With a nationally standardized emergency medical technician-paramedic training program soon to be adopted, certain factors in the planning of training programs should be emphasized. (1) The facilities should provide an opportunity for the paramedics to gain clinical experience in intensive care units and emergency departments. Teaching must be appropriate to the students' educational background. (2) The course content should include advanced life-support. (3) Full-time and part-time programs must be developed, possibly using a modular format. (4) The operating procedure should conform to local medical and legal practice. (5) Mechanisms for evaluation and recertification must be developed. (6) Continuing education, as important or more important than the original training, should be included in program planning.
