What is the role of a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP)?

The role of a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) primarily revolves around providing basic life support and emergency medical care. This encompasses a range of responsibilities, such as assessing patients' conditions, performing necessary interventions, and transporting patients to medical facilities when required. PCPs are trained to deal with emergencies involving a broad spectrum of medical situations, including trauma, cardiac events, and respiratory issues, while applying the foundational skills of pre-hospital care.

The focus on basic life support is essential, as it equips PCPs to stabilize patients' conditions during emergency situations before they reach a hospital. This includes administering oxygen, performing CPR, and using automated external defibrillators (AEDs). By delivering these critical interventions, they help ensure that the patients are in the best possible condition for continued care once they arrive at a healthcare facility.

In contrast, advanced medical procedures are typically the domain of advanced care paramedics or other specialized practitioners, while in-depth patient assessments and long-term medical care are beyond the standard scope of practice for PCPs, focusing instead on immediate care in acute situations.