The best service in the country

[Ridryder 911]

Whenever your "protocols" are > 200 pages, then there is problems. I agree it is better than calling in, but I have not seen that type of system in several years, with true Paramedics. Although, they have some aggressiveness, a lot of it is hype.. again, I am not trying to degrade them, I even trained some of its upper management personnel. But, like all systems it has flaws as well and those are large, and again it is obvious it definitely has some advantages to obtain work experience.

But what occurs if a patient has a NTG drip prior or any other medication drip other than Lido or Dopamine? What is the pay in comparison to other progressive EMS ? Not just fire services, even in within the state, and EMSA has a union, I believe you would find it surprising. As well, what is the average length of stay of medics in their system. over-all education level, and the ability to advance within that system. One needs to ask why a company continuously advertise nationally, and always have openings. These questions should be asked for anyone seeking employment in any EMS. I don't know where you get only 3 -4 patients a day for flight medic/nurses.... I wished. Even though some of the flights in this area are up to 2-4 hrs in length for one mission. It is true, it gets harder to sit in a rig for 12 hours, and rotate to stand-by locations.

True as well, Steve Williamson has made sure that equipment has been upgraded and that is where a lot of the money goes, but many are not aware both cities help subsidize EMSA and the medics are employed by Paramedics Plus. With the recent correction of the dispatch, and some political battles, service times are getting better. Hopefully, they will improve their pay, some of their mind-set, and increased ability to progress within the system. Improved public relations at both East and West, it is obvious that OKC has more difficulties and always have for some reason, but it is still EMSA. Over-all they do have some quality metro type medics.

R/r 911

[weasel 108]

We didn't need to ride out in Philly as we already had something set up in Chester, PA (as you probably already know, a suburb of Philly). What I can tell you though, is that two of our FF's visited the Philly FD and were treated like kings for the day (own escort, lunch, the whole shooting match). I can't comment on the pt care, but they treated us like real guests and that we won't forget in a hurry.

As far as the city itself is concerned, it is by far and away my favorite city in the US. Culture, history, friendly natives, great bars (including Monk's - the best belgian beer bar in the US - I mean, they can even get beers that they don't serve in most belgian pubs in BELGIUM!!).Try it someday, I've visited 5 times and I still can't get enough.

Carl

Philly? pretzels,tasty cakes, and cheese steaks that's about it. Just make sure your out of the city before dark :lol:Just kidding, Philly has alot of history.I've met some of the medics and F.F. in Philly,and they are a great bunch. =D> Heard through the grape vine that numerous fire EMS units are going BLS. Anybody else from Pa have any actual facts on this?

[Dustdevil]

Like it's a Medic for beginners system...? I don't think so.

So, lemme get this straight.

You've gone from college and the corporate world to your very first ever EMS job and suddenly you're qualified to tell us that one place is better than everybody else? :roll:

It's far Better than most systems who have to call in for medical direction for everything.

A -- there aren't many systems like that anymore, so that doesn't make you better than very many.

B -- It sucks arse compared to systems where they trust their people to practice medicine instead of memorise a book.

Being a medic in a system like EMSA is like painting by the numbers and calling yourself an artist.

Being a medic in a system like EMSA is like a fryer at McDonalds calling himself a chef.

Is it a good system? Sure. Has lots going for it. But like almost every heavily bureaucratic metropolitan service, it has at least as many negatives as positives. Restrictive practise. Politics. SSM. High volume of non-emergency transfers. Puhleeeze... get out of your little cubicle a little before you start trying to tell us how you compare to the rest of the world.

[Scaramedic]

What is the pay in comparison to other progressive EMS ? Not just fire services, even in within the state, and EMSA has a union, I believe you would find it surprising. As well, what is the average length of stay of medics in their system. over-all education level, and the ability to advance within that system. One needs to ask why a company continuously advertise nationally, and always have openings.

True as well, Steve Williamson has made sure that equipment has been upgraded and that is where a lot of the money goes, but many are not aware both cities help subsidize EMSA and the medics are employed by Paramedics Plus. With the recent correction of the dispatch, and some political battles, service times are getting better. Hopefully, they will improve their pay, some of their mind-set, and increased ability to progress within the system. Improved public relations at both East and West, it is obvious that OKC has more difficulties and always have for some reason, but it is still EMSA. Over-all they do have some quality metro type medics.R/r 911

EMSA West (Ok City) has a union EMSA East (Tulsa) does not.

What is the average length of stay in any urban EMS system? When I recently visited after 5 years I found 1/3 of the Para's I worked with with are still there. Many of the Basics I worked with are now Para's. Several Medics who started after I did are now supervisor's, and several former supervisor's are now upper management. So is this out of line with national averages? I am asking because I really don't know.

I see ads from a dozen companies around the nation on a regular basis, AMR (Insert any city they contract in here) and Acadian run ads all the time.

Yes they are employed by Paramedics Plus and before that AMR and before that some company I can't remember the name of. So?

Yes, the City has a majority of the problems. The response time and dispatch problems are in the City not in Tulsa. I have no idea either why the City seems to be such a problem. Maybe it's because Corporate is based out of Tulsa, so if Steve or Ann have an issue they can just walk across the hallway and chew ass on the Tulsa management personnel.

I agree they have some good Medics, and that is constantly who I am defending. Like any system in the country they have good and bad Para's, I challenge you to find any system in the nation that has only perfect personnel.

Which brings me to Dust...

Being a medic in a system like EMSA is like painting by the numbers and calling yourself an artist.

Being a medic in a system like EMSA is like a fryer at McDonald's calling himself a chef.

High volume of non-emergency transfers.

