CaneMedic
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Posts posted by CaneMedic
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I'm considering moving back to Atlanta, GA and I was wondering about EMS systems in the area. I'm an EMT-I with 3 years of experience and a college degree, so I'm not terribly worried about getting a job. I'm just curious about the systems in and around Atlanta.
Can anyone tell me about the systems? Who's got the best supervisors/management? What kind of schedules do full-timers deal with (ie. 24/48, 24/72, or 12s)? Which system will run you into the ground before giving you a break, and which system really looks out for their people?
I guess these are pretty specific questions, but I'm trying to get a feel for the area. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
I'm here in Atlanta. PM me if you have any questions. If you're looking for 911 units here is your options:
Grady: City of Atlanta, 911 only
Rural Metro: All of Fulton County that isn't served by Grady (north/south fulton) 911
AMR: Runs 911 BLS in Dekalb County, ALS transport is fire based by Dekalb Fire/Rescue
Rest of metro Atl:
Gwinnett County-fire based
Dekalb County-fire based
Cobb County- utilizes several small EMS companies for coverage
Clayton County-fire based
Henry County-fire based
Forsyth County-fire based
I'm sure I missed some, but there are the few options! good luck and PM me if you have any other ?'s.
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A very near and dear friend of mine is a flightmedic- a damn good clinician as well- knows his stuff inside and out. He also works a ground unit as a medic part time. His bread a butter are his medic jobs. His passion? For the past 16 years he has served on the Rural fire department in his local town, as a Battalion Chief he responds to fire calls on his off days. His fire and medic positions are separated one from the other. That is the key thing. He does not worry about fire when he is flying or on the ground truck but I promise you as a Firefighter he would be the first to start rendering Pt care should he be on the scene of a fire and someone be hurt.
That would be the Firemedic that is not a scab. If you can provide care on that kind of level and keep it separated then you have your priorit straight. Note that the medic side comes first and foremost here as well. Maybe you should seriously think about your position. Quality pt care comes when you put the patient care part first and foremost. Not second best. If firefighting is your love in life then go fight fires. If being a <http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/results.php?searchTerm=paramedic&submit=submit>Paramedic</a> is your love in life then great! Volunteer for fire in your down time...........but focus on that patient care or you are no good to any one as a medic.
Well I guess where you are from that is an option. Not here in the metro Atlanta area. You are either a firefighter/paramedic or you don't have a job.
But the patient care scenario is easy to answer. When I am on a medical call the patient is my ONLY priority, with the exception of crew safety. When I'm on a fire call I engage in firefighting only after evacuating and/or treating any patient found. Patient care is still my #1 priority, on a fire scene, car accident, haz-mat, whatever, it's in our SOP's for medic's. All of the other functions (firefighting, extrication, etc.) are handled by FF/EMT's.
I find no reason to go "search out" an only EMS organization in my area. If I thought my dept. had poor patient care standards I would leave in a heartbeat.
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What are you, slow or something?
Answer the question: if you were no longer allowed to be a firefighter, would you still be happy to be just EMS? If so, then my generalisation -- which I admitted it was -- does not apply to you. In that case, don't pick a fight for fight's sake. It's just silly.
And FD EMS isn't change. It is the status quo. But, if you went to a two year <http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/results.php?searchTerm=paramedic&submit=submit>Paramedic</a> programme, then you probably haven't been around long enough to realise that, so I'll let it go.
Yes I'm the slow one. Good job. At least I can spell :-).
To answer your question: Yes
You're right, only 8 years. So an "old school" two month paramedic is better educated than someone with 2 years? I respect your "years" of dedicated duty, but you seem to make it a priority to bash anyone with new ideas or that hasn't been a medic 20 years. No?
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Correct. They are part-timers. Professionalism means a commitment to the profession. Their only commitment is to doing whatever they have to do to keep their fire job.
Show me a fire medic who would quit the FD if they lost EMS, and I'll show you a professional. The rest are just scabs.
Hmm. So I guess taking a 2 year paramedic course, on my own time, and being on an ALS transport unit 98% of my shift days makes me a part timer. And no my FD doesn't "make" anyone take a paramedic program. Hence why you must do it on your own time, on your own dime.
