AMR San Diego

[terrible one]

thanks for the info thegreypilgrim, I'll be applying shortly to Loma Linda if I can get a job in SD. Are you commuting or do you live in the San Bernardino area?

 

[sdadam]

Do you have any specific questions?

I worked for AMR San Diego for just short of five years, did my paramedic internship on AMR254 out of San Miguel Station 14, and then the last half on AMR257 out of Lemon Grove Fire Departments only station (my preceptor bid in the middle of my internship).

AMR San Diego has a horrible reputation, and rightfully so. It is a classic example of some great people stuck under hysterically incompetent management. They also have issues because, yes they pay a horrible wage to both EMTs and Medics (as does all non-gov services in SD), which causes positions to be largely transient.

So people stay just long enough to find a good job and leave, and those that do stay for a long time are generally the ones who can't get a better job due a variety of reasons none of them good. There is a class of "old timers" from back in the day of Hartsons Ambulance, who are mostly amazing (My preceptor being the best (in case he ever reads this, hi paul).

Furthermore, they are crippled with shortsighted decision making, refusing to invest any money into anything that would elevate patient care, or increase business. It is unusual to go an entire go-around without your ambulance breaking down, being unable to restock some supplies.

As an employee you understand that in any situation the company will always take an adversarial position, regardless of what is right or wrong, the employee is always wrong.

They are also in the stone age technologically, they several times while I worked there attempted to institute a digital PCR system, every time being taken by crappy half thought out systems with sub par software and equipment which they did not have the technical ability to implement, yet every other agency in San Diego (and even some private BLS companies) have managed to implement one of these systems.

I would not recommend working there, but if it's your only option, then it's your only option.

 

[thegreypilgrim]

thanks for the info thegreypilgrim, I'll be applying shortly to Loma Linda if I can get a job in SD. Are you commuting or do you live in the San Bernardino area?

Nice! I assume you're doing the EMC program right? I think you'll enjoy it...although there are some aspects of it which I am not a fan of. But nevermind that.

I actually commute from the LA area, so it's quite a drive but I think it's worth it.

 

[terrible one]

I would not recommend working there, but if it's your only option, then it's your only option.

Thank you for the response. For me it wouldn't be a long term thing and right now it's kind of looking like my only option. If I think of any questions I'll be sure to ask. Thanks again

Nice! I assume you're doing the EMC program right? I think you'll enjoy it...although there are some aspects of it which I am not a fan of. But nevermind that.

I actually commute from the LA area, so it's quite a drive but I think it's worth it.

Yes the EMC program and possibly then the PA program (but one thing at a time). I have one more semester to complete before applying. Are you on the West side of LA? I'm not sure where I'll be next year but I'm sure I'll be commuting. Are you working now? What do you plan on doing after completing their program?

 

[MusicMedic]

Thank you for the response. For me it wouldn't be a long term thing and right now it's kind of looking like my only option. If I think of any questions I'll be sure to ask. Thanks again

Did you try applying at AMR in Riverside?

also Hall Ambulance in San Bernadino is hiring for Medics as well, (i know its a bit of a drive but i hear Hall Ambulance runs Kern County 911)

 

[terrible one]

AMR in both Riverside/San Bernardino are not hiring.
Hall (is not in San Bernardino County, but only in Kern County) I applied to got a call back and then never heard from them again

 

[MusicMedic]

AMR in both Riverside/San Bernardino are not hiring.
Hall (is not in San Bernardino County, but only in Kern County) I applied to got a call back and then never heard from them again

Err i meant bakersfield for Hall

 

[thegreypilgrim]

Yes the EMC program and possibly then the PA program (but one thing at a time). I have one more semester to complete before applying. Are you on the West side of LA? I'm not sure where I'll be next year but I'm sure I'll be commuting. Are you working now? What do you plan on doing after completing their program?

Cool man. Good luck with whatever you decide. And no I live in the east side so it's not THAT bad of a drive.

I am working right now for a terrible IFT company in the LA area. Not what I signed up for but it pays the bills I suppose.

After finishing LLU I plan doing a post-bacc program and then applying to medical school.

 

[terrible one]

I am tempted to go that route as well (IFT company), I just have a lot on my plate right now so we'll see. Good luck with medical school! I'm sure if I can get into LLU I'll be asking you tons of questions.

