EMS - networking in central Indiana?

[shadow5606]

Hello folks, I'm on here to learn what I can and meet people who are doing EMS work in or around Indianapolis.

I'm a professional sales rep now, work for a publishing company and sell college textbooks for a living. I've been frustrated with sales for years and have been researching a move into EMS work.

I've done a fair ammount of online research for several months, I've also talked with medics at several firehouse's in my area and just this past saturday I took and passed my BLS for Healthcare Providers course at St. Vincent's hospital. I'm also on a waitlist for an EMT course there in May.

I'm looking to talk to people who can advise me on the local job market in central Indiana, pros & cons of working various companies, hospitals, etc... I'm also looking for advice on EMS career paths. I want to go beyond the EMT-B level immediately and want to earn better money as soon as possible too.

Feel free to respond here and if you're in my area I especially want to talk with you &/or exchange phone numbers.

Thanks & take care

 

[Epi-do]

Just wanted to say hi and welcome! I did get your PM, but am at the firehouse right now, so I will get back to you in the next couple days, when I can respond and don't have to worry about getting interrupted by a run.

 

[shadow5606]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll look forward to hearing from you.

I'm especially interested in doing EMS as a civilian at a firehouse because I've heard there are a lot of advantages going that way. Plus, down the line I may be interested in moving into the fire side of things (only have 6 years till indys cutoff though)

 

[usafmedic45]

I've been frustrated with sales for years and have been researching a move into EMS work

So you want to give up a steady paycheck for a much more stressful and lower rate of pay?

want to earn better money as soon as possible too.

You and everyone else. Good luck with that. Ever wonder why so many people become EMTs or paramedics and then move on to other fields? It's not only because of the stress...the lack of "better pay" has a lot to do with it.

I want to go beyond the EMT-B level immediately

I recommend against that. A year or two as a basic EMT, either paid or volunteer, even on a part time basis will do you loads of good both in class and on the street.

 

[shadow5606]

I hear you Steve, I know I'm about to cut my income in half (or more) and add stress to my life. I also think I'm going to add something worthwhile, meaningful & challenging.

For the last few years sales has just felt like moving money around to me. I'm at the point where I genuinely don't care if I succeed or fail so I think that's the time to get out.

With the research I'm doing I hope I'll be able to come at this thing with some realism and do it smartly. I'm not looking forward to the $9-$10 an hour I expect to make starting off but I'm looking forward to the experience and being challenged to learn again. From there I'm hoping to get my Paramedic cert and possibly (haven't settled on this) go after a firefighter job. If I don't go the firefighter route then maybe EMS management or training might supplement the $$ side of things. Still sorting all that out.

 

[usafmedic45]

I also think I'm going to add something worthwhile, meaningful & challenging.

If that's what you want to do, then do it as a volunteer or on a part time basis. There are plenty of services in the rural counties out that can always use good people.

I'm at the point where I genuinely don't care if I succeed or fail so I think that's the time to get out.

Give it a few years...a lot of people come to view healthcare careers in much the same way.

From there I'm hoping to get my Paramedic cert and possibly (haven't settled on this) go after a firefighter job.

Oh, trust me...if you don't want a job where you just think you're moving money around (read as: power and politics takes precedence over everything else), you definitely want to stay away from firefighting as a career. Nothing stays pure and true and service-oriented once unions get involved and you will never see a paid fire department that is not unionized. Like I said, it sounds like you'd be a better fit for EMS as a volunteer than as a career, especially if you ever want to have a family life.

 

[shadow5606]

Well, Steve, I may regret the move to EMS work someday but I'm going with my gut for now. I can always stop before I take a job and can always go back to sales if it's not for me. I'll try to do some volunteer work if I can find it but I'm going to keep trucking forward.


Big news today though... Just got an email from the EMT trainer that I'm now up to 1st on the waitlist. He suggested I go ahead and pay for the course and that I should get in.

That's a big move and it all seems very real now!!

I can't wait to get started with this course and do a ridealong, really anxious to get into this.

Again, if there are any other around from central Indiana or if you know folks in the area I'd be interested in talking with you about the local job market.