Abstract
The role of a paramedic has primarily been to provide emergency care. This role is being rethought of with
discussions of developing a community paramedic. The reach of this development and expanded scope of
practice remained unknown. This article reviewed scholarly literature on the topic of community paramedics
to present a critical analysis and triangulation of community oriented and community based education (CBE)
to current paramedic education guidelines to identify shared objectives. The focus of paramedic education
was identified to be on emergency assessment and intervention. Whereas, CBE was focused on assessing
community needs to develop, implement and evaluate community intervention. A limited number of shared
objectives were identified. The time spent on these shared objectives was unclear. Additional education
will be required to cover the unshared objectives, and the profession must consider educational standards,
requirements and how to increase inter professional collaboration within health systems, academic settings
and within communities, which are core objectives of community-based providers. It must also be considered
if the needs for community paramedics represent the pinnacle of current emergency medical services and
time to evolve organizations, the profession and standards.

Key words: Community health care, community health education, community paramedic, emergency medical services, paramedic