RedOnTheHead

I definitely agree with many of y'all here: better ambulances, higher standards of education, and taking responsibility for the practice of medicine on the truck rather than holding the distant med controller by the throat for a screw up. My county's med controller is so strict, there's so much the medics in my county can't do that they learned to do in class, so many drugs they're not permitted to administer that can save lives, but med control won't allow it because his butt would be put to the fire if anything happened. As for education, I earned a B.S. prior to entering EMS and it gave me a tremendous edge against my counterparts, both while obtaining my EMT-B and in the field. I fully intend on going back to school before getting my Medic, mainly because I do not feel that you can learn everything you should in a cram packed 1-year long course designed to deprive you of sleep and pump out medics as fast as possible. There isn't a degree program for medic in my area (which I think both sucks and is dumb), but I will go in for nursing and take the paramedic course along side it so I can slow the pace and actually LEARN. I've talked with others who have done the same and they believe it really is a great way to do it. Besides, Ridryder911 makes a good point about how this will affect pay as well as insurance compensation. I also agree with getting rid of the volunteer services. I have NEVER come across one, in any state I've been to, that actually had a quality volunteer service. I wouldn't want what they do to reflect poorly on my profession given the trust put into EMT's and medics by they community. Speaking of which, how about some better community education? Aside from the frequent flyers who will call you no matter what, the community needs to understand that a 911 service ambulance is not for when you have a cold or a headache (I mean, unless it's a debilitating migraine that keeps you from driving). I don't think it's ok to remove a unit from service to tote somebody to the ER for the sniffles. God forbid their next door neighbor has a heart attack and has to wait 15 minutes for a truck because you had to go to the ER for a snot-nose. Those who use the 911 system for that purpose should be held accountable. Also, it would contribute to the community's health to understand that having a GP who knows their medical history and can better assist them with ailments because of that knowledge is better than the medical quickie they'll get from the local ER doc who doesn't want to deal with their excessive mucus. Moving on, I don't agree with removing EMT-B's. We all know there are a lot of calls that a medic doesn't need to ride. If you live in a more rural and poorer state and county like I do, paying for 2 medics - even on a tiered system - when 2 aren't needed is silly and a waste of money and resources we can't afford. Your state and county/parrish should take into account the needs of your individual area and staff accordingly. Besides, we're not retarded because we're Basics. If properly trained, we are useful, even in an ALS situation. As for an age limit...I'd say that could be a valid point.I think you can be a great first responder or EMT-B at a young age, but it's rare that I've seen (at least at my service) really young people with the maturity to be a medic at the ripe old age of 19. But, perhaps my experience is too limited. I'm open minded about it. I also think we need serious tort reform, but I think that's agreed upon in every medical profession. In my state, we're scared to death of screening out certain calls that, in all honestly, are not emergency calls because we're terrified of the litigious concerns. I understand wanting to transport what might look like just a headache and turn into a TIA, but colds? drunks? stubbed toes? Eh...something needs to be rethought a bit there. Anyway, that's my 2 cents...