Rescue0ne

My main issue, as far as impersonation possibilities go, are the damn wankers selling EMS patches & badges on Ebay. I've seen hundreds of NREMT-B/I/P patches on auction there. I don't worry about mentioning this here, because all you have to do is google it, and you'll find the ebay auctions in the search results. As far as verification of EMS certs/licensing by agencies, I don't think you'd find an agency that DIDN'T make you file an application with multiple forms of ID. Our OEMS requires us, as all other places do, I'm sure, to let them know who our providers are, and they verify our names with their cert database. Just another reason why I want VA to go to state issued photo id cards for EMS, with the seal & hologram security embedded. They do it for unarmed security guards and others who don't really do anything, so why not have it for those that are entrusted to administer cardiac meds and perform invasive acts such as RSI, Defibrillation, Crics, IO, etc. EMT's as well. There's a security matter that's definitely worthy of someones attention...imho.

Virginia has the online database as well, on the OEMS website. You can look up individual providers by their name, and/or primary EMS affiliation. It's a very handy tool.

Horton 2006 Ford F-550 No problems to speak of at all, except that the bumber has been replaced twice due to wildlife strikes. Our fleet is currently transitioning to Ford F-450's now. The '550 is just to top heavy

Firstly, welcome to EMT City! I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here. Are you also looking into a career or certification as an EMS Provider? If not, you'll still find this community to be a fountain of info concerning anything EMS related. So, on to your question... When you say "walking in and pretending to be an EMS provider", walking in to where, exactly? If you mean a hospital...nothing really stopping them, if their forged documents are good enough, and no one challenges them TOO much. At our local Level I Trauma Center, you have to have your picture ID Badge w/ a magnetic stripe in order to walk in through the ambulance entrance of the ER. This ID is issued by the hospital, however. They did this for all the EMS Agencies that commonly transport to their facility. You must have this ID displayed at all time, or you will be challenged by anyone who sees you...unless they personally know you, etc. If you mean to get a job as a medic, there's many things preventing them from doing so. The Fire or EMS agency will ask for their drivers license, and their ems certification card, among other things. The agency will then check with the state office of EMS or similar EMS regulating agency to verify that the individual is who they say they are, and that they are indeed certified/licensed to practice at the level stated on their card. They will also complete a criminal background check, and possibly a credit report as well, depending on the agency. I'm in VA. Virginia's EMS certification papers are just that. Papers. One piece is approximately 9 inches by 5 inches. Suitable for framing, if you're into that. Additionally, it comes with a pocket card, about the size of a credit card or so, and you can laminate this and keep it in your wallet. That's it. I would like to see Virginia do for EMS, the same as they do for others, ie; set it up where a provider can take their VA Issued Drivers License, and their EMS Certification card...go to the DMV, and have their pic taken for a state issued EMS Photo ID. My mother works for the State, and she has one. She went to the DMV to do it. Most state employees have them now. Dept. of Transportation VA Employment Commision VA Dept. of Health (who is the parent department of our Office of EMS) Department of Corrections (I think) Additionally, security guards and bail agents are regulated by the state, and they do the same thing. They have state Photo ID's stating their licensing or certifications. Why not EMS as well? It only makes sense. Wait. I just answered my own question, didn't I? I don't know if I helped or not, but that's how they do it in VA.

A+ to DUST for the best rebuttal ever concerning that particular issue. I'd love for this to happen. It WOULD eliminate the bullshatters & useless elements. What I'd also like to see is all volunteers manning stations &/or rigs while on duty. No more responding from home in POV's. If they care that much, they can sacrifice that much more, right? Personally, I don't think this is asking too much. I'm sure there are those that do. After all, sitting around the station is sooooo boring, right? Alot of places do this with volunteers. Why can't it be the standard?