EMS in the US is becoming a joke, nobody getting along because everyone thinks their way in the only RIGHT way. Guess what it's not 1970 anymore. There is fire based EMS all across the country. It's not going anywhere. I can't speak for everywhere, but the best, smartest, most aggressive medics I know here in Atlanta are fire based. I know medics from every walk of life. 95% of our flight medics here are also from full time FD's. I guess they are scum too!
What's that saying about change? And those who refuse to except it?
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So go kayaking for the 'rush' and leave the medical stuff to the professionals. People shouldn't have to suffer so you can have the occasional Mountain Dew moment here and there.
So fire based paramedic's aren't professionals?
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I just put my app in with Medics and went for an interview. They sent me to do a drug test and said there will be a orientation on the 30th. I dont know much about what they are doing right now but it is just a job until I can get my fire certs and get a Fire/Rescue job.
Good idea.
If not you'll turn into an burnt-out old sour man. Don't see many of those around here though
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except many nurses don't work in controlled environments nor in hospitals ...
the Emergency Department is not a controlled environment
home health, Primary care, Occupational health ( and response roles attached to OH), military, event medicine doesn't occur in the hospital
Oh c'mon. The ED is about 99% a more "controlled environment" than any scene call. You're not worrying about stepping on used syringes, the pit-bull down the hall, the "questionable" people in the apartment looking at you, and lack of decent lighting. Plus when the patient gets violent you have "security" close by. I've yet to see an ED room with horrible lighting and without an abundance of tools/equipment/manpower close by.
I worked in both environments, things may be different in the UK, but don't run that line of crap over here.
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the options are endless. The whining could go on until Al Gore invents the internet part deux!
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Well, man... you actually had me up to this point. Nobody here complains more about fire-based EMS than I do, and I am proudly from the South, and a former professional firemonkey-medic. More than half the people here complaining about fire-based EMS are from the South too. It only makse sense, since we are the ones suffering the ill effects of it. Don't accuse others of gross generalisations until you review your own unfounded assumptions.
As for the "this is how it is" comment, come on, man. That attitude is exactly why things stay how they are. You can collaborate with the enemy, or you can fight them. Those are your choices. If you want to collaborate, then firehouse.com is where you want to be. If you want to fight, then you're in the right place. But don't expect a lot of support here for the "can't we all get along?" song.
Guess they should rename this "privateEMScity.com" Good grief. I've read some very good posts from intelligent people since I've been browsing, but never so much "fire vs private ems" whining.
You want to fight the whole state of GA and FL? Good, go for it. I'll do my job to the best of my ability, learn as much as I can, and provide the best care I can. I'll leave the fighting everybody task up to you guys that want to have ulcers and be constantly "grumpy" and mad at the world.
Geez get out and enjoy life a little.
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wow I'm glad I read that reply. A couple minutes of my life I won't get back.
Some if it's true. And some of it screams BURNOUT!
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Here around Atlanta, a considerable about of patients go to triage. Our hospitals are always full, so they are constantly on "diversion" and sometimes I have to call 4 or 5 hospitals to find one who will accept a noncritical patient. What I really love is having a critical CP or CVA pt and getting diverted because "the stroke team isn't available" or "we don't have any ICU beds." Lovely.
Triage in most hospitals around here is putting your pt in a wheelchair (if you can find one), giving their name/info to the registration clerk, and MAYBE getting 10 seconds to talk to the triage nurse. Most don't listen to what you're saying and just sign the PCR and walk away.
We have toughbooks/e-pcr's and we leave a copy with the chart, which of course never gets looked at again. Such is life.
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Can't speak for other agencies, but I know my Chief will hire someone with visible tattoo's, as long as they are not vulgar or obscene. He usually asks to please refrain from geting any other visible tats, and it isn't a problem.
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Same here near Atlanta. EMT & Medic's are hired as Tech's, doing 12leads, INT's, foley's, etc. Pretty much everything except for the actual pushing of drugs. JCAHO freak's out about that!
Now if you code in the parking lot, then a medic can push drugs. That is OK. Make sense ha!
Pay isn't great, anywhere from $12-$18/hr depending on the hospital. Good luck!
Thanks Fire! For Screwing us over... yet agian.
in General EMS Discussion
Posted
How impressive :roll: