Who would respond first, a Paramedic or an ER Doctor?

Question

I was thinkin' about this awhile back, since I'm an aspiring EMT: If a doctor and a paramedic are both in the same restaurant, and both an equal distance to a patient undergoing cardiac arrest. Who would respond first, and most effective? THINK!

Answer 1

I was an EMT for many years and heard this question discussed many times. The paramedic is trained o do all of the first response things and administer the needed drugs. The doctor knows how to operate in the well equipped ER with nurses to run around doing his bidding but does not know how to respond out in the field without his equipment and personnel. Give me the paramedic every time.

It is possible that medical schools are doing a better job of training their students to work in the field. That was not done in the past.

Answer 2

Depends on what kind of doctor it is. Not all doctors have the same specialty. If it's an ER doctor or a cardiologist, you'd be lucky. Contrary to what people are saying here, ER doctors do see emergencies all the time. People actually do have emergencies once they're already in the hospital--people go into cardiac arrest in the hospital and guess who responds then? Doctors. The person who would get there first would be whoever is fastest. In a situation in a restaurant, they would probably both do the same things as far as treating the patient.

Answer 3

It all depends on what the situation is. If the person was drunk in public or anything to alter their judgement then they will be taken to the ER. AND if it's a child that was involved in a car accident then they have to go as well. Suicide threats are also a trip to the ER. It all just really depends on the situation. A paramedic most of the time will make a good decision on if the person should be checked out by a doctor or not.

Answer 4

Hello. Usually the a team of EMT's would show up on the scene, but I believe the don't do anything until the firemen on the truck come first. So even though they're there first, they don't do anything until the firemen arrive. As for who'd respond better, an ER doctor would trump a paramedic big time. An ER doctor has far more training and education to handle just about any situation. That's my thought on this.

Answer 5

I would say an EMT . Reasoning: Emergency it is right in their name. Hence they are used to seeing the beginnings of a cardiac arrest. I am reasoning they would notice the patient first and rush to help stabilize patient. The doctor I am surmising is more used to seeing a patient after EMTs and ambulance crew bring patient in.

Answer 6

I'm a paramedic, and I certainly would not sit around waiting for firefighters to show up before I started treating a patient. That's just silly. In this situation, I'd probably prefer the medic simply because they are trained to operate in unpredictable situation in the field. Docs are trained to work in a more controlled environment.

Answer 7

Paramedic would first without thinking about it "cause that's their job. But the doctor would later if the medic needed help.

Answer 8

By law, they are BOTH bound to respond to an emergency.

Answer 9

The EMT.

Answer 10

both could work together to get the job done..many hands make light work.