History of the
Israeli Paramedics
Association

Prof. Nancy Caroline resign due to misuse of the donations she got
for paramedic's education development by the EMS management to
anything besides paramedics.
For nearly a decade - since  1982  and till the early of the 90's , the
Paramedic Profession have made and been through only
minor changes.

The only EMS system in Israel those days , was Magen David Adom
(MDA) , that was also the only system that employed and trained
EMT's and Paramedics.
The EMS management (most of them former EMTs , with no formal
management qualification) predicted the potential dangerous of that
new "animal" cold paramedic. They have done everything to put it in the
"right proportions".  The profession was "kept" as a "national top secruite"
and even medical teams from hospital did not know what it means.
You could not seen even one small sign says: PARAMEDIC.
Not on the 'Uniforms' , not on the MICUs ....NO WHERE.....

There was no Curriculum for Paramedic's program , no standardization,
(till these days...) , today - almost every 'field' paramedic 'can' teach in
paramedic's course , with no need of Instructor's diploma...or field
experience for more then a year......
No continuing education and no updating......(till recently)
The only way you could apply for paramedics course was to be employed
EMT of the EMS (MDA) .
Paramedic's studies were almost "Forbidden Zone" for Women.
That depression policy towards Paramedics , their profession and
Identity prepared the ground , but caused a lot of damage too.

The seed of establishing the Paramedics Association in Israel was planted By
Professor Arie Rot - Senior Cardiologist (Sorasky Medical Center , Tel-Aviv)
during Paramedic's course in 1989.
The Honorable prof. Rot , well gifted teacher , was teasing the impotency
of the EMS and its Paramedics - that Do Nothing to develop the profession
and the level of the MICU's service.
His answer to the paramedic's students complaines about the system was:
"Condoms Shop".......:-)
(Three years later , Prof. Arie Rot established along with few investors
a Private ALS company , named Shahal.)

Few graduates of this course - Paramedic Alon Smolarski ,along
with Paramedic Gil Latman , Paramedic Romeo Radulesko and the course's 
instructor -  founded the Israeli Paramedics Association in 1993.

The Israeli Paramedics Association (IPA) was registed as a Non Profit
association , No  ***********.
The first President of the IPA and its Chief founder was
Paramedic Alon Smolarski. 

to be continued soon.......

Paramedic Neomi Zvi - Feb 2000