rccmedic39

It's required in california now but i'ts a waste of time because california still has a state exam and there's alot of stuff they go over and make you test on that you cant even practice here.

Really? Is that only if you are previously licensed in another state. I took NR and had no CA state test, just an assload of forms and fees.

Anyone think maybe the problem lies with EMS being a largely privatized industry? It seems to me that fire can take EMS, esp. in areas like SoCal, because they can claim a desire for better patient care(not that that's true) while saying that private companies are all about the dollar. A lot of these companies(not all) will hire just enough medics and EMT's to meet the minimum standards in their contracts in order to maximize profits. While I'm not for fire-based EMS, until there is a larger oversight and representation(not the NREMT) like police and fire for us, it is just going to keep going that direction. As crotchity says, many medics who want to stay in the business have to go fire to make a livable wage and benefits for themselves and their families.

I don't want it to seem like it's all bad out here. I did know some damn good medics out here who really encouraged and helped me to move out of basic and onto medic. But if you're used to a system where EMT's can do actual patient care, the opportunities are few and far between.

If you have to choose one of those companies, I would go for Care, I worked there before becoming a medic and it was pretty good, even though the pay does suck(common to all ambos out this way). Also, FYI, Shoreline has the Westminster 911 contract, that one is weird because the ambulances are OCFA and you are in house with fire, but it is private employees on the box. Also, Schaefer has offices in Costa Mesa and in Pomona. Honestly, being an EMT in OC and to a lesser extent in LA affords you very little in the way of experience. Unless you run consistently with the same ALS crew, you will do little more than o2 and vitals, maybe c-spine.

A little backstory first, I joined the Army reserve as a medic 68W, then got injured in the DEP and was not able to ship. I decided to go the civilian route for awhile, and am now about to finish medic school. I have asked a few recruiters, but no one seems to have a straight answer. If I rejoin( Army or otherwise), with an NREMT-P is there any additional benefit?

Ahh, Southern California. Probably the only place where the non-emergent EMTs handle more real emergencies than the 911 EMTs.

quoted for truth. I used to bag on IFT only companies, but after seeing what some of their "urgent BLS" calls come out as, they get most of the real EMS experience out here.

This is the huge problem I see here in SoCal especially. I have upgraded to ALS on a pt with audible rales and a bp of 210/100, and been told "all she needs is a ride, don't call us for this crap". These 5 and 6mo medic programs churn out fire guys who are becoming medics just to get a fire job. Thankfully, my medic program is longer at almost 1.5 years and a lot of guys don't have the patience for that. It's sad that a medic who doesn't want to be a firefighter in SoCal is relegated to making 14 dollars an hour. I'd like to be a fire medic someday, but my primary interest has always been EMS, and fire is more of a byproduct of not wanting to leave California.

Reddfrogg, I don't have any experience regarding an actual merger, but I work in a fire-based EMS system. Large numbers of people wanting to become firefighters here become paramedics in order to get hired with the department; however, these are people who want to be firefighters, not medics.

Of course, there are some older medics in the system who are phenomenal and I love running calls with them and learning from them. Unfortunately, the majority of medics are just biding their time until they can get a spot on the engine. Their treatment is affected by this attitude.

We have issues with medics BLSing ALS patients because they just don't care. For example, protocol states that systolic blood pressure over 200 and/or diastolic bp over 100 is ALS--can't tell you how many times I've gotten a reading like this and had the medic or another firefighter redo the bp and claim that I was wrong. Later, show up at the hospital, take vitals again and have a nurse upset that we just brought a patient in BLS with a bp of 210/120.

Not sure how it will be in your area, but our ambulance company is contracted by fire, so it's in everyone's best interest to keep them happy. We are generally told not to question a medic's decisions; we are literally "gurney-jockies" here. If the dept. is unhappy with us, they can simply renew the ambulance contract with a different company. In order to win the contract, our company must also keep expenses low, which is why we work 24 hour shifts here at $8.00/hour.

Bottom line: I don't recommend it.

I can only speak for care, but I had a written 50 question emt test and an oral board interview. After I got a job offer, I had the physical, the back test is a machine that measures lower back strength, it is pass/fail and they will tell you to go as hard and fast as possible, you bend forward and then push back as hard as you can.

How does their system work down there? Is it like RivCo where the PAU is the engine and then private transports?

Yeah I live up in RivCo but everyone I know that is a medic for AMR seems to hate it. I'd love to be a medic for SD Fire and I've heard that they hire a lot from the R/M guys.

how about for a medic? Does anyone how they are assigned. pay, etc...I'm considering working there after school, and I can't get answers from their HR. I'll try to go down and check it out, but I'm just wondering if anyone here can give me a little insight. Thanks.

I lived within walking distance of Doctors and one exit up from Medix. I also did my EMT ride-alongs at Medix. I worked for Care. I might be a little bit biased but I wouldn't go anywhere else in OC

I was just wondering what the market is like in SD for a non-fire medic. I know Rural-Metro and AMR both have ALS contracts, but I was curious what the pay and work environment is like, especially in comparison to AMR in Riverside and SB county. Thanks.

Care is now taking over Costa Mesa, and has the 911 transport contract for a large portion of LA County. I worked there for a little over two years. It is a good company, as far as ambulance goes. Most of their rigs are new and even the old ones are well maintained. If you have to work in OC, IMO it's by far the best choice. Management is actually supportive of the field employees and while pay isn't great, it is decent with plentiful OT. Expect to spend a few months on BLS, but you still back up the 911 units.