Please tell me you are not comparing all medics at EMSA to paint by numbers artists or McDonald's fry cooks? You know this from personnel experience or just what you have read on the internet? Maybe you worked with some dumb-ass who got fired or quit EMSA and worked with you somewhere, I am really curious to know your basis for these statements.

As far as "High volume of non-emergency transfers," ummm no. The rule was no more than 1 non-emergent transfer per crew, and that was only if the system could handle it. Numerous times I have worked a whole set of shifts without ever doing a transfer. That was also before they re-instated the HPC unit, that does nothing but transfers. So I am not sure where that came from. Could be one of those Tulsa-vs-The City things again.

EMSA was definitely not my first EMS job, but I liked the system and I loved the people I worked with as well as the people of Tulsa itself.

Peace,

Marty

:thumbleft:

[Scaramedic]

Sheesh

I just noticed who you are Michael?

It's me, 601 1/2

Unless my memory is failing at greater rate than I suspected, 601 is Aaron. So just out of curiosity, if you don't mind, who are you?

Peace,

Marty

:thumbleft:

[ffpm41]

"EMSA is the bestest place in the world and everyone else sucks." Okay, the EMSA guys didn't say it but that's what it sounds like.

As for cook book medics, how does aggressive protocols with a good medical direction (that likes teaching instead of head hunting) and a good field training program sound? Now There are plenty of places that teach new medics to be thinking medics that don't worry about getting "in trouble" when they don't follow the recipe exactly as long as they can articulate why they did what they did in the best interest of the patient.

As for KE5EHI, I'm not attacking, but why in the world would you put System Status Management (SSM) as if it is a good thing? SSM has been proven to be ineffective for several reasons, back problems sitting in rig, poor crew rest and how do you guess where the next call will be? If SSM is so effective why don't fire departments and other EMS agencies do it? It's different to move units during a major incident to cover an area, but to just move units to move units is just plane dumb. SSM belongs in the trash can, your back will thank you for it.

[sfrme]

I am a paramedic student, and at the beginning of this year I asked what would be a good service to do my field time...the suggestions I got were Reno, NV and Albuquerque, NM...Well, I chose MAST in Kansas City, MO. In fact, I am sitting in KC as we speak (type, whatever).

MAST uses the SSM (I believe Reno does also) and I love it. IMO, I would rather use that system than sit in my recliner at the station watching M.A.S.H. (no offense, good show). Thousands of hours of research and data collection have gone into such systems that determine unit placement throughout the city. The SSM system provides the management with a guideline to go by as far as scheduling goes. Why flood the city with ambulances, and then have half of them sitting around doing nothing. I see it similar to a "Power Car" that some services use during peak hours. And how they determine peak hours, the same research and data collection. MAST's system does not inflict the back problems, poor rest, etc. You usually aren't sitting long, and if you are, you've got the time to sleep if you're tired. Bam, that takes care of those two problems. IMO, I think it would be funny to see a tractor-drawn aerial posted at a McDonald's or something like that.

Although I like KC & MAST, I don't forsee myself working here. In part because my two preceptors told me, DON'T WORK FOR MAST. They say MAST makes it so hard for someone to work there due to your every popular politics and such. And someone mentioned large protocol books. I have MAST's on my computer right now - 264 page Adobe file. Wow, that is some good reading.

I think that anyone who works for a service and loves it there and is happy is going to (maybe wrongfully) guess that it would be that way for anyone who worked there. Maybe to them IT IS the bestest place in the world. But, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I am sharing mine.

I was going to say something else, but I forgot. I'll check back to read up on the hate mail.

BTW - Thank you to all of those who have served or are currently serving this great nation in any branch of the armed forces. May God always protect you, for you are truly worthy. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!

[Dustdevil]

Please tell me you are not comparing all medics at EMSA to paint by numbers artists or McDonald's fry cooks? You know this from personnel experience or just what you have read on the internet? Maybe you worked with some dumb-ass who got fired or quit EMSA and worked with you somewhere, I am really curious to know your basis for these statements.

I didn't say they were bad medics. I am referring strictly to the quality and autonomy of their practice. I am not passing judgement on their knowledge, intelligence, or competence. They may be the smartest medics in the country. They simply aren't allowed to practise it.

It is a judgement of the system, not the people.

Why is it that so many people take comments about their employer so personal? :?

[WelshMedic]

Dust,

I guess that when an outsider attacks any particular organization then they would tend to close ranks. If I were to say today that eg NYFD EMS are a bunch of cretins (which I'm not) then I would expect an avalanche of criticism, and rightly so. Attacking the employer is not that far removed from the above example. That's one thing that I've noticed in the US (it's a cultural thing, I think) - EMS is a way of life for a lot of people and they're very proud and patriotic to do what they do. I, however, (along with most people here in the Netherlands) enjoy my job but that's it. I leave at 6pm, shut the door and don't give the rest a second thought. I'm lucky to do what I do, I'd hate to work in a production plant, but at the end of the day it's just a way to pay my mortgage.

Take for example your negative comments about most of the east coast early on in this topic. I never once noticed any form of unprofessionalism or lack of care with the services I rode along with (and plan to do so again at the beginning of next year) and, in fact, we were bowled over by the commitment shown by most people we met, and we collectively agreed the we could do with a leaf out of their book.

You're forever telling us that there's a lot wrong with EMS in the States, some of which is true (Medical Control, whoever dreamt that one up? - "Sorry, mam, I can't give this life-saving drug to you because the doctor says no" I mean, come on here....) but let me say once and for all as an impartial outsider - There's a lot right with it as well!

Have a pleasant day everybody (although mine is almost over),

Carl.

[WelshMedic]

Dust,

Let me take that bit about the East Coast back, your actual words were: "the Northeast in general, sucks". Sorry!

:occasion5:

Carl.