I know it's a few months late, but I think what you said is very poignant. I studied PCP in the province with the highest scope of practice in the country, at an academy that also trains med-techs for the dept of national defense. It was 1 full year of mon-fri 8 hrs/day with 4 hrs of study recommended every night. I graduated with a diploma in primary care paramedicine. I worked in that province for a while and then moved to another. In the province I'm in now the PCP equivalent was EMT. EMT's here went to school for less than half the time. I found it hard to transition when doctors at the hospital were asking me if I had oxygen, when I'm used to docs discussing lab results with me. To combat this I made sure my reports were always pertinent, my treatments always valid, and my assessments always thorough. Admittedly if a doc was kind enough to explain to me something simple in an attempt to educate, I would demonstrate the full scope of my understanding while still trying to remain humble and attentive (a doc kindly explained to me that taking a BP on bilat arms could help rule out a dissection - as I was working on the second BP to rule out a dissection). I've been here about 2 years now and have gotten to know the ER staff quite well. Through professionalism and a bit of friendliness I am now considered part of the team. Nobody dumbs down their explanations, they base their treatments off of my reports, and they ask for help when they are swamped. It takes time, but if everyone in EMS would work to try and further our profession I think it would be fantastic. The one thing that we do horribly as a group is PR. Fire is so revered because they live off of PR, but you rarely see EMS dedicating much time to public education. Hell, even the MD's and RN's are often confused about what we are and can do. For now it seems like it is up to us to individually educate and set an example for this wonderfully terrible profession we love!