An International Community Paramedic Career Structure A Synthesis of the Literature, Regulatory Frameworks, and Community Paramedicine Expert Advice

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Published: Oct 8, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56068/SLLI4700
Keywords:
Community Paramedicine, professionalization, competencies, emergency medical services, EMS, paramedicine

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Peter O'Meara, PhD
Monash University; Melbourne, Australia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8657-5646
Gary Wingrove, FACPE, CP-C
The Paramedic Foundation; Duluth, MN, USA
Mary Ahlers, MEd, BSN, NRP
The Paramedic Network; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Abstract

Introduction  - Internationally, prehospital workers practice in a wide range of community paramedicine roles. It can be unclear where community paramedics fit within existing paramedicine career structures and their professional capabilities are sometimes ill-defined or misunderstood. This study aimed to clarify some of these questions through the development of a community paramedic career structure and descriptions of their professional capabilities at different levels of practice.


Methods - The career structure was developed on the premise that paramedicine is an evolving autonomous health discipline. It was designed through the synthesis of the paramedicine literature, key regulatory frameworks, and advice from two panels of international community paramedicine experts. These purposively recruited panellists comprised practicing community paramedics, students and educators, professional leaders, and subject matter experts. Thematic analysis was undertaken of their open-text on-line questionnaire responses. After feedback from the first panel a paramedic system modernization continuum was used to fashion community paramedic career structures to meet the needs of paramedic systems at different stages of development. These structures were tested with members of the second panel.


Findings - A five-step career structure was designed and conceptually separated into two distinct but related pathways to facilitate international comparability across paramedic systems in terms of professional autonomy and levels of education. Structural and cultural characteristics are represented through professional capability statements and indicative education levels that are incorporated into a paramedic system continuum ranging from directive to professionally autonomous paramedic systems.


Discussion - Although this study was conducted through the lens of community paramedicine, it might further international discussion of how attractive career structures could improve paramedic retention more broadly. Successful implementation of this career structure requires the support of key stakeholders in the face of strong structural and cultural barriers that continue to challenge innovations designed to respond to changing opportunities and needs in paramedicine. 

Article Details

How to Cite
O’Meara, P., Wingrove, G., & Ahlers, M. (2024). An International Community Paramedic Career Structure: A Synthesis of the Literature, Regulatory Frameworks, and Community Paramedicine Expert Advice. International Journal of Paramedicine, (8), 18–33. https://doi.org/10.56068/SLLI4700
Issue
No. 8 (2024): October-December, 2024
Section
Research Reports
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Author Biographies

Peter O'Meara, PhD, Monash University; Melbourne, Australia

Peter O’Meara is a nationally registered paramedic and an internationally recognized expert on paramedicine models of care and education. Peter is one of the most experienced and highly credentialed paramedic academics in the world with strong and extensive professional networks nationally and internationally. He was awarded his PhD from the University of New South Wales in 2002, making him one of the first paramedics in the world to complete a PhD focusing on paramedicine. His research topic examined the design of rural models of ambulance service delivery. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Health Administration (UNSW) and a Master of Public Policy (Deakin University). In 2019 he completed postgraduate studies in agricultural health and medicine at the Centre for Farmer Health (Deakin University).

Peter’s ongoing research has largely focused on the evolution of new paramedic models of care and the professional and educational issues that arise from these initiatives. He has published paramedicine research on medical direction and clinical governance of paramedicine in Canada and the United States. In addition, he has been a member of two research teams exploring violence against health workers. During his 20 years in the higher education sector, he has completed and published a wide range of studies and evaluations related to paramedicine and rural health. He is currently supervising graduate research students from Australia, Canada and Nepal. Prior to his academic career, he worked in rural ambulance services throughout the Australian State of Victoria where he held a range of positions in clinical care, dispatch, operations, and corporate management.

Dr O’Meara has particularly strong international links in paramedicine, especially in North America. He has recently accepted an invitation to lead the US-based Global Paramedicine Higher Education Council initiative to expand and enrich the education of paramedics throughout the world. He is also a Board member of both the Paramedic Network and the American Paramedic Association.

Gary Wingrove, FACPE, CP-C, The Paramedic Foundation; Duluth, MN, USA

Gary Wingrove is President of The Paramedic Foundation, Chair of the International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine, and a Paramedic Network board member. Gary was recognized by the Journal of Emergency Medical Services as a “Top 10 Innovators in EMS” in the award’s inaugural year. A former Minnesota state EMS director, Gary is immediate past Chief Commissioner of the American College of Paramedic Executives. He serves on the Government Affairs Committee of the National Rural Health Association. 

Mary Ahlers, MEd, BSN, NRP, The Paramedic Network; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Founder of Paramedic Health Solutions and the Paramedic Network, Mary is recognized by the Journal of Emergency Medical Services as a “Top 10 Innovators in EMS” and the Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership for “Nursing Leadership”. Mary serves as a board member for the Paramedic Network, Association of Critical Care Transport Board, American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN-GCC), Ohio Organization of Nursing Leadership (GCONL).

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