SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has enacted a law that allows specially trained paramedics to perform medical procedures typically restricted to nurses and physicians. The measure, aimed at addressing healthcare shortages and improving patient outcomes, introduces the role of critical care medics.
Under the new law, paramedics can obtain the new certification after additional training and education. This will enable them to perform advanced interventions such as administering certain medications, using ventilators and managing critical patients during transports, KSL TV reported.
HB14 was signed into law last week, expanding the role of EMS workers through additional certification. Crystal Albrecht, director of operations for CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region and former emergency department leader at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley, advocated for the legislation.
“As critical care medics in the emergency department, with the help of this bill, they can do all the care that nurses can do, and they can also perform some procedures typically done by physicians, like intubations,” Albrecht explained.
The legislation is expected to provide much-needed relief for Utah’s strained healthcare system, particularly in rural areas where access to hospitals and specialty care is limited. By allowing critical care medics to take on more responsibilities, the state aims to bridge gaps in emergency and in-hospital care, ensuring faster and more efficient treatment for critically ill or injured patients, nurse.org reported.
EMS and healthcare leaders in Utah have praised the move, noting that it could set a precedent for other states facing similar challenges. However, some within the medical community have raised concerns about ensuring sufficient training and oversight as the role expands.
The law represents a significant shift in emergency medical services, reinforcing the evolving role of paramedics in the broader healthcare system while emphasizing the need for ongoing education and regulation to maintain high standards of patient care.
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