For more information or to get involved, contact:
Karen Armitage, MD, FAAP
KArmitage@salud.unm.edu
505-272-5377
MSC 09 5065
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Phone: (505) 272-5377
karmitage@salud.unm.edu
December 2012
There is a national movement to expand the role of paramedics to include public health and prevention services. In New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) and UNM EMS Academy (UNM EMSA) are moving forward as well. 
Both higher education institutions will be starting a community paramedic concentration; they will be partnering in the development of the programs to ensure a consistent set of goals and objectives for the students.
In addition to the community paramedic, the UNM EMSA is developing an advanced practice paramedic training program to prepare paramedics to, in the pre-hospital environment, navigate patients away from the Emergency Department into a more appropriate health care services setting such as urgent care and primary care. This innovative program strives to address several challenges facing EMS and Emergency Medicine not only in New Mexico, but nationally.
To learn more about the community paramedic program nationally, visit http://communityparamedic.org. To learn more about the HSC EMS Academy, visit their website here - http://hsc.unm.edu/som/emsacad/. For information on the ENMU paramedic program, visit their website here - http://www.roswell.enmu.edu/areas-of-study/health/ems-program/welcome-to-the-ems-program.
