This presentation begins by exploring wage growth in the United States between the years 2010 and 2019 in select Metropolitan Statistical Areas based upon population and prehospital (911) EMS infrastructure to address the effect of EMS wages based upon public-private-partnerships (PPP) versus public systems? This data is then analyzed against EMS wages for the same time frame in other countries combined with analysis of federal and state/territory level policy and legislation to identify similarities and discrepancies towards a better understanding of how other countries have addressed development of EMS infrastructure. Lastly, an analysis of the professionalization of EMS delves into the sociological theories of professions and expertise identifies how the EMS occupation has developed and what hurdles still remain.
Learning Objectives:

Describe how EMS infrastructure in prehospital systems affects EMS wages in that area.
Describe how professionalization of EMS would improve workforce retention.
Describe how US EMS policy compares internationally to equally developed EMS systems.