Clinical Leadership for Paramedics
Every time I receive books to review from the JPP editor, I tear off the brown packaging with the enthusiasm of a five-year-old child on Christmas morning. And top of the pile sits another text on clinical leadership—feelings now akin to receiving another pair of white socks on the aforementioned Christmas morn.
Clearly no shortage of texts on this subject, but what makes this one stand out is how it manages to address concepts, such as the NHS Leadership Academy, leadership and competency frameworks, from the perspective of paramedic practice. It is not concerned with the narrative as much as how it translates for our profession.
The primacy which I place on paramedics’ literature being informed by paramedics themselves is not borne out of some narrow professional pride but based on the premise that our practice is discernibly different to other fields of medicine.
Imagine my joy when but a few pages into the text, attention is drawn to the plethora of paramedic profiles that exist in the UK, each with their own scope of practice and perspective on clinical leadership. To compound this new-found elation, and with direct relevance to clinical leadership, a designated chapter on ‘Paramedic Leadership’ is included, as well as one on ‘Decision Making’—addressed specifically from a paramedic's perspective.
Not all the contributors are paramedics and nor do they need to be. Drawing on the experience and knowledge of allied health professionals generates eloquent, and well-informed, contributions on subject areas integral to clinical leadership.
The case studies presented are fairly limited and lack depth, but self-evaluation exercises and reflective points to consider are summarised throughout. More importantly, the editors have managed to achieve that most difficult of literary balances, incorporating theoretical paradigms within the parameters of paramedicine. No easy task.
Reflecting a trend where paramedics are not just contributing to but generating literature and research in health care, I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. Congratulations to all involved. A must buy.