What is the
difference between an EMT and a Paramedic?
All Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers are certified in their respective
disciplines and practice in accordance with the State's Regulations and Statutes which govern
the practice of EMS and the State Board which credentials them. In addition, every licensed EMS agency
employs a Medical Director that approves and oversees all medical protocols
used by the EMS agency.
In the simplest terms, the difference between an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P) comes down to the number of education hours, level of skills training
and the invasiveness of the procedures they are authorized to perform.
The differences between the certifications can be described
using two factors. The first is the
amount of training required, or the minimum knowledge base. The second is the functional skill-set, or depth
of practical skills; from 3
months of education and training for the EMT, up to an additional two years of
training for the Paramedic. An EMT may
choose to advance his or her education and skill-set to that of a paramedic,
but there is no requirement to do so.
EMT’s are able to perform necessary, life-saving
intervention by way of Basic Life Support (BLS) knowledge and skills. EMT’s are certified in CPR and First Aid, as
well as trained in patient assessment skills, oxygen delivery, splinting,
bandaging, some medication administration and the management of many types of
shock. To this skill-set is added the
knowledge necessary to obtain sufficient understanding of Human Anatomy,
Physiology and Pathology related to both medical illnesses and traumatic
injuries. EMT’s are trained to respond
to, assess, prioritize and treat medical and trauma patients utilizing the
knowledge and skills they have established through training. By virtue of this, EMT’s represent the first
line in the field of pre-hospital emergency care.
Paramedics represent the top tier in the hierarchy of
EMS. They are, first and foremost, EMT’s—but
in addition to BLS, the paramedic is educated and trained for Advanced Life Support (ALS) treatment and intervention.
The paramedic has undertaken education and skills training in pharmacology,
medication administration, EKG interpretation, cardiac rhythm analysis, cardiac
defibrillation, transcutaneous cardiac pacing (TCP), intravascular (IV) and
intraosseous (IO) therapy, advanced airway establishment and maintenance and
acute pain management. This knowledge
and procedure allows the paramedic more “tools” which they may use to intervene
or manage a critical patient prior to arrival at a hospital. Paramedics provide definitive medical care in
the field and on the way to the receiving facility.