Paramedics as allied health care providers in the pediatric emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of use and scope of practice of paramedics in the pediatric emergency department (PED).


METHODS
Thirty-eight question mailed survey.


METHODS
One hundred eighty directors of pediatric emergency medicine departments.


RESULTS
One hundred twelve (62%) pediatric emergency medicine directors completed the survey of which 87 (74%) had a physically distinct PED. The PEDs saw an mean volume of 29,563 patients per year. Twenty-one percent of the PEDs surveyed had paramedics who were employed as allied health personnel. Paramedic responsibilities in the PEDs included patient transport, 89%; laboratory transport, 67 %; IV access, 78%; medication administration, 22 %; suturing, 11%; assisting, 94%; intubation, 6%; and narcotic administration, 11%. Paramedic mean starting salary was $9.55 (SD+/-1.90)/h) versus nurse mean starting salary of $15.03 (SD+/-3.58)/h (P < 0.001). PED directors who employed paramedics rated the success of their paramedic program as 7.9 (SD+/-1.7) on a scale from 1 (not at all successful) to 10 (very successful).


CONCLUSIONS
Paramedics can function successfully as members of the PED patient care team. In a resource-scarce health care environment the use of paramedics may be a cost-effective adjunct to nursing support.
Zempsky
W T
WT
Department of Pediatrics, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, USA.
Haskell
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G
D002648:Child; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce