More than assessment skills: a necessary foundation

Let's take in the eye-catching cover of Assessment Skills for Paramedics. Immediately the target audience is made clear: paramedics. As is the topic: assessment skills. But the title is just a pretence to lure the reader in; in reality, this book offers much more.

The book's main focus is on the process and skills of assessment, but it also touches on history-taking, patient management and differential diagnosis. Each chapter covers a topic ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular assessments, to more specific subjects such as spinal injuries, and assessment of older patients and minor ailments. Within each chapter is the same structure: scene assessment; primary survey (DR-ABCDE with slight variations for trauma, obstetrics and child assessment); secondary survey; history-taking; system review, vital signs; physical examination; and common conditions. This makes it rather repetitive when read chronologically—yet as an aide-memoire, this clear structure is undoubtedly helpful. The book's primary audiences are undergraduate students and registered paramedics wishing to update their skills. The editors also suggest it may be used for exam revision or looking up specific assessments en route to an incident.