Ok, you said checkem out, and I did. You're right, it's beautiful there...meaning that pic next to the body of water. I haven't used a latrine in over a decade. :shock: FYI: I look older than you do, man. Must be all the BS politics I deal with on an every-other-day basis. You look ready to take on the world in those pics...I look like I just want to dig a hole, and pull the earth in over me. Wanna switch for awhile? I'd love a change of pace! :twisted: Seriously though, stay safe. Kevlar & ceramic are your friends!

U S Navy "Medics", bka "Hospital Corpsmen" HM-8427 (Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Corpsman) Classification is awarded upon completion of all of the following courses: 1) USMC Basic Reconnaissance 2) USMC Combatant Divers 3) Army Basic Airborne School 4) USMC Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman Diving Medicine 5) Joint Special Operations Forces Trauma Medic. HM-8491 (Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman) Classification is awarded upon completion of all of the following courses: 1) US Army Special Operations Medical Sergeants Course (SOMED 011-­18-D30) 2) Personnel must hold NEC 5320 or 5326 to be awarded this NEC a) NEC 5320 - Basic Combatant Swimmer NEC 5326 - Combatant Swimmer (SEAL) My personal rating was HM-8401 (Search and Rescue Medical Technician) Performs aircrew and emergency medical care functions assigned in support of search and rescue missions. Qualified in Emergency Medical Technician ‑ Ambulance A (EMT‑A), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Triage, IV therapy, use of emergency medical equipment, patient handling, and aero‑medical evacuation techniques. It was during this time that I obtained my NREMT-P certification, after previously being an EMT-I

You're correct...and it really wasn't the best of examples. Like you said, and this was my reason for even mentioning Henrico...and I have no idea how they do it in Hanover...but what self-respecting individual who is already a Paramedic, WANTS to be a firefighter? I'm sure there ARE some out there, albeit probably very few. No slight against FireMedics, btw. I just can't imagine doing it myself. I used the "in the way" statement to illustrate an overall point...I didn't really mean that about Henrico, per se. I'm not up to speed on Henrico's numbers, but I'd imagine the call volume is high enough to support volunteer and fire medics at the same time? Educate me on this point, if you're familiar with it, please. I agree with this 100%, and fully support it. I'm not going to hold my breath, however. I'm inclined to agree with this statement, because of the edu properties of it...but even if it was accomplished for Paramedics, you know how Virginia is. I feel the OEMS would still maintain the other certs, which would continue to enable the half-assed providers out there (in Va anyway) to continue to practice half-assed EMS. Thanks for clarifying & bringing me to task concerning Richmond Area. Like I said, it WAS a bad example, but the only one I could think of even coming close, other than the rural problems we're having now. I'll touch on that more later. I had thought about using VA Beach EMS System as an example, but if you're as familiar with them as I am, you know why that's not a good idea.

Well, I spoke to my friend concerning RAA & AMR. He said, and I quote, "Don't do it. Get a real job, even if you must drive an hour or more." His reasons were pretty much what we all already know.

