Arrogance vs. Confidence
After fifteen years in ems, last ten as medic, and currently in ems mgmt, I have seen my fair share of arrogance. Confidence is definitely necessary to provide proper care; however, there is a fine line to be drawn before reaching arrogance. Most of those that I have encountered have not been able to see the line before crossing it. No one shows them. It begins in medic school, certificate or degree. The idea that you are responsible for more as a medic sets in, but it does not prove that you are responsible. As the new medic is released into the field for training, and I hope they're trained after school, the senior medic sets the example. The experience and expertise of the senior medic should dictate the attitude to be displayed by the newbee.
As far as the continued dispute over public vs. private, etc., the ems hierarchy is responsible for this. It will continue until there are no differences to be made. (i.e. who is mandated to the state's requirements and subject to inspection, and who is not.) Does being affiliated with a municipal dept entitle them to be exempt from state standards?
I have seen a lot of bashing back and forth of public vs. private. I have been on both sides of the fence. Neither one is any better than the other. The only differences are those they answer to.
If a poor dept, unable to staff squads, cannot provide for their people, and they happen to seek help from a private service to meet their needs, so be it. Ultimately the patient has received what was needed at the time. Yes, all are trained the same, initially. However, public services tend to be more capable of handling trauma or any other problem requiring more than two people. The privates tend to be more capable of handling what they can with what they have (masters of improvisation) to achieve comparable results (mostly geriatric medical emergencies with no verbal input). Does being affiliated with a private service mean that you are less capable or knowledgeable?
Take a career emt/medic from a public service and place them in the privates, with no previous experience in it. What would the outcome be?
Take a career emt/medic from a private service and place them in the public service, with no previous experience in it. What would the outcome be?
Disasterous either way, regardless of the scale. :-k