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HAhahahahahahahahahahaha. I love this. More to the point, I think your proving our point for us. What some people on th is forum fail to realize is that, yes you can JUST get a cert. and play paramedic, but doesn't make it right. Increasing our professional standards is the only way to improve our profession. It is the only way to improve scope of practice, patient care, and yes pay/benefits. Maybe my rep will go to hell like Diazepam for saying this, but maybe we can learn a thing or two from our friends up North. PS-I served with some brothers in arms from the Canadian Military. Arrogent.... Never. You just have to understand the sense of humor.........

So if I'm reading this correctly, all they want is what we've been saying all along, revenue. I find it extremely hard to believe that the FD is doing the majority of the work at an MVC except for the "last 10 minutes". Are they assessing the pt.'s or does everybody get a collar and board? How about lung sounds, hemorrhage control, pain control, the list is endless. The sad thing is, council actually LIKES the idea. Pt. care be damned! We need the money! Between this and the brilliant idea L.A. has of transporting patients to the appropriate facility, I'm just overwhelmed by these breakthroughs in patient care!

"We want to make some money, but ONLY doing the exciting trauma junkie calls. That will keep our people properly experienced." Good plan...

Ok, so I finally got in touch with the people who run the EMT-B course where I live and the lady tells me that I might not be able to get certified because I'm pregnant (really not that big of a deal). I would be certified before the baby is born. I just need some clarification. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

Hey all, I thought this video was pretty amazing. There's a part where a marine kneels down to shake a little girl's hand and she hugs him instead...Made me cry like a baby.... Hope you like it. Dwayne http://media.causes.com/576542?p_id=10418028

Well, 1. You can use a 3 lead to see what is happening in more than lead II, so a 12 lead while nice, is not an absolute necessity and you have to be able to interpret the 12 lead based on what you see, not what the nice little printout on the top says. 2. Let's discuss indications for cardioversion. a. V-tach with pulse - Stable = Meds / Unstable = Cardioversion / then if continued refractory to meds, cardioversion is indicated. b. You fail to mention if you have qualified your patient as stable or unstable? 3. What was LOC? ( I am making the assumption of unconscious), What was his BP? What did he or she look like clinically? People do some really weird crap post-resuscitation, so, my initial reaction is to say NO, i would not have cardioverted, but I don't have all of the info yet. Respectfully, JW

What????? All the prior responses are good. Does that FD really think they are going to recoop that much revenue???? From MVC's where is seems most of the drivers today are running with minimal insurance if any at all???? This is how it is in my territory, insurance wise. They better recheck the statistical figures again. I agree with the comment.....

Am I reading this right? The unfortunate MVA patient who happens to fall on the FD's 3rd rotation or "all MVAs" gets only BLS. That sucks for the patient if they need pain management or a pneumo decompressed. Extra 10 minutes? That's what I call a dump and run. Sounds like the residents of that area or those who have the misfortune of having a car crash there are going to be paying only for an expensive taxi ride and little else.

It's not a paramedic program. It's a firemedic program.

Who are you comparing them to? If you have only a basic Paramedic cert and do not know what the benefits of an education will do, how can you make that comparison? Imagine how impressive they could be if they actually had some education to back up their "street smarts" and field skills. I think you are seriously missing the bigger picture of why EMS will have to eventually evolve as a profession. Even the FDs will have to justify that they are providing more than just a taxi ride to the hospital. That is because they are considered careers and not just jobs. If you only want to find extra income, there are plenty of other "trades" you can pick up in a short time and even on a part time bases at a tech school. Don't go into nursing or RT just for the money. Both professions involve alot of patient care.

Dust forwarded this video. IT IS SHEER GENIUS. What a great way to vent frustration and identify an issue. I have told everybody to boycott the trauma show and A.J at JEMS is doing the same. I have emailed the link to everybody I know and they love it. I could not resist the chance to send the link to Randolph Mantooth. He'll laugh his ass off. I'll let you know what he says (he loves this kind of stuff). Again, sheer genius lurks somewhere in the confines of this list. Thanks for letting me in on it. Bryan Bledsoe, DO, FACEP P.S. There is an "E" at the end of "Bledsoe" (e.g., Drew Bledsoe). But, it's all good.

To all medical personnel in all "hot spots": Don't forget to duck! I refer to places where, while we may not be involved in either a war or "police action" like Afganisatan or Iraq, by being an American, Canadian, German, or being from the UK, amongst others, paints a target on your back. As for no rockets in Colorado, don't we have ICBMs aimed at other "unfriendlies" there, or anti-aircraft/anti-missile sites in that state?

Which equates to about half that anywhere else in America.

Your lack of proffessionalism and compassion is to your ever lasting shame. In the name of god, is a human beings life of less importance to you than learing over Hot Lips (or maybe even Hawkeye ? whatever floats your boat Sailor !) Hang your vapid head in disgrace.

I guess it depends on what "physical demands" this program has of you and what your doctor says you are able to preform. I can say that I assisted with a class where we had a pregnant student complete the program.

I don't get it what is the rest of the country doing that is so amazing are they eliminating medical directors and making up their own protocols?, are they taking x-rays in the field, are they drawing labs and have the values ready when they hit the er door? are they casting broken limbs with in the field or perscribing meds?, what is it that is so better? Yeah come on patient care is noble and all, but people really do this for the money, you got to pay bills thats all Iam saying, but the other thing that gets me is when all this change is going to come about, I just don't see it happing like a two year degree min. for $12.00 an hour who is going to do that when you can get an RN two year degree and make so much more. and why should we in fire base ems not make the money we do?m we do two jobs, cheaper for the city thats why we wliminated single role paramedics, that model works where I live, maybe not in other places.

What you don't have any bills, or do you still live at home with mom and dad, look buddy I have a car payment , wife/kid and girlfriend on the side and guess what it all cost money.

Most of work for a paycheck. I've shown that it is possible to circumvent the degree process if your only aspiration is field EMS. Many don't have the time to pursue a degree due to personal issues. Not going the degree route doesn't necessarily make for an inferior medic, especially with time in service. Most providers in NYC are tech grads. I've done some traveling, and I've seen some damn fine medics in action back home. Is a degree desireable? Sure. Should it be the standard? Sure. Is it necessary at the moment? No. Other professions have raised the educational bar prior to increasing compensation. These professionals had already decided on their chosen profession, and were there to stay. EMS, on the other hand, attract individuals that seek a quick income stream, and the profession is laden with transient individuals. It is what it is. When I was referring to piecemeal, I was pointing to the fact that incumbents have 5 years to get two years of ed, while newcomers must do it FT, nothing less. You're right about me, the almighty dollar is the prime motivator for me. I didn't originally intend to go fire, but rather go for RN/RT and do EMS on the side. But then I learned of the lucrative career/retirement of firemedics, and it was an easy choice. This career allows me to achieve my financial goals. Everything else, including increased ed/scope of EMS is nice to have, (I'm going to pursue EMS admin) and I'll help within the dept to that end, but it's secondary to my bottom line. If they'll send me back to school for a degree upgrade, I'll go for it. Otherwise, my energy is better spent elsewhere regarding career development. RT or RN will have to wait until later as these programs don't allow part time participation, only FT devotion. It's difficult to clear that amount of time at this present juncture.

Depends where you go, Riverside comm college has a paramedic program with some pt, and if you can't pt your out.

What are talking about, it's just a paramedic progarma academy nothing to do with fire, maybe they just want to elminate fat medics who knows.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for the men and women of our armed forces BUT I have nothing but the most intense hatred of Creed, which kind of ruins it for me