Daaaayum. Dust got to him more than he did me, originally I had a whole litany ready to copy/paste here, but decided against it. Dust does a fine job of getting his point across on his own. Look at it this way, though. Take a registered nurse. He/she didn't go thru 4-6 years of college to give away their services at no charge. They did it so they can earn a decent to comfortable living. Sure, they also might volunteer at the free clinic, maybe. That's in ADDITION to their career . Not in place of it. Dust and I don't always agree, but I see exactly where he's coming from, and imho, he (and many others here) are correct in that "why should a county/city pay for EMS, when a volunteer organization will do it for free?". Take the Richmond, Virginia Metropolitan Area, for example. Richmond Ambulance Authority is a joke. Staffed & managed by AMR. There's so many volunteer agencies in that area, there's no real need for the surrounding 4 or 5 counties, or the city for that matter, to pay Medics a living wage. Chesterfield County Fire Dept. Medics staff some of the volunteer squads, due to manpower issues. Henrico County has FireMedics as well. There's no REAL EMS. By REAL, I mean a free-standing municipal agency dedicated to Emergency Medical Services. Why should there be? Volunteer Rescue & the Paid Fire Dept's make it unnecessary. Sure, it may work out well for the city and county...but then why would someone then want to be a paramedic in that area? They'll have to travel a much longer distance to earn a living wage. It's about supply and demand. If there's no demand, then I can't supply it. I WANT to supply it, but I can't, because volunteers are "in the way". Not meant as a slight against volunteers, btw. Their whole shpiel is about Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine being recognized as a bonafide profession. To be taken seriously as a profession by the world, I can see their point about volunteers making it that much harder to achieve. "When someones doing it for free, is it a profession, or a hobby?" FYI: When I do place myself in service as a volunteer, it's usually to fill a gap left open on a volunteer ambulance crew, due to manpower issues, or the volunteer provider not being able to fill their commitment for that shift. I do it so the patient that might need an ambulance will receive one in a timely manner. I know it's not helping EMS as a profession, so to speak, but it's helping make sure that that patient receives care in a timely manner...should someone need it that day. My wife encourages me to do so, occasionally. She'd sure have something to say about it, though, if I did it all the time. I'm not in it for the cameraderie, or the need to feel like I belong. I don't hang out at the station when I'm not on duty, shooting the proverbial shiot with the "guys". I do it because I can earn a living wage (actually better than that), and provide for my family while doing something that I love. Helping people. I'm not anti-volunteer...I still do it on occasion. I'm a career EMS provider, first & foremost. My family comes first, which means my paycheck comes first, as far as EMS is concerned. Oops, looks like I litanized, anyways. Sorrrry :wink:

I'm sorry, but Dust is currently busy, doing his best Hawk Eye Pierce impressions. Please leave a message, and he will reply to your post in a timely fashion. BEEP. I'm terribly sorry, but it's 12:30AM here, and I really could not resist. I possess no self-control at all.

Point & Match. When I took the EMT class back in...1991, I think? Yeah, back then, they actually taught you understand WHY something was happening, and why it was important to do this, then this, etc. Two years later, the curriculum changed. Example: EMT's were no longer required to know WHY the sucking chest wound is a bad thing, they were only trained HOW to treat it. Ok, that's a bad example, but you see my point. It went from "2nd year collegiate level" down to "10th grade high school level". That was how it was described to us in an in-service one day, when we were told what to expect from the new batch of EMT's. It was a really accurate analogy, too.

I didn't say it was perfect, now did I? ](*,) There's no doubt in my mind that that issue will be addressed when the reps come to sit down with them. The whole billing concept is brand new to them, for the last 37 years they've been receiving donation/grants only. There's still tons of bugs to be worked out, before they can transition to career staffing.

I worked in the Emergency Department of a Level I Trauma Center for over a year after attaining my EMT-I...over a decade ago. My job entailed assisting the Docs & Nurses with triage, bloodwork, assisting in stabilizing patients until they could be moved to the Operating Theatre. I was rotated to patient transport (read TRANSPORT) after awhile. It was involuntary, and I soon thereafter returned to EMS. Back then, and now, I might add...it would be impossible (unless you really know someone, and I mean really) for a Basic EMT to be hired on (around here) as an ER Technician. The Level I does hire EMT-B's for the transport aspect of the ED, however. Usually as drivers, though. There's only 4 that I know of. I know I say "around here" alot in my posts...but this is only due to feeling the need to qualify my remarks, because I have no clue how they do things in other places, having no first hand knowledge.

As it is with me. Shut up, I know, "my volunteer is showing". :roll: I've been to a few, those being friends of the family, or friends of friends of the family, where it would seem odd if I hadn't attended. Note: When I do attend, it's in civilian clothing. However, the last funeral I attended was for my cousin, who happened to be a medic with my "home" Rescue Squad. It was an LODD, may he rest in peace. The wake demanded full dress uniform, but I attended the funeral as family, not co-worker. Eh. Do it your way, I'll do it mine.

