Problems in Paramedicine

Do you ever just sit on the couch, stare off into the distance, and thinking about which project you’re going to tackle next? Or are there too many to name? I’ll be very transparent for a second. That’s what I’ve been doing thinking about paramedicine in the United States. Folks… we don’t have one problem. We have too many to even name right here. We’re going on two years of a pandemic that has exposed so many areas that we were unprepared for. In roughly ¾ of the country, EMS providers aren’t even considered essential workers, despite our communities relying on us to not only show up, but be kind, compassionate, competent, and quite literally save lives. Despite that kind of pressure, EMS providers couldn’t even get access to masks or PPE without scrounging around at hospitals or making protective gear themselves at the start of the pandemic. Despite having a tremendous amount of stress, autonomy, and decision-making power over the lives of their patients, EMS providers are woefully undertrained, underprepared, and underpaid. There are a number of EMS providers that cannot pay their bills regularly yet give back to their communities and risk their health and safety to do it. In fact, regardless of efforts to increase the amount of education required to be an EMS provider, many other health professionals do not even acknowledge the roles of EMS providers as a legitimate member of the healthcare community. EMS providers have a dramatically increased disposition to have suicidal ideations or attempt suicide compared to almost all other professions. Yet, mental health resources are just now starting to catch on and we are still woefully unprepared. In some departments, accessing mental health services still comes with a stigma and can inhibit upward mobility and standing. In some other departments, members are not even allowed to put together peer support services. There is dramatic inequality and representation of people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community not only in direct EMS care, but especially in leadership roles. In addition to that, there is still a remarkable discrepancy in compensation for all of these groups. Even though we are still caught up in a raging pandemic, there are an incredible number of EMS providers that continue to fan the flame of false healthcare narratives and refuted claims, as well as refuse vaccination for non-health reasons. In the wake of movements for equality among racial and ethnic minorities, there are still headlines wherein EMS providers are spewing racist vitriol and are still demonstrating through care that minorities in the United States are not a priority in their care. Folks… we don’t have one problem. We have a ton. It’s not enough to merely acknowledge our faults, we must work to improve them. All I ask is that as we embark on the journey to unmasking some of these issues and delve into possible solutions, that you join us, and help be the change in your communities. Welcome to Problems in Paramedicine.