Paramedics are responsible for informing doctors of the patient’s condition upon arrival at the hospital.
Typically, a critical care paramedic is a certified emergency medical technician, a paramedic who provides critical care support to patients in a variety of settings. Working in ambulances, critical care air transportation systems, field hospitals, or in a normal hospital setting, an critical care paramedic typically reports to a responsible physician or registered nurse in response to life-threatening medical calls. Depending on where the paramedic works, duties can range from providing basic life support to assisting in the rescue of trapped victims to performing advanced life support functions such as intravenous therapy. Those who work for private first aid companies may even be called upon to handle sales, marketing, and supervisory duties while performing their regular job-related duties.
Paramedics are often the first responders at the scene of an accident and must be well trained to stabilize a number of potentially fatal injuries.
The duties of a critical care paramedic vary slightly depending on where you work. Basic duties may require driving an ambulance, communicating with dispatchers, and keeping a record of all activities during the service. When working in a hospital setting, basic duties may involve maintaining medical supply levels, performing quality checks on communication equipment used by patients, or educating patients on how to use that equipment. Regardless of the setting, paramedics working in critical care will facilitate and promote communication between patients and other medical staff.
Paramedics try to stabilize trauma patients before they can be taken to the emergency room.
Key responsibilities in first aid settings consist of a wide range of roles. These tasks will include assisting victims at the scene of an accident or natural disaster, setting up and monitoring triage systems, determining the severity of conditions, administering treatment and initial life support care, and transporting patients. In hospital settings, roles often involve answering calls in intensive care units, assisting with regular patient care, helping to provide treatment under the direction of a registered nurse or physician, and monitoring medications. Training less experienced staff is often a responsibility, regardless of healthcare settings.
In addition to basic and core responsibilities, a critical care paramedic will work collaboratively with other first responders, health care personnel, and public safety personnel. Other expectations will include keeping all required certifications current and participating in continuing education as needed. Knowing, understanding and complying with all government and health regulations, standards and policies is inherent to the job. These regulatory functions generally include adhering to ethical standards, maintaining adequate levels of confidentiality, ensuring hygiene and safety standards, and keeping necessary records up to date. In addition, the job may also require interacting with and educating the public on health and/or safety related topics.