Additionally... Just for the record, I fully support EMS as a profession. Educational standards will be the one of the cornerstones of this happening. Personally, I feel the phasing out of volunteers will be harder in Virginia than most other states. For those not fully aware of Virginia's role in "Volunteer EMS", give me time to duck before you throw the rotten fruit, and/or an open sharps box. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Stanley_Wise I know Wikipedia isn't a real reference tool, but sometimes it suffices in a pinch. This is one of those pinches, since the Julian Stanley Wise Foundation appears to be closing down. It all started in Virginia (the volly side of it). Don't hold that against all of us. There are so many agencies throughout the state that have realized they can not continue as 100% volunteer. Career/Paid staffing has grown exponentially. There's still plenty of Rescue Squads and/or Lifesaving Crews, state-wide, that would fight intergration/replacement with tooth & nail. These cases are a prime example of DustDevil's Death Squads being a good idea. There's many volunteer agencies that are state of the art, 100% patient & community devoted. Then there's the many that are backwoods, nepotistic, & jealous of their "status" within the community (see death squad argument). I've always been an all-or-nothing type. Here's a prime example. Those Volunteers who have the publics best interest at heart will understand & embrace the eventual transition to career staffing. Those that don't have the publics best interest at heart, won't. These people don't matter. Feel free to steam-roll right over them. In the meantime, we will do the best we can with the resources available to us. For my "home" agency, it means a transition to Part-paid. It's a necessity. For those who can't grasp this, the last thing they will see is the steam roller. As the county population grows, so will the need for Full Time Career EMS. I have no doubt in my mind that when this happens, the volunteer element will still be in place, if to only back up the career medics.

Maaaaaaannnnnnn... I'm no Shock Trauma Guru, nor did I make that pit-stop of EMT-ST. I'm merely stating what I remember about UMaryland's ST Center, and Dr. Cowley in particular. I never met the man, just read alot about him at the time (and this was years ago). I'm very familiar with Dr. Bledsoe's Myths of EMS, and he's right on target (imo). I think my first EMS textbook was authored/co-authored by him. Remember, it's been years. In keeping with the thread topic, EMT-ST is being phased out now in VA...only to be replaced with "EMT-Enhanced". It's basically the same thing, imo. It doesn't really even make sense to have it, because even the least funded volunteer agencies in VA can find a way to send their providers to EMT-I class.

Well, I almost went the "Dark Lord" route, and pulled up my Vader avatar, but I think less is more, so... <----- BEHOLD. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Whatever that was.

Here's what Dr. Bledsoe said in Dec. 2003 concerning PUM. http://www.emsmagazine.com/publication/art...d=1&id=2031 Here's a response to Dr. Bledsoe's article, as well as Bledsoe's response to the reponse. I'm sure many of you have read this, but for those that haven't... http://emsmagazine.com/publication/article...d=1&id=2201 In my own experience, the Public Utility Model sucks. Hey, wat dew eye no?

I haven't worked for AMR out of Richmond myself, but I'm aquainted with a guy who has, he's currently a Paramedic supervisor in the EMS & Transport division of our local Level I Trauma Center. I'll post any feedback he has concerning the subject.

I just looked at that link posted previously...it states the show is about two (2) DOCTORS in LA, tring to save lives while simultaneously ruining their own, or eachothers, I disremember. Next week, look it up again. Maybe the show will be about 2 CNA's in a nursing home trying to scrape by while dodging horny old geezers groping hands.

I should have picked up on the "dean of emt city", huh? Guess I really missed on that call.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Star Wars gets the recognition it deserves! :happy1:

Kyle, Congratulations on your interest in EMS, and good luck if you decide to make it your career. You're the same age I was when I joined my Jr. Rescue Squad years ago. It's quite an eye-opener, isn't it?

Off Topic...but Asysin2, who in blazes is that guy on your avatar. I can't place him to save my life, but he looks really familiar. At first, I thought Reagan...but no. Then I thought possibly a singer, like Tony Bennett, or something.