Identification of emergency medical service job characteristics using the CODAP job analysis system

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze paraprofessional jobs within the emergency medical service (EMS) career field in Texas. The objectives of this study were to: (1) Develop an EMS inventory. (2) Verify accuracy of this inventory with experienced personnel and ensure inclusion of tasks commensurate with conditions in the field. (3) Survey at least 300 EMS paraprofessions in Texas to determine their involvement with career field tasks. (4) Process data through the CODAP system. (5) Analyze CODAP reports. (6) Interpret the findings. (a) Draw implications, recommendations and conclusions. (b) Identify further use of the data. The subjects involved in the study were 310 EMS personnel. The occupational inventory used included a listing of 148 tasks. Another instrument used was concerned with training emphasis (TE); and, another requested information concerning task difficulty (TD). All subjects completed the occupational inventory; and, only sixteen completed the TE and TD inventories. Data were analyzed using the CODAP Job Analysis system. The CODAP system identified 26 job clusters. Descriptions given included the KPath sequence, number in the group or cluster, as well as the major duties and time spent, job titles, job difficulty, average number of tasks performed, and levels of EMS training.The major job titles identified were Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Emergency Care Attendants (ECA), and Paramedics. The major duties performed by most of the members in each cluster were: performing emergency procedures and performing administrative and record-keeping procedures. The data revealed that more urban EMS personnel had more specialized training than the rural EMS personnel. The rural personnel performed more general tasks which required less specialized training. Rural personnel reported wider use of EMT's than urban personnel. ...