When you apply to an EMS service, inquire as to the availability of OT. If it's copious, that's a red flag. Is it that they're rapidly expanding, or is it that the turnover is high due to low pay and poor working conditions? Do your due dilligence. You may want the OT at first, but when it's routinely forced on you, it gets old real quick.
My FT employer is fire based, with 24's only, WOWOWOOOO, for three days working in a nine day cycle. Holdovers are total 36 consecutive house max. We have a "no hold/recall list" that we use if we have a trip planned, MD appointment, etc.
My per diem hospital runs shifts no longer than 12 scheduled hours. The problem is, you can be tagged for a long distance txp with less than an hour before shift change. They're usually reasonable about getting people off on time, but I've heard of a few horror stories. Gor example, we have some people who hold certs both in VA and WV. One individual was the only available dual cert medic with PALS (not mandatory until six months after being hired IIRC), so he had a four hour run each way with maybe two hours left in his shift. Dual cert medics are busier, and get more late jobs, typically with distance involved. It is for this reason that I won't go for dual cert, nor will I pick up overnight shifts. An 0400-0500 pickup going three hours away when you get off at 0600-0800 isn't cool.
Realize that up to a certain point, it's cheaper for the employer to get more mileage out of existing crews by way of late jobs and mandatory holdover/recall than it is to hire, train, and pay benefits for new employees. Some places make three 12's a FT schedule, because late jobs are a regular occurence, and the first four hours are straight time anyway (except in CA).
