Class Publishing and the Digital Transformation of Prehospital Care
Digital tools are reshaping prehospital medicine, offering faster access to clinical guidance, streamlined education, and stronger responder support in time-critical environments. Among the most established leaders in this space is Class Publishing, whose suite of mobile applications provides an integrated ecosystem for paramedics, ambulance trusts, first responders, and educators across much of Europe. Their platform has become a foundational digital companion for clinicians who need reliable guidance at the point of care, seamless updates, and unified access to national clinical standards.
This article explores Class Publishing’s major applications—JRCALC iCPG, JRCALC Plus, ParaPass, Parafolio, and Responder Plus—and how together they create a cohesive ecosystem that supports safe, modern, data-informed paramedic practice.
The JRCALC iCPG App: National Guidelines at the Point of Care
The JRCALC iCPG app is the core clinical reference tool used widely by paramedics and ambulance services across the United Kingdom. It contains the complete Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC) clinical practice guidelines in a digital, searchable, continuously updated format.
Key capabilities include:
- Instant access to national paramedic guidelines
- Smart navigation and keyword search
- Regular updates without requiring a new print edition
- Integrated medicine tables, algorithms, and clinical considerations
For frontline clinicians, the iCPG app reduces cognitive load and ensures that critical clinical standards remain readily accessible, even in complex or rapidly evolving situations.
JRCALC Plus: Localized Clinical Practice for Ambulance Services
While the iCPG app delivers the national standards, JRCALC Plus allows ambulance services (often referred to as “trusts”) to integrate their own local clinical guidelines, policies, and pathways into the same interface.
This creates a seamless “two-layer” experience:
• National JRCALC guidance
• Service-specific local policies, pathways, and clinical procedures
Clinicians no longer need to switch between multiple apps or documents—the information appears in one coherent platform. This reduces variation, improves compliance, and provides a unified source of truth for prehospital decision-making.
ParaPass: Education, Learning, and Clinical Development
ParaPass focuses on continuous professional development. Designed for paramedics, students, and educators, it brings together learning tools, revision materials, and clinical refreshers in a mobile format.
ParaPass includes:
- Assessment-style questions for exam preparation
- Clinical case scenarios
- Algorithm interpretation and OSCE-style drills
- Medicine management and pharmacology revision
It is used widely by universities, training centers, and clinicians preparing for assessments or seeking to refresh key knowledge areas.
Parafolio: Personal Learning and Competency Tracking
Parafolio acts as a digital portfolio for paramedics and students, allowing them to track evidence of learning, skills development, and competency sign-off. It supports:
- Documentation of placements and clinical hours
- Uploading of reflective practice and learning evidence
- Supervisor sign-offs
- Structured frameworks aligned to national education standards
For educators and training institutions, Parafolio reduces administrative burden and provides clearer visibility into learner progression.
Responder Plus: Public and Community Responder Support
Responder Plus is designed for responders who support emergency care before an ambulance arrives—such as community responders, event medical teams, or trained laypersons. It provides:
- Step-by-step guidance for common emergencies
- Support for trauma, resuscitation, and medical conditions
- Visual instructions and reassurance for high-stress situations
Its focus on simple, accessible guidance makes it a valuable tool for bridging the gap between bystander action and professional care. In some ways, it parallels existing community responder initiatives seen in other regions, where bystanders receive structured training to deliver early care during critical incidents (Peel Region and Frontenac County within Ontario).
St John Ambulance: First Aid FAST App
Class Publishing also supports public first aid education through the First Aid FAST app, developed with St John Ambulance. This resource gives the general public quick access to essential first aid instructions, helping strengthen community resilience and improve early intervention in emergencies.
A Connected Ecosystem for Modern Prehospital Practice
What sets Class Publishing apart is not simply the number of apps, but how well they integrate to support the full spectrum of prehospital care:
- National guidelines
- Local service policies
- Education and revision
- Competency tracking
- Community responder guidance
- Public first aid training
This layered approach creates a continuous chain of digital support—from bystander, to student, to clinician, to organizational leadership—helping standardize care, reduce variation, and enhance clinician preparedness.
Class Publishing’s platform demonstrates what a modern, connected prehospital ecosystem can look like when guideline access, education, and operational support are fully aligned.
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