| The profession of paramedicine is at a crossroads as it transitions from its past in public safety and emergency response to its future providing care within a mobile, community-based health care delivery system. This action research project gathered data from paramedics and primary stakeholders in interviews and surveys to determine what primary health care services might be offered to the community to fill identified gaps and what barriers and challenges might interfere with service improvements. The data findings supported the conclusion that for mobile, primary health care to be achieved, additional stakeholders including paramedics, allied health professionals, and the local community must be engaged to identify service needs and gaps that might be filled by paramedics with enhanced skills and education. Other conclusions identified that changes to governmental policies and legislation, including self-regulation, are needed to enable paramedics to practice more independently in the health community. |
