Petition to the MA OEMS to accept NREMT

[bstone]

Hey folks. I've started a group on facebook to ask the Mass OEMS to begin accepting the NREMT for purposes of a state license. I know it's an uphill battle and probably futile, but I figure I'd try and why not.

I hope you all will join, even if you don't live in MA.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-OEMS-please-accept-the-NREMT/244821498862415?sk=info

 

[medicdan]

The reasons MA OEMS does not accept the NR are not simple or easily remedied, although the understanding is that it boils down to $$... they can charge $150, so they do. Although I am fully supportive of grassroots movements, I am skeptical this will have much impact.

Good Luck!

 

[bstone]

Hey Dan. Thanks for joining. I seriously doubt it will change anything with the OEMS, but once it gets 500 people in the group I'll sent it over to the OEMS and see what (if anything) it does.

 

[medicdan]

Absolutely. It might be worth a call to Paul Coffey or Russ Johansen-- to see their "official" take on the process.

 

[nemedic]

I joined. Sending it around to some people.


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[HotelCo]

What's wrong with your current licensing exams?


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[bstone]

The current licensing exam is ridiculous. It's super expensive and reinvents the wheel. The MA certification is also not portable (unlike the NREMT).

 

[nwhitney]

The current licensing exam is ridiculous. It's super expensive and reinvents the wheel. The MA certification is also not portable (unlike the NREMT).

I've heard rumors that Oregon is getting out of the certification business and going with just the NREMT, I hope they don't. I don't like the idea of portable certs./licenses.

Besides money and a ridiculous exam could you give specifics? I'm just curious as to why. Have you considered trying to change the way MA does it's licensing as opposed to ditching it all together? Anyways good luck!

 

[Lifeguards For Life]

Have any of these Facebook petitions ever been successful? I remember people making these in high school and always thought they were a rather immature way of addressing an issue?

 

[bstone]

An immature way of dealing with the issue? Huh?

Yes, many, many facebook groups have succeeded in effecting change.

 

[silver]

Considering like 4 people work (its small, but I dont know the real number) for MA OEMS, I'll be dead before anything happens to change the cert process.


Do you want NREMT testing or NREMT reciprocity?

 

[bstone]

Let's start with NREMT reciprocity. I think that's the most useful and valuable to people who move to MA from elsewhere.

 

[feldy]

I joined your petition. i fully support the move to NREMT in MA.

 

[Too Old To Work]

The current licensing exam is ridiculous. It's super expensive and reinvents the wheel. The MA certification is also not portable (unlike the NREMT).

But that's what they do. "Massachusetts OEMS, we didn't invent the wheel, but we've perfected the art of reinventing it". They should put that on their stationary and web site.

I've heard rumors that Oregon is getting out of the certification business and going with just the NREMT, I hope they don't. I don't like the idea of portable certs./licenses.

Besides money and a ridiculous exam could you give specifics? I'm just curious as to why. Have you considered trying to change the way MA does it's licensing as opposed to ditching it all together? Anyways good luck!

It's pretty funny that nurses can move from state to state and get a new license by filling out a form and paying a fee. Doctors can do the same thing. Medics and EMTs? Nope, we have to jump through a million hoops to move across state lines.

We are our own worst enemy. No wonder no one sees us as professionals.

 

[bstone]

But that's what they do. "Massachusetts OEMS, we didn't invent the wheel, but we've perfected the art of reinventing it". They should put that on their stationary and web site.

LOL. You put that in a very good way. Even if you don't live in MA will you please join the group? Numbers are everything in this.

It's pretty funny that nurses can move from state to state and get a new license by filling out a form and paying a fee. Doctors can do the same thing. Medics and EMTs? Nope, we have to jump through a million hoops to move across state lines.

We are our own worst enemy. No wonder no one sees us as professionals.

I agree- it makes zero sense. Nurses, doctors and other allied health practitioners can move from state to state and just fill out a form. The NREMT is supposed to take care of this, but it will be up to the populace to demand this.

 

[Too Old To Work]

LOL. You put that in a very good way. Even if you don't live in MA will you please join the group? Numbers are everything in this.

I agree- it makes zero sense. Nurses, doctors and other allied health practitioners can move from state to state and just fill out a form. The NREMT is supposed to take care of this, but it will be up to the populace to demand this.

I've maintained my NREMT certification for 21 years, even though MA no longer accepts it. It's fairly easy to meet the NREMT requirements, although they are a bit arcane in the way they are structured. With my NREMT certification I can move to several states, but not all. For example, NH might not accept my NREMT card if I didn't take my last refresher in NH.

Texas, OTOH, will accept NREMT and because I have a college degree will give me a license, not just a certification. I don't know that there is any advantage to one over the other.

As to joining the group, no thanks. My advice would be to send a letter to Abdullah Rehayem requesting that he form a committee to study the issue. He's a pretty reasonable guy, which isn't a guarantee that he'll agree. Even if MA decides to accept the NREMT, there is no reason to believe that they will not charge $150.00 for recertification. That fee was imposed by the faux Republican Mitt Romney as a way to make OEMS self sufficient. It was part of a general move make more regulatory agencies self funding by imposing fees, never say "taxes" on the people being regulated. Every licensed trade in the state saw a doubling or tripling of fees. Before Romney, the fee was $75.00 per two years. Before that, it was $20.00 per two years.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[bstone]

I'll send him a letter asking him to study the issue one there are 500 people in the group. Strength in numbers.

 

[nwhitney]

It's pretty funny that nurses can move from state to state and get a new license by filling out a form and paying a fee. Doctors can do the same thing. Medics and EMTs? Nope, we have to jump through a million hoops to move across state lines.

We are our own worst enemy. No wonder no one sees us as professionals.

That makes sense but to me this is a bigger issue than one state not accepting NREMT. Things are different state to state. For example if I took my NREMT cert. from Oregon to Alaska they shouldn't give me the go ahead to start working as an EMT based on the NREMT. EMT's in Alaska deal with issues that I may never see here in Oregon. So many variables when you get out of a controlled environment such as a hospital. I don't know but I would imagine the training for nurses and doctors is pretty much the same across the board hence they have any easier time moving from state to state. I'm sure someone will correct me real quick if that assumption isn't accurate.

 

[nwhitney]

I'll send him a letter asking him to study the issue one there are 500 people in the group. Strength in numbers.

Regardless of my opinion I'm impressed that you're willing to take this on. Too often people seem to just complain and not try to change the system for the better or at least get people talking. Not just EMS but all areas of life.

 

[bstone]

Regardless of my opinion I'm impressed that you're willing to take this on. Too often people seem to just complain and not try to change the system for the better or at least get people talking. Not just EMS but all areas of life.

I am a "speak less, act more" sort of person.