Assessing EMS Scope of Practice for Utility and Risk: the New Mexico EMS Interventions Assessment Project, Phase One Results

Abstract

The New Mexico EMS Interventions Project offers a novel model for assessing a prehospital scope of practice.

Objectives, taxonomies and competencies of community oriented and community based education applied to community paramedicine

“…There already are concerns that many interventions added over the years to EMS may not be supported by evidence-based medicine and may actually be harmful or ineffective [18]. In a time of evidence-based medicine and interprofessional research, any policies and decisions regarding community paramedics need to be crafted on solid research findings.…”

“…Therefore, further discussions and support of research on the topic of community paramedics, competencies and scope of practice need to continue in an interprofessional, academic and evidence-based fashion. Simply, any added interventions to a scope of practice need to first demonstrate benefit in the EMS setting, and address patient risks including if the intervention is appropriate for use in the field and by what level of provider education and licensure [18].…”

“…To reduce inequity in access to health services, graduates are able to: (14) Assess availability of health services to the community; (15) determine health care utilization by the community and community attitude to available health services; (16) observe and workable solutions to the effectiveness and efficiency of community health services; (17) design realistic strategies to improve community access to health services; (18) work in a variety of community health care settings (e.g. primary health care centers, district hospitals, maternal and child care units) and to provide preventive, primary curative, and emergency care; (19) judge which patients need to be referred; (20) participate in health teams (e.g.…”