Education and Training

Education and Training...what is the difference you ask?

The definition of education is:

the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 

 

The definition of training is:

the education, instruction, or discipline of a person or thing that is being trained: He's in training for the Olympics.

 

They look similar; however, difference between these two ideas is greater than you think. I wish to argue that education is far more beneficial for EMTs due to the fact that education is longer lasting and more comprehensive than training. According to the Office of Emergency Medical Services in Massachusetts, an EMT training course is approximately 110-150 hours with classroom and clinicals included. That means that an EMT is spending about 100 hours in a classroom learning about the many cases and situations they may run into during their career and 10-50 hours actually seeing and doing the job before being let out on the road. Now this is all well and good and the practical time is essential in any learning situation, but the problem here lies in the numbers. How can one say that they are fully qualified to save lives after a mere 110-150 hour course? The average college student takes triple and then some hours more of classroom time and, on top of classroom time, involve themselves in their future occupations through summer long or year long internships. Even with this much time and energy sacrificed on the part of the student to break into that career, they are still not fully considered prepared for their career until they achieve their masters degree, and, in some professions, a doctorate. For police officers, there is a requirement to have a degree in criminal justice and then the police academy for further education and training in tactics and fire arms among others. For professional firefighters, the general practice is to go to the fire academy or another college to receive a degree in fire science and, in addition, further education and training for hands on work in the department. 

Here is the key to making a good EMT, education and training coupled together in a four year bachelor degree program that offers EMTs classroom time and hands on training time. This would replicate education and training received by police officers and firefighters, as well as open opportunities for EMTs to advance themselves in their careers. Classroom time would be dedicated to the study of the human body, similar to classes taken by pre-med students with the added value of in-hospital observation time and ambulance ride time functioning as a year round internship, possibly offered to students during or after their second year of schooling. In the academic year 07-08, 1,563,000 people completed their bachelor's degrees, 32% higher than the previous year, 625,000 people completed their masters degrees, 45% higher than the previous academic year according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This proves that more individuals are seeking higher education in their professions.  Barring a degree in Emergency Management, there is no degree available for someone seeking to just be an EMT-Basic. Paramedics receive an associates degree that counts for approximately 60 college credits or the equivalent of 2 years of college education, but what if that associates degree could become a bachelors and then a masters especially for an EMT-Basic? 

A bachelors and masters degree program for EMTs would be a major step in taking the "trade" of EMS and making it a legitimate profession. Instead of being an Emergency Medical Technician, one can instead be called a Medic I or Medic II determined on level of education. A bachelors degree could essentially allow one to become the equivalent of an EMT-Basic or Medic I and a masters  could allow one to become the equivalent of a Paramedic or Medic II. Its a possibility, though not necessarily the best one. The concept here is not to determine a new name for the EMT, rather, the idea is to change the way we think about EMTs. The dedicated men and women who bravely and selflessly serve the public in this industry deserve to achieve a good education and more opportunities. This means a positive change in patient care and a better quality of care that always seems to be a discussion piece when examining EMS. 

Education and Training together can provide the EMT with the tools and knowledge necessary to be trusted with a greater variety of emergencies and allow the EMT to perform more skills. EMTs are not just glorified taxi drivers and ambulances are not just glorified taxis, EMTs are men and women dedicated to the safety and well being of the public and ambulances are their offices with the tools necessary for saving lives, lets give these men and women the education they deserve and the tools they need to continue performing this challenging and rewarding job.