VA Transport EMT
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After many jobs in EMS that have ended with bs termination (self-dispatching while working as a dispatcher, not answering phone while on bereavement), I have decided to no longer pursue a career in any medical field. I might be a volunteer for the local rescue squad but that's the line. I feel that EMS cannot move forward into a professional until we rid of the double standards (male and female), poor leadership (people who want to capitalize EMS), horrible working conditions (broke vehicles/equipment), schedules and pay.
Just because all the other companies are crap, doesn't mean your has to be! We, as providers, go to school to help people and make a difference; not so you can make money. Without us you wouldn't be where you are now! You wouldn't have made that million dollars without us and to say you haven't taken a pay check just to pay your employees is crap! If you are in so much debt that you can shut down at any moment, just close business so we can flock to the next "best" company until they shut down too. Don't demand respect without giving it. Lead by example.
Double standards have been an issue EVERYWHERE, if you work at EEOC you are reading this correctly. Gossiping is the norm in Fire AND EMS. But to say girls cluck like hens while you discipline a male worker for gossiping with no documentation and cut his hours is discrimination. Just because some EMTs do their jobs and make everyone else look bad doesn't mean you fire him/her, you raise the bar for everyone to the same standards of work ethics.
Most, if not all, leaders in EMS come from the inner ranks. If they have experience from elsewhere (military or McDonald's) makes no difference. By thrusting a newly promoted employee up the ladder and expected him to succeed with common business knowledge means you have failed your entire company. Yes, regardless if it's your 5 y/o dog who receives a check doing nothing or the hardest worker, you have failed them. When promoting somebody, give them a list of expectations and train them!
Ambulances are the second most valuable resource to the company. They need to be maintenced monthly and providers (yes it's your fault) need to respect the vehicle. if you have a hoopty and expect it to "safely" ship your packages, think again because it's putting the lifes of your dialysis contract and your money-makers at risk.
Schedules are brought out Friday and changes two or three times by Monday. You as a business manager know the need for your taxi rides. Changing a shift and expecting employees to accept a 4-4 shift a 0300 is unacceptable! plan accordingly! Also, create permanent shifts to allow your providers to volunteer to enhance their education. It's not like they'll ever use their EMT skills while working for you and if they lose their certs because you didn't schedule them for that one day ce credit, you'll have to hire another EMT (no biggie right? WRONG! LOOK BELOW). To schedule a PT employee more than 36 hours while your FT hours have been cut due to lack of business if poor management and quite frankly, illegal. You are cheating your PT'er out of benefits and PTO. Your FT is suffering because your are playing favorites!
To use the excuse of pay freeze is crap! (the standard is roughly $9.50, MEDICARE PAYS ENOUGH TO PAY LEAST $20 PER EMPLOYEE PER RUN! ESPECIALLY WHEN SPECIAL CONTRACTS SUCH AS A VETERANS AFFAIRS OR MIL. CONTRACTS PAY ADDITIONAL PAY PER RUN) You should be honored that a firefighter/paramedic or EMT is risking his career on his off-time to feed his kids; with their skillsets and experience they should receive MORE than some kid right out of high school; but they should not be invincible, hold them to the same standards as any other employee. Also tenure pay should be a requirement! For someone to stay with your company for more than a 90 day probie period is a milestone! Another issue is the NREMT: states that only require a state EMT card for lazy providers who have no drive or thought to provide the best possible care for their patients, those of us who do care enough to get certified to the national standard should be paid more. Countless times have I, a NREMT, seen a state EMT run around finding a pocket mask because they don't know how to use a combi-tube. We paid for the NREMT tests to make a career out of EMS, not so we can booty hop onto PA school or Nursing school! No NREMTs aren't God, but they know what to do when things go south.
Sincerely,
Va Transport EMT, NREMT
Just because all the other companies are crap, doesn't mean your has to be! We, as providers, go to school to help people and make a difference; not so you can make money. Without us you wouldn't be where you are now! You wouldn't have made that million dollars without us and to say you haven't taken a pay check just to pay your employees is crap! If you are in so much debt that you can shut down at any moment, just close business so we can flock to the next "best" company until they shut down too. Don't demand respect without giving it. Lead by example.
Double standards have been an issue EVERYWHERE, if you work at EEOC you are reading this correctly. Gossiping is the norm in Fire AND EMS. But to say girls cluck like hens while you discipline a male worker for gossiping with no documentation and cut his hours is discrimination. Just because some EMTs do their jobs and make everyone else look bad doesn't mean you fire him/her, you raise the bar for everyone to the same standards of work ethics.
Most, if not all, leaders in EMS come from the inner ranks. If they have experience from elsewhere (military or McDonald's) makes no difference. By thrusting a newly promoted employee up the ladder and expected him to succeed with common business knowledge means you have failed your entire company. Yes, regardless if it's your 5 y/o dog who receives a check doing nothing or the hardest worker, you have failed them. When promoting somebody, give them a list of expectations and train them!
Ambulances are the second most valuable resource to the company. They need to be maintenced monthly and providers (yes it's your fault) need to respect the vehicle. if you have a hoopty and expect it to "safely" ship your packages, think again because it's putting the lifes of your dialysis contract and your money-makers at risk.
Schedules are brought out Friday and changes two or three times by Monday. You as a business manager know the need for your taxi rides. Changing a shift and expecting employees to accept a 4-4 shift a 0300 is unacceptable! plan accordingly! Also, create permanent shifts to allow your providers to volunteer to enhance their education. It's not like they'll ever use their EMT skills while working for you and if they lose their certs because you didn't schedule them for that one day ce credit, you'll have to hire another EMT (no biggie right? WRONG! LOOK BELOW). To schedule a PT employee more than 36 hours while your FT hours have been cut due to lack of business if poor management and quite frankly, illegal. You are cheating your PT'er out of benefits and PTO. Your FT is suffering because your are playing favorites!
To use the excuse of pay freeze is crap! (the standard is roughly $9.50, MEDICARE PAYS ENOUGH TO PAY LEAST $20 PER EMPLOYEE PER RUN! ESPECIALLY WHEN SPECIAL CONTRACTS SUCH AS A VETERANS AFFAIRS OR MIL. CONTRACTS PAY ADDITIONAL PAY PER RUN) You should be honored that a firefighter/paramedic or EMT is risking his career on his off-time to feed his kids; with their skillsets and experience they should receive MORE than some kid right out of high school; but they should not be invincible, hold them to the same standards as any other employee. Also tenure pay should be a requirement! For someone to stay with your company for more than a 90 day probie period is a milestone! Another issue is the NREMT: states that only require a state EMT card for lazy providers who have no drive or thought to provide the best possible care for their patients, those of us who do care enough to get certified to the national standard should be paid more. Countless times have I, a NREMT, seen a state EMT run around finding a pocket mask because they don't know how to use a combi-tube. We paid for the NREMT tests to make a career out of EMS, not so we can booty hop onto PA school or Nursing school! No NREMTs aren't God, but they know what to do when things go south.
Sincerely,
Va Transport EMT, NREMT
