We’re exploring the trends affecting the health care industry. Here’s the latest.
Expanding role of paramedics in hospital-at-home models
A notable shift is underway in health care delivery as hospital-at-home models and other convenient care programs gain traction. Amid funding uncertainties and the need to control margins, health care providers are increasingly evaluating which professionals can deliver high-quality care in the most cost-effective settings. This re-evaluation is expanding the responsibilities of paramedics, who are now performing tasks traditionally handled by registered nurses in home health care programs. Procedures such as patient assessments, vitals monitoring, remote patient monitoring, medication administration under protocol and certain diagnostic assessments are migrating to lower-cost settings. Paramedics enable providers to offer and expand home-based care services, aligning with the shift toward value-based care for patients.
This trend is largely driven by a widening gap between the demand for health care services and the supply of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Data from the Health Resources and Services Administration projects a 9% increase in jobs for primary care physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and a 17% increase in paramedics from 2022 to 2032. Despite the projected increase in jobs, projections from the National Health Expenditure indicate that health care expenditures, a proxy for service demand, are expected to surge by 70% over the same period.
The takeaway
While paramedics play a crucial role in emergency medical services and can help mitigate nursing labor shortages, relying solely on paramedics to fill workforce gaps is likely not feasible. The supply for paramedics is projected to increase, however, this growth comes with its own set of challenges. Historically, the paramedic profession has faced a high turnover rate due to factors such as job-related stress, physical demands and the emotional toll of dealing with life-and-death situations regularly.
Rather, addressing health care workforce shortages requires a multifaceted approach, including additional innovative care delivery models, the strategic deployment of existing health care workforce as well as leveraging technology solutions in evolving care settings.
Learn more about what’s happening in health care in our industry outlook.
