If you worked as an EMT and thought your career was right for you, you might consider moving on to becoming a medical assistant. The main difference between the EMT base and paramedics is the level of care that every professional can provide. Both are “emergency care specialists”, but training a paramedic more intensively requires more time and effort. This does not minimize the role of the core element of EMT, since this level of care is the basis of the profession of emergency medicine specialist.
Many EMT basics have an enormous amount of expertise and experience in the field of emergency care and must be considered true professionals when it comes to appearing if they maintain the level of service at the industry level and continue their education. They have the same responsibility for continuing education as any other health professional.
Some of the basics of EMT prefer not to engage in additional training and responsibility as a paramedic. Going to a feldsher can be expensive, very time consuming and requires much more responsibility. The biblical saying: "To the fact that much is given, it takes a lot." really is a true statement. This is certainly not for everyone, and the basics of EMT who prefer to stay at a basic level of care should never feel worse if you don’t.
For those who want to go to the paramedic level, I have a few recommendations.
1. Get some experience as an EMT
Experienced EMT basics make for strong Paramedics. In addition, it is reasonable to actually work on an ALS unit with a medical assistant. This will give you invaluable experience that will help smooth the transition.
2. Continue your education
Your academic level will definitely determine how you handle the medical assistant’s program. Subjects such as medical dosages; pathophysiology and pharmacology can be tortured if you have never been exposed to them. Paramedic students who already have at least the degree of an associated candidate do a much better job with the program than those who do not have this education. This does not mean that you can not cope without any degree, but it means that the more academically prepared for the program, the better you will do.
3. Make sure you have money.
You must be financially prepared for the medical assistant school. This is usually a full day program from 12 to 18 months. If your budget is small, be sure to think about how you are going to pay your bills and be very detailed with your financial plan. Running money during a paramedic school can stop you on your way.
4. Want for the right reason
All are not cut out to be a health care provider. You may have some experience, be educated and well funded, but in reality this is only half of what is being said. Knowing what to do and actually taking care of, it is about two different things. If your main goal is to improve your career status and increase your income, I would strongly recommend that you look into another career. There are many ways to make money. However, when it comes to “health care,” you will never become a professional unless you really care about your neighbor.
