The Single-Role Fire-Based Paramedic – Chad Costa

Peter Matthews talks with Chad Costa about his capstone research on the impact of single-role paramedics in fire-based EMS systems. Costa, an assistant chief with the Petaluma, CA, Fire Department talks about the pros and cons of the highly debated topic to help fire departments manage responses as EMS call volumes soar. They discuss how single-role vs. dual-role medic positions function, plus the varying costs and the overall impact on firefighter-focused training for crews who also staff ambulances.  Costa explains that, as he started the research, he thought the move to a single-role was a no-brainer but said the findings of his research changed his outlook. The show explorers the benefits of having fire-based EMS systems where service delivery is the priority, not the cost - on both the personnel and the department. Resources:  ChadCosta.org  EFO Capstone: Dual-Role Vs. Single-Role Staffing Models  Chad Costa on LinkedIn  Chad Costa’s Firehouse Articles & Podcasts