British New to American EMS

irishboxer384

irishboxer384

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Hi all,

I am just seeking some confirmation/clarification on systems in this country.

Me- looking to get on the next DECENTLY REGARDED paramedic program soonish.

From what I have read and managed to find, EMS is:

1- Fire fighter EMTs/Paramedics for 911
2- County paramedics that provide 911 medic cover
3- Private companies that provide medic 911 or IFT
4- Fire based- I keep hearing this term but not sure what it means?? Does it mean a paramedic who is attached to a FD but not a fire fighter? or am i way off?

I have been in various medic roles outside of the US so trying to get my head around the options here, it is a shame to enjoy the best benefits you'd have to be a fire fighter here! I have zero interest in hoses lol....

Would I be right or wrong in assuming county paramedic jobs are the best generally for calls/career? I am located in Texas if that helps any? Replies much appreciated!
 
Easier to answer for your specific area; a catalog of every configuration that exists in this country would take all day. Where are you in Texas? I'm sure someone here knows the local scoop.
 
Im in Dallas, but flexible to move anywhere in state pretty much. Just wondering what the best option is for working 911 without having to apply and get into a fire department
 
No first hand experience, but I know Texas has some oustanding non-fire EMS options. Williamson County and ATCEMS come to mind off the top of my head. Since you're not yet a medic ATCEMS makes even more sense.
 
thanks chaz, so does that mean county level EMS are usually the most decent guys to work for?

also, can anyone tell me is fire-based paramedic the same as a firefighter paramedic, or is is a paramedic who works alongside firefights just?
 
Depends on what you want. I work as a county based single role paramedic on the east coast and wouldn't ever have any interest in touching a fire hose. I think I'm paid fairly with opportunities to advance and receive raises, have decent benefits, and am treated fairly. At work, I drive a 2014 model year truck with good equipment and run only ALS calls. Honestly, from my perspective, I'm about as happy as I could be running ground EMS.

I can't speak for all of the Texas departments, but if you want single role paramedicine county based services would be a good place to start looking. There are likely some good hospital based services that would be worth looking into as well.

Typically, the term "fire medic" or "fire paramedic" refers to an individual who is dual certified as a firefighter and a paramedic. They function in both roles and can typically be assigned either to the ambulance or the engine/truck as a first response ALS unit or even the only ALS provider who gets on the ambulance as necessary (yes, I am aware it's inefficient). Some places use single role EMS providers hired and employed by the fire department who don't run fire calls or work on the engine, but that is less common.
 
Yea the county based sounds like a good deal from what you and others have said on the forum. At the moment I work as a remote medic overseas so the pay is too good to give up just now, so when this contract ends I'll be looking at spending more time with family at home. I can imagine the county positions being quite well sought after.

Thanks for your time mate appreciate it
 
Some places have a municipal "third service" (i.e. not police or fire) which is public but does purely EMS. Not a bad way to go.

But again, all of this is very location-specific. It's hard to generalize anything in this business.
 
Things are definitely much more complex in America with regards to difference scopes of practise/ems systems...in the UK if i move from Northern Ireland to England/Scotland/Wales the system is pretty much the same...and there is no changing of driver's licences and registration plates let alone medical qualifications and reciprocity lol....ah well the price of marrying an american girl haha
 
Yes, welcome to our headaches. (EMS, not American girls :P) Are you certified yet as an EMT or medic here? How does reciprocity work, if at all?
 
Brandon O said:
Yes, welcome to our headaches. (EMS, not American girls :P) Are you certified yet as an EMT or medic here? How does reciprocity work, if at all?
Click to expand...
Well, American girls too...We just have a list of headaches.
 
ah this is where the plot thickens, on a leave period I did my EMT course at UCLA's program a year ago then took my NREMT exam. I never used any British qualifications to try and transfer as it was turning into too much of a headache since Im not HPC registered UK Paramedic.

I didn't bother with getting licensed since I was working overseas and didn't want or need to work as a medic in SoCal...so in order to be licensed- I have to apply to Oklahoma to get licensed...then ask for reciprocity from Texas- crazy unorganised system!

I don't mind working my way up to my equivalent UK training (not that I have a choice), but so long as there is a decent career at the end of it...no interest in being a fire fighter whatsoever haha....
 
The opportunity for a decent career is... variable.

Again, it depends where you are. There are reportedly some services in Texas that seem like one could do okay with.
 
I havent came across to many paramedics who are overly happy in their jobs from these forums? I can understand some of the complaints to be fair...

Nurses in the UK make $31,000 a year (3/4 year degree), whereas uk private paramedics can make $300-400 for a 12 hour shift...america has this the other way around it seems
 
Pretty much. You're entering a career with some issues, I'm afraid.
 
its ok i can handle that...begrudgingly lol....f i cant get a medic position that doesnt make me content ill just keep bouncing back and forth with the overseas work...that or win the lottery lol.

i cant be alone in wanting a 'paramedic only' career? must be a fair share of guys/girls that have no interest in putting fires out across the US.
 
Like I said, myself and many of my co-workers feel the same way. Decent single role EMS jobs are out there. You just have to do a bit of searching and be willing to relocate.
 
thanks for the heads up guys
 
Plenty, but EMS hasn't really carved out a stable, respectable, unified role in the professional world yet. In a few areas there's a good department, but in many you're with a private company that may or may not treat you very well, or you're with the fire department. For better or for worse the fire service is at least a career that pays well and has job stability, so now that they're doing so much EMS anyway it's kinda become the only real career path for some. (There's flight jobs, but those are very rare and sometimes don't pay much either.)

People are trying to fix things. It's slow going.
 
Jobs are tough to find here if you're not looking to work for a private service or FD. County based is the way to go in my opinion. How is EMS in the UK? everything I've read said the fees just to apply are astronomical and Medics in the US don't make a fortune . . .
 
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