Paramedic

Paramedic

Noun · /ˌpær.əˈmed.ɪk/

Definition

A healthcare professional trained to provide emergency medical treatment, especially at the scene of an accident or medical emergency and during transport to hospital; a first responder qualified to perform advanced medical interventions outside the hospital setting.

Origin

From para- (beside, alongside, accessory to — from Greek para) + medic (a medical practitioner, from Latin medicus, from mederi, to heal). Paramedic therefore meaning alongside or accessory to the medical profession — a healthcare worker who operates alongside and in support of the medical system but outside the hospital. The term appearing in the 1960s and 1970s as pre-hospital emergency care developed as a professional discipline in North America and subsequently worldwide.