If you are a Paramedic, will you work in an ALS service BLS

[p3medic]

Man, that's gotta suck. What is Boston's problem? There is nothing worse than snootiness in EMS. Look, paramedicine is not brain surgery, despite what some of the emotionally disturbed members of this profession may try and make it out to be. How many nurses are working as ER techs waiting to get promoted, lol. Look, you have two medics, throw some syringes at them, toss 'em an EKG monitor and some narcotics and have 'em go save some lives. They'll be happier and your system will be better two.

Okay, now, as for me, so long as I get my paycheck, I'll mop the floors if they want me too. Anyone who thinks working a BLS bus is somehow below them needs to get a life and seriously reevaluate themselves.

No, it doesn't suck, the medic job in Boston is worth the wait, otherwise they'd go elsewhere....not all medics are created equal, same with any other profession....The level of education that is required to work in the BEMS system is far beyond what the average medic brings to the table....the education done in house, with a huge MD involvement far surpasses what the "average" medic gets...Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that a medic from elsewhere couldn't do great here, but I am saying that the internal ALS process here produces a better field provider than most systems...in my biased opinion of course.

As for the subject at hand, I work BLS at ALS OT rate all the time, easy money...I've also performed ALS interventions while staffing a BLS truck, no one seemed to mind....

[Dustdevil]

I've also performed ALS interventions while staffing a BLS truck, no one seemed to mind....

With what? Jumper cables, Bic pens, and a Swiss Army Knife?

Who are you, McGuyver? :?

[Malignant-Hyperthermia]

With what? Jumper cables, Bic pens, and a Swiss Army Knife?

Who are you, McGuyver?

Priceless again!

[tniuqs]

:shock:

[p3medic]

With what? Jumper cables, Bic pens, and a Swiss Army Knife?

Who are you, McGuyver? :?

In this system every EMT, and most medics stock and use their own jump kits, so when working BLS, my kit still goes with me....

[vs-eh?]

The point though, is that even though you may be classified as a BLS provider, you still have the education and ability to perform ALS assessments. Isn't that the whole point of Advnaced care? Just because you have fewer 'toys' to support your way of doing things, doesn't mean it still can't be done.

That being said, now that I think about it, I would LOVE for a US trained/certified EMT-P or CCEMT-P to come and practice ALS for a few days in Ontario. You guys would go NUTS. You know how many drugs we carry? On average, 18, 5 to 6 of them available for our BLS crews to use independently. ALCS meds? Let's see ... we only have 3 or 4 depending on the service. And, no choice to choose between Lidocaine or Amiordarone as it's prechosen for you by your service which one they want to carry. No access to RSI even .... and yet, in most cases, we have 3 to 4 years of education to attain our ALS level. Talk about having your hands tied behind your back ...

peace

*Applauds*

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Asysin2leads]

No, it doesn't suck, the medic job in Boston is worth the wait, otherwise they'd go elsewhere....not all medics are created equal, same with any other profession....The level of education that is required to work in the BEMS system is far beyond what the average medic brings to the table....the education done in house, with a huge MD involvement far surpasses what the "average" medic gets...Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that a medic from elsewhere couldn't do great here, but I am saying that the internal ALS process here produces a better field provider than most systems...in my biased opinion of course.

As for the subject at hand, I work BLS at ALS OT rate all the time, easy money...I've also performed ALS interventions while staffing a BLS truck, no one seemed to mind....

You know, elitism maybe good practice at Harvard or MIT, but try and keep it inside their walls. In EMS, its bad practice. The first rule of EMS is don't believe your own hype. I mean, sure, we could get the guys from Seattle in here, and have them butt heads with the guys from LA, and then bring in the guys in Alaska who have like 3 day transport times, and then have Dustdevil come on in and tell us all how we're just fooling ourselves into believing we're paramedics, and then one of my colleagues who used to work the South Bronx during the crack wars of the 80's and 90's will make his case, and we could wear our patches and flash respective gang signs, but that would get us no where. I'm sure Boston has a good system, and I applaud them for having high educational standards, but if it their screening and training programs are elevated to a level that trancends into arrogance (which, from the descriptions of it I get that impression), then it no longer becomes a benefit for the system but a hinderence.

[p3medic]

I see your point, and agree, I have no wish to start comparing who's system is better, yada, yada, yada....I just wanted to explain the process here, it doesn't mean its the best way, its just our way....In my opinion, taking medics from the BLS ranks, putting them through our internal program, and then subject them to a long field internship helps keep the level of care high consistantly. Arrogance in certainly not a helpful trait, nor do I believe our system to be suffering from it, just wanted to add my .02 regarding the process here.

[Dustdevil]

Sounds like wonderful standards from a state that doesn't have a single accreditied paramedic school.

[p3medic]

All the more reason to have an in house program....someday perhaps you'll come and show us how its done...or are you gonna be a cop, firefighter or nurse again?