Regulating Our Emergency Care Paramedics

Date
2015
Authors
Tunnage, B
Swain, A
Waters, D
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)
Abstract

Ambulance paramedics administering emergency care to patients are delivering a health service as defined in the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, 2003. Paramedics practice a wide range of skills without direct supervision and these can potentially put the public at risk if the paramedic is not competent. Paramedic practice is also rapidly expanding beyond the traditional ambulance role. However, this emerging profession falls outside the Act and paramedics remain unregistered. In this paper we state the case for extending regulation to these frontline healthcare professionals.

Description
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Source
The New Zealand Medical Journal, 128, 1421.
DOI
Rights statement
The New Zealand Medical Journal is already largely a free-to-all publication. All items more than 6 months old are freely available to anyone in the world who has internet access.