Welcome to 2011. Sounds pretty cool doesn’t it. These are my three hopes for Every Paramedic in 2011.
1. Competency based continuing education that honors your time, experience, and knowledge. Many of you might just now be realizing that you have less than 90 days to meet the NREMT refresher and continuing education requirements (if you re-register this year.) The other half of you have 455 days.
My hope is that continuing education uses cumulative data from your patient care reports to identify strengths and gaps. If you regularly correctly and treat STEMI maybe your con ed time can focus on other topics. Or you could take advanced training on STEMI mimics.
If you miss an assessment or make a treatment error; feedback could direct you to the appropriate continuing education based on your needs. When I visit the doctor I don’t get the same prescription as every other person in the waiting room. I get a care plan based on my specific needs.
2. Social Media Presence that demonstrates your passion and professionalism for something. It doesn’t necessarily need to be EMS, but when your co-workers, employers, friends and family search for you, my hope is they find an online presence that is positive, confident, and respectful.
If you haven’t started yet there are so many good examples to choose from. Start by visiting and participating the blogs by EMS professionals at EMSBlogs.com or FireEMSBlogs.com.
If you already have a presence, do a vanity search – Google your name. What comes up? Does it reflect your professionalism and knowledge. It is easy to intentionally “Google” yourself up. Start participating in Blog conversations by posting comments. Ask to join as a guest on one of the many EMS podcasts. Write your own blog posts.
3. Connect to the information and people of EMS2.0 with a smartphone. There is an amazing community of EMS professionals around the world that connect with each other, on and off duty; primarily through their web enabled iPhones, Android phones, Windows phones, and Blackberry phones.
I was asked to write this post by a paramedic in the United Kingdom. The day I wrote this post I sent birthday wishes to a paramedic in California. Answered a question for a paramedic in Kentucky. Had my own question answered by another paramedic in New York. All of us are connected through social networks – Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and more – that we regularly access through our smartphones.
Smartphones also give paramedics amazing access to information. EMS specific apps help paramedics study, access references, complete calculations, track patient interventions, and communicate with colleagues near and far.
What are your hopes for every paramedic in 2011?
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