 

[somePerson]

I never worked for AMR-SD but I know 5-10 people that have as medics. Pay is horrible ( I think my friend made 60k working 15-20 shifts a month lol) , management is bad, and you get ran to the ground at most of their stations. However, it does provide good experiance for a new medic running a lot of calls in low socioeconomic areas and the dual medic system is pretty cool as a new medic.

AMR-SD is just a place to get experiance as a new medic until you can get hired by a fire dept.

By the way, I'm a new medic I applied, took their test and I'm #12 on their waitlist to get hired, don't know why they keep posting open positions on their website.

 

[terrible one]

ya I wondered the same thing. I'll actually be in school for the next year finishing transfer classes so I'll attempt to apply again but I'm sure their waitlist will be over 50 by then

 

[motomedic4]

Im gonna dig up an old thread...

I worked for AMR San Diego for a few years as a medic only. The company isnt as bad and scary as some would make it seem (Smolie Olie!). It really depends on what you put into it. I learned quickly that if I kept my mouth shut and head down and just did my job, it went pretty smooth. The supervisors stayed off my back and I got to play paramedic in a cool system. Yes there are horror stories about guys getting fired for absurd reasons, but there is always more to the story than we ever really know. Besides, I truly believe if it wasnt for AMR SD, I wouldnt have the fire job I have today. My dept hired 7 out the last 8 from my old medic unit. Good perk, right?! My $0.02.

I saw a lot of questions about the SD setup and stations. Here it is....

City of La Mesa - Medic 255
City of Lemon Grove - Medic 257
San Miguel FPD - Medics 254 & 256
City of Chula Vista - Medics 414, 415, 420
Bonita FPD - Medic 416
National City - Medics 417 & 418
City of Imperial Beach - Medic 413
Float Units - Medics 411 & 412
Alpine - Rural Medic 17
Campo - Rural Medic 86
Jamul - Rural Medic 66
Donovan Prison - Rural Medic 65

All the units are 24 hours except for the 2 floaters (12 hr). The schedule is a Kelley Schedule 4/6. Yes they start medics at $11.37/hr. Hard to live on for sure but when you only work 10 days a month, leaves lots of time for a second job if you so desire. With standard OT and no extra shifts, my paychecks would average $1200/2 weeks. Sucks, but its a job! There is a lot of turnover, so OT is pretty easy to come by. My medical benefits are great, especially since I am starting a family.

Hope this helps any new medics looking for a job.

 

[FoleyArtist]

Im gonna dig up an old thread...

I worked for AMR San Diego for a few years as a medic only. The company isnt as bad and scary as some would make it seem (Smolie Olie!). It really depends on what you put into it. I learned quickly that if I kept my mouth shut and head down and just did my job, it went pretty smooth. The supervisors stayed off my back and I got to play paramedic in a cool system. Yes there are horror stories about guys getting fired for absurd reasons, but there is always more to the story than we ever really know. Besides, I truly believe if it wasnt for AMR SD, I wouldnt have the fire job I have today. My dept hired 7 out the last 8 from my old medic unit. Good perk, right?! My $0.02.

I saw a lot of questions about the SD setup and stations. Here it is....

City of La Mesa - Medic 255
City of Lemon Grove - Medic 257
San Miguel FPD - Medics 254 & 256
City of Chula Vista - Medics 414, 415, 420
Bonita FPD - Medic 416
National City - Medics 417 & 418
City of Imperial Beach - Medic 413
Float Units - Medics 411 & 412
Alpine - Rural Medic 17
Campo - Rural Medic 86
Jamul - Rural Medic 66
Donovan Prison - Rural Medic 65

All the units are 24 hours except for the 2 floaters (12 hr). The schedule is a Kelley Schedule 4/6. Yes they start medics at $11.37/hr. Hard to live on for sure but when you only work 10 days a month, leaves lots of time for a second job if you so desire. With standard OT and no extra shifts, my paychecks would average $1200/2 weeks. Sucks, but its a job! There is a lot of turnover, so OT is pretty easy to come by. My medical benefits are great, especially since I am starting a family.

Hope this helps any new medics looking for a job.

time to re-dig up a fossil of an old thread. i wonder if motomedic is still on here? i was hoping for any updates after 3 years if this is currently how amr is still operating in sd?

i just started working for amr vegas. while i love it immensely the experience, the calls, the 911 system in general, the heat isn't bad. i really want to relocate closer to home and i think AMR SD is where i'd want to end up when i start to inquire about a transfer. also, there are residency issues for school that i don't wanna lose in california and wait a year for in nevada, but i digress.

hope to hear from guys. thanks