Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

Drive ambulance or assist ambulance driver in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons. Assist in lifting patients.

The occupation "Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians" is assessed to have an automation risk of 11.2%, which is near its calculated base risk of 11.4%. This relatively low automation risk is due in part to the nature of the responsibilities and the environment in which the job operates. Ambulance drivers and attendants are crucial for the safe and efficient transport of patients in medical emergencies, requiring split-second decisions and adaptability that are difficult for automated systems to replicate. They must not only navigate the streets quickly and safely, but also interact with patients and medical staff under high-pressure situations. Among the job's most automatable tasks are removing and replacing soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions, driving ambulances or assisting in patient transportation, and reporting details about accidents or emergencies to hospital or law enforcement personnel. These tasks involve some level of repetition and structured procedure, making them more amenable to technological solutions or automation. For instance, cleaning and documentation are already partially automated through digital reporting and specialized cleaning equipment, while autonomous vehicle technology is rapidly advancing. However, the real-time contextual judgment and coordination required for driving an ambulance in live traffic and under emergency conditions remain significant hurdles for full automation. Conversely, the most automation-resistant tasks include restraining or shackling violent patients, administering first aid (such as bandaging, splinting, or providing oxygen), and earning and maintaining necessary certifications. These activities rely heavily on human judgment, intuition, physical dexterity, and up-to-date knowledge of medical protocols—qualities that current AI and robotic systems lack. Bottleneck skills such as originality, which score at 2.1% and 2.4%, further underscore the limits of automation; creative problem-solving and adaptability in unpredictable emergencies are essential abilities for this role. As a result, while certain routine aspects of the job may be automated, the core responsibilities of ambulance drivers and attendants are likely to remain reliant on human expertise for the foreseeable future.