EMTfireLady

I live in a state that has a 2 yr requirement for paramedic. There is good and bad in this for a few reasons. I would like to see better medics in the field. However, we are not going to have that with just a 2 yr requirement. In my opinion it will take allot more than that. The best way I think to put better paramedics in the field is to start at the bottom and work up. Our EMS field is having a hard time with a big shortage of paramedics because of this. Don't miss understand me. My goal is just not to have a warm body on the truck. But because of this 2 year mandatory, more people are going straight from basic to medic without working in the field more than a couple hours of rotation time. I have seen good Basics who have been in the field for a long time, who's desire is to become a paramedic one day, but are unable to do so because they have families and just can not afford the time missed from work. The schooling required for a paramedic does not offer classes that work with the schedule of a working basic. These basic are having to lead paramedics out in the field who went straight from basic to medic. (Even with the 2 yr program.) So if the goal it to better medics out in the field start not only with a 2yr program but with making sure the classes are taught where a working basic can attend the 2 yr program and continue to work. And not allowing them to go straight from basic to medic with no field work experience besides clinical. My opinion. The Lady