Rivard Madison K, Cash Rebecca E, Mercer Christopher B, Chrzan Kirsten, Panchal Ashish R
Prehosp Emerg Care. 2021 Mar-Apr;25(2):213-220. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2020.1737282. Epub 2020 Mar 24.
The emergency medical services (EMS) workforce is a key component of healthcare in the U.S. Characteristics of active EMS professionals who are treating patients in the prehospital setting is unclear. The purpose of this study was to describe the roles and settings in which nationally certified EMS professionals are providing patient care and to evaluate similarities and differences of the demographics and practice settings of the three major certification levels.
We conducted a cross-sectional evaluation of all nationally certified EMS professionals in the U.S. that recertified between October 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 and October 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019. Within the recertification application, EMS professionals completed an optional demographic profile. Those who were nationally certified, functioning as a patient care provider for at least one nonmilitary EMS organization, aged 18 to 85 years, and recertified at the EMT level or higher were included. Demographic, agency and job characteristics were assessed and descriptive statistics were calculated.
In 2017-2018, 101,363 EMS professionals recertified and 87,471 (86%) completed the profile; in 2018-2019, 106,893 EMS professionals recertified and 92,640 (87%) completed the profile. Of the 142,751 EMS professionals who met inclusion criteria, the population was primarily male (76%) and age increased by certification level. By race/ethnicity, 85% were white, 5% were Hispanic/Latino, 5% were Black/African American, 2% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, 2% were Asian and 1% were Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.Paramedics had the highest proportion of associate degrees (EMT:16.0%; AEMT:16.6%; paramedic:28.5%); some college experience was common for all certification levels (EMT:34.7%; AEMT:37.2%; paramedic:31.6%). Most EMS professionals reported 3-7 years of experience, were working full-time (78%) and 28% were working for 2 or more agencies. Most were working for a fire department (48%) or private agency (21%) and providing 9-1-1 service (72%). No substantial differences were observed between the two recertification cycles.
This is the most comprehensive study evaluating the demographics of the national EMS workforce of active patient care providers. Understanding the characteristics of EMS professionals and the settings they practice in is important for educational and training initiatives, as well as protocols and policies.
紧急医疗服务（EMS）人员是美国医疗保健的关键组成部分。在院前环境中治疗患者的在职EMS专业人员的特征尚不清楚。本研究的目的是描述获得国家认证的EMS专业人员提供患者护理的角色和环境，并评估三个主要认证级别的人口统计学和实践环境的异同。
我们对2017年10月1日至2018年3月31日以及2018年10月1日至2019年3月31日期间重新认证的所有美国国家认证EMS专业人员进行了横断面评估。在重新认证申请中，EMS专业人员完成了一份可选的人口统计学资料。纳入那些获得国家认证、至少在一个非军事EMS组织中担任患者护理提供者、年龄在18至85岁之间且在急救医疗技术员（EMT）级别或更高级别重新认证的人员。评估人口统计学、机构和工作特征并计算描述性统计数据。
2017 - 2018年，101,363名EMS专业人员重新认证，87,471名（86%）完成了资料填写；2018 - 2019年，106,893名EMS专业人员重新认证，92,640名（87%）完成了资料填写。在符合纳入标准的142,751名EMS专业人员中，主要为男性（76%），且年龄随认证级别增加。按种族/族裔划分，85%为白人，5%为西班牙裔/拉丁裔，5%为黑人/非裔美国人，2%为美国印第安人/阿拉斯加原住民，2%为亚洲人，1%为夏威夷原住民/太平洋岛民。护理人员拥有副学士学位的比例最高（EMT：16.0%；高级急救医疗技术员（AEMT）：16.6%；护理人员：28.5%）；所有认证级别都有一些大学经历较为常见（EMT：34.7%；AEMT：37.2%；护理人员：31.6%）。大多数EMS专业人员报告有3 - 7年工作经验，全职工作（78%），28%为两个或更多机构工作。大多数人在消防部门（48%）或私人机构（21%）工作并提供9 - 1 - 1服务（72%）。两个重新认证周期之间未观察到实质性差异。
这是评估在职患者护理提供者国家EMS人员人口统计学的最全面研究。了解EMS专业人员的特征及其工作环境对于教育和培训计划以及协议和政策很重要。
