Hi everyone, a quick bit about me - I'm currently a Paramedic in Florida, working for a busy 911 system on the west coast. I'm getting married next week, and we have been considering looking elsewhere in North America to live. I used to live in Denver, about 3 years, and we have been considering going back there. I know most of the basics of the systems out there, but wanted to know more about Rural Metro's 911 Aurora operations. I've read many places that essentially Paramedics in Aurora are somehow considered "lower" than the AFD firemedics...how accurate is that? Do the AFD medics ride in with every patient or just critical patients? Do RM medics have *any* say in patient care, and are they able to perform any assessments/interventions/procedures, or does AFD truly hold all the "control" and do everything? Where I currently work, we co-respond with ALS fire departments, however I am in no way "lesser" than the fire-medics...we are considered equals in patient care, and I seem to end up doing more of an assessment and procedures/interventions anyhow. Anyways, can any RM Aurora medics out there explain how it really works on a regular basis there? Also, do you work out of stations or street corner postings? Thanks for any assistance given!
Colorado EMS question (Aurora)
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sir.shocksalot
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Yes, R/M paramedics are absolutely considered "lower" than Firemedics. Many AFD paramedics are much nicer about it and will let you do more and have more say in patient care, especially if you know the AFD medic (such as working on the same shift as the AFD medic for a long time). However most AFD people will treat you like a strecher fetcher and treat you more like an ALS technician (just someone that can do ALS stuff, but not make ALS decisions).
R/M works 24 hr shifts in Aurora, same as the FD. The good news about it is that you get to know the fire crews fairly well, and the better you know them the more say in pt care you get. The bad news about it is 1) If you run with crews that are a$$holes then you are stuck running with them until you change shifts. 2) It is normal to run a standing 24. R/M works out of stations that are fairly gross (not that you will see the station anyway), and are more like converted office buildings.
That all said, of all the privates in Denver/Metro R/M was the best that I worked for. Your supervisors and coworkers are all fairly nice/agreeable (although there are some bad apples), there isn't a lot of screwing over of the little guy done by management. Your equipment is fairly modern and well kept, and there is a decent variety of shifts (24hrs, 12hrs, 8hrs). Pay is decent (for a private) and there is a decent amount of overtime for everyone (I always got at least 12hrs or more of overtime a week if I wanted it). I heard that they are currently doing some advanced scope inter-facility stuff which is pretty progressive.
In all honesty if you come to Colorado and work at R/M just treat it as a stepping stone to other systems. Denver Health is the pinnacle of EMS in the Denver/Metro area, they have good protocols, are well paid, get treated well by management, run double medic rigs, and are highly respected for above average patient care by all the local hospitals. Weld County, Poudre Valley Hospital EMS, Tompson Valley, Platte Valley Hospital and AMR Colorado Springs are all excellent non-fire based EMS services that are close to Denver that are excellent employment choices.
Any questions feel free to PM me.
Tigger
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Plus one for AMR in Colorado Springs. I don't work for them but nearly every crew I have worked with was great, very professional. From what I understand, they also have reasonably progressive protocols.
Of note: AMR co-responds with Colorado Springs Fire who has a medic on each supression piece. From what I have seen the services work great together but technically Fire is in "command" of every scene. Kinda strange I think given that CSFD has more restrictive protocols than that of AMR...
Of note: AMR co-responds with Colorado Springs Fire who has a medic on each supression piece. From what I have seen the services work great together but technically Fire is in "command" of every scene. Kinda strange I think given that CSFD has more restrictive protocols than that of AMR...