Both paramedics, as well as EMT professionals are trained under the Emergency Medical Services system. Though trained under the same system, their courses are separate, and so are their training and the duration of the course.
Key Takeaways
- Paramedics are highly trained emergency medical professionals who can perform advanced medical procedures, while EMTs are trained to provide basic medical care.
- Paramedics have a wider scope of practice and can administer medication, perform intubation, and use complex medical equipment, while EMTs can only provide basic care such as CPR and bandaging.
- Paramedics require more extensive education and training than EMTs and have higher salaries.
Paramedic vs EMT
Paramedics are trained emergency medical professionals who attend to severely injured patients and critical medical conditions in place of a doctor. They administer CPR, IV medication or tracheotomy. An EMT (Emergency medical technician) is a healthcare provider who is trained to assist patients in life-threatening situations. They conduct basic medical tests and assist in making 911 calls.
The paramedics are referred to as “Next to Doctors” as they always attend to patients in the absence of the doctor and assist them during a life-threatening and critical medical situation.
The EMTs are the medical professionals who give basic medical care to patients and also are qualified enough to conduct the basic medical tests.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Paramedic | EMT |
|---|---|---|
| Name Meaning | Next to Doctor | Emergency Medical Technician |
| Hours Required | 12,000 hours to 18,000 hours | 170 hours |
| In general | They are trained to give specialized and advanced medical care. | They are trained to give basic medical care. |
| Level of Responsibilities | Lesser than doctors, but more than EMTs. | Lesser than paramedics. |
| Major Responsibilities | CPRs, clear airway, give or prescribe IV medication, prescribing or giving someone a tracheotomy, etc. | Conducting basic medical tests, assisting medical emergencies via 911 calls, etc. |
What is Paramedic?
The word “Paramedic” can be divided into two terms, para and medic, which give meaning to the word. The first half means “next to”, and the latter one means doctor.
The paramedics are required to train and learn more than that of an EMT. They are more qualified to handle a critical emergency medical situation.
When the doctors are not around, they are qualified enough to supervise the rest of the team, comprising of less experienced and less qualified staff like an EMT.
They are required to take a course of a minimum of 12,000 hours. Some of the courses might even go up to 18,000 hours if required.
After the completion of the course, one is required to sit for an exam demanded by the state. One needs to take a valid certification from a government-authorized place within two years after passing the exam.
During a critical situation, a paramedic can do a few of the following things:
- CPRs
- Clear airway
- Give or prescribe IV medication
- Prescribing or giving someone a tracheotomy
What is EMT?
Emergency Medical Technicians, or as they are called EMTs, are the most common type of providers who attend EMS situations patients. They learn and are trained to assist during a life-threatening situation.
The course which they take on is approximately 170 hours long. In general, an EMT does not require a medical or educational background to pursue this particular course.
These risky situations may include serious allergies, vehicle accident victims, or even doing CPR when a patient is experiencing a cardiac arrest.
The EMTs are required to carry a medical toolbox with them when on duty. The EMTs are required to take several motor and cognitive tests to make sure they can work in high-pressure situations.
Main Differences Between Paramedic and EMT
- The level of responsibilities of the paramedics is less than that of doctors but more than that of less experienced staff, as the EMTs, whereas the level of responsibilities of the EMTs is less than that of the paramedics.
- CPRs, clearing the airway, Giving or prescribing IV medication, prescribing or giving someone a tracheotomy, etc. The major responsibilities of the EMTs are Conducting basic medical tests, assisting medical emergencies via 911 calls, etc.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1197/j.aem.2005.02.013
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867416307966
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
