Paramedic Professionals
Assessment Task:
Explore the statement - A Paramedic is a health care professional operating autonomously and independently within the Australian Health Care System.
Intro:
Paramedics have a complex identity within the Australian Health Care System. As the main provider of pre hospital care in todays’ society, paramedics have changed dramatically over the past 20 years, transitioning from ambulance drivers, to its current practitioner role. Although paramedics work alongside other emergency services and health care providers, they are not classified as health care professionals, therefore, working independently from these organisations and autonomously within their own state ambulance organisations. Through exploring the evolution of paramedic practice and their role as a health care provider, the current status of paramedics as a semi profession is explained along with what further development is needed before they become a recognised profession. In understanding how paramedics work autonomously within their own state based organisations, the concept of scope of practice and evidence based practice is explored. Finally by discussing how paramedics are independent, we establish paramedics’ role and position within the Australian Health Care System.
A paramedic is a health care professional
At present in Australia, paramedics are not classified as registered health care professionals. (Smith 2012) Instead, paramedics are widely regarded as semi-professionals with the potential to become a fully recognised profession in the near future. The definition of profession and the guidelines to become a recognised profession are not black and white. Professions Australia defined a profession as ‘a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who possess special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level.’ (Allied Health Professions Australia 2008: 8)
Explore the statement - A Paramedic is a health care professional operating autonomously and independently within the Australian Health Care System.
Intro:
Paramedics have a complex identity within the Australian Health Care System. As the main provider of pre hospital care in todays’ society, paramedics have changed dramatically over the past 20 years, transitioning from ambulance drivers, to its current practitioner role. Although paramedics work alongside other emergency services and health care providers, they are not classified as health care professionals, therefore, working independently from these organisations and autonomously within their own state ambulance organisations. Through exploring the evolution of paramedic practice and their role as a health care provider, the current status of paramedics as a semi profession is explained along with what further development is needed before they become a recognised profession. In understanding how paramedics work autonomously within their own state based organisations, the concept of scope of practice and evidence based practice is explored. Finally by discussing how paramedics are independent, we establish paramedics’ role and position within the Australian Health Care System.
A paramedic is a health care professional
At present in Australia, paramedics are not classified as registered health care professionals. (Smith 2012) Instead, paramedics are widely regarded as semi-professionals with the potential to become a fully recognised profession in the near future. The definition of profession and the guidelines to become a recognised profession are not black and white. Professions Australia defined a profession as ‘a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and who possess special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level.’ (Allied Health Professions Australia 2008: 8)
References: O’Meara, P & Grbich, C editors. 2009, Paramedics in Australia: Contemporary challenges of practice. Pearson Education, Australia. Productivity Commission 2005