The Space‐Control Theory of Paramedic Scene‐Management

Abstract

Paramedics provide emergency service in physically hazardous and socially complex situations. These work settings present unique challenges in terms of managing resources and relationships in a multicrisis context, in order to enable the delivery of emergency patient care. Using data obtained from interviewing paramedics, this study demonstrates the usefulness of symbolic interaction theory for context analysis, by analyzing an important aspect of paramedic practice: scene management. Through grounded theory methodology, this study also presents the first interactionism‐based theory of how paramedics manage emergency scenes. This theory emphasizes the critical role of social processes in establishing social control in work spaces.

Perceptions of paramedics and emergency staff about the care they provide to people who self-harm: Constructivist metasynthesis of the qualitative literature

“…Campeau [29] highlights this, finding how in contrast to other healthcare providers, paramedics do not have predetermined work areas but accept Records identified through database searching n=1103…”

“…the location where they find a patient as their 'working area'. Campeau [29] produced a grounded theory explaining how scene management is a dynamic social activity which included sustaining social processes and antecedents of establishing a safety zone, trading off patient care and scene safety. These elements can be observed in other studies relating to paramedics and mental health, in Shaban (2005a) [30] one paramedic said:…”

The relationship with the ambulance clinicians as experienced by significant others

“…Nurses are judged to contribute to qualified care of different categories of patient for both high‐ and low‐priority ambulance calls (Suserud and Haljamäe, ; Melby and Ryan, ; Machen et al , ). Emergency ambulance care is described as the first link in the chain of care, focusing on emergency acute care to patients in an unpredetermined setting (Campeau, ). Compassion for patients and SOs is described by ambulance clinicians as an important value in emergency ambulance care (Sine and Northcutt, ).…”

Paramedical risk framing during field referral of acute stroke and S–T elevation myocardial infarction patients

“…When coupled with a final process of providing a clear plan of action, this approach establishes social momentum for moving the trajectory5 of the case forward. There is also a symmetry to this framing, as its final step reinforces its first step, namely the trust between patient and paramedic.…”