HJBR Jan/Feb 2022

PARAMEDICS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Is This a New Take, an Old Idea or a Quick Fix? When someone says they are a paramedic, the first image that comes to mind is rolling up on an accident scene in an ambulance, first to respond to a critical injury or illness and key to stabilizing and transporting to a hospital for further care. Most of us don’t picture paramedics in scrubs working alongside physicians and nurses in the emergency room. Many facilities have learned that the paramedic’s unique skill set is a perfect match for the critical care needed in emergency departments. And, while they can’t replace ED nurses, they can provide calm and competent support in areas like triage and patient care amid a growing staffing shortage for nurses. We decided to learn if this is a hot new trend, a well-kept secret or a temporary fix for staffing challenges exacerbated by COVID-19.