed to the hospital?

02 June 2016
Opinion
02 June 2016
Volume 6 · Issue 2

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have expanded their capability over several decades. Despite advances in pre-hospital training, patients must still be transported to emergency departments (ED). Modern paramedics are capable of much more than the 1960s ambulance driver (Campeau, 2008). We deliver advanced care in pre-hospital and interfacility settings. Providing more than comfort measures, we stabilise serious conditions. Differential diagnoses allow us to make decisions about treatments and whether we should transport to specialty centres (Dobson et al, 2009).

Standing orders afford pre-hospital providers some independence in choices that affect life and death situations. Beyond this, EMS have evolved past emergency medical care. Medical directors and public health entities have utilised our services for vaccination and primary health services (National Association of EMS Physicians and National Rural Health Association, 2012; Mosesso et al, 2003).

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