EMT-I/99 is not a Paramedic!!

[Jambi]

I disagree. I went from B to I and now to P, skipping over E. I am very thankful that I took the I/99 class before paramedic although I had no intention at the time of even taking a paramedic class. I went into the paramedic class knowing med. math, I.Vs, EKGs(although not as much as I thought), and most skills, now I can concentrate on learning ONLY what I wasn't taught in the I class or correcting what I thought I knew. I don't see how anything can be redundant if you are continually growing. If that were the case, reading more than 1 book on EKGs is redundant.

...but paramedic vocational training isn't so difficult that such things shouldn't be a concern. I realize difficulty is relevant, and dependant on the person, but it's not a difficult program.

Now for those whose only "education" is previous EMS training, then yes, paramedic is a huge leap. I would suggest that the "leap" to paramedic for those with a science background is more "meh."

 

[ExpatMedic0]

There's a story that finished or started med school at 59...

I think paramedic may be it for me. I'm 48, have a full-time career as commercial insurance agent and work part-time for an EMS agency (24-36 hours hours a week). I am also worn out from just finishing the EMT-I/99 class and going straight into paramedic. Who knows what the future holds!! I have a feeling it will take all I have left to stay on top of being a quality paramedic.

well I feel better about being 30 and currently completing an undergrad degree on campus

 

[Jambi]

well I feel better about being 30 and currently completing an undergrad degree on campus

I'm 32 and just finished medic school (that I went to on a whim) and am in my last class for my BA.

 

[46Young]

I disagree. I went from B to I and now to P, skipping over E. I am very thankful that I took the I/99 class before paramedic although I had no intention at the time of even taking a paramedic class. I went into the paramedic class knowing med. math, I.Vs, EKGs(although not as much as I thought), and most skills, now I can concentrate on learning ONLY what I wasn't taught in the I class or correcting what I thought I knew. I don't see how anything can be redundant if you are continually growing. If that were the case, reading more than 1 book on EKGs is redundant.

When I took the Paramedic Original out of N.Y.Methodist, each of these subjects were alloted ample time, so it's uneccesary to have done it prior to learning it in medic school, if that makes sense. You'll get everything that you need in medic school. There's no need to do some of the medic stuff beforehand just to make medic school easier.

My issue is that the I-99's were allowed to function with the same scope and autonomy as the paramedic, with much less education. I also feel that the I-99 may not learn as much from each pt contact as the medic will, due to their inferior education (compared to the paramedic).

Really, phebotomists learn IV's, and any high school student that passed the most basic algebra course can do med math with a few day's instruction. Cardiology is different, but ECG prowess is of limited use without a solid education in Cardiology, unless you're trained to "see A then do B" with no deviation.

 

[JPINFV]

Back to the topic... isn't it Ohio that calls their I/99s "paramedics" and their paramedics "paramedic specialists"?

 

[usalsfyre]

Back to the topic... isn't it Ohio that calls their I/99s "paramedics" and their paramedics "paramedic specialists"?

Indiana

 

[Jambi]

Indiana

I think we should be calling everyone paramedic like Canada. It's not like the public can tell the difference.

 

[Jambi]

Also, with all this I99 talk going on it may be useful to remember that NREMT has done away with all "I" levels. If I remember correctly, it was for all the same reasons that are gone over here: it muddies the waters.

States can hold on if they want, but it will likely change IMO.

 

[Medic Tim]

I think we should be calling everyone paramedic like Canada. It's not like the public can tell the difference.

Our BLS Medics (EMT in Alberta) is about the AEMT in the US(It is usually the minimum to run 911, some rural areas use FR). Below that is First responder, which is about the same as a US Basic. I would have a hard time calling a FR a medic like many in the US would have an issue with calling a basic a Medic.

 

[Frozennoodle]

To me, the EMT-I, at least a new one is still too much "see A - do B" instead of using clinical judgment due to the lack of education. It baffles me how providers here want to go EMT-B > E > I > P instead of going right from B to P. NYC medics go this route, and do fine. Taking baby steps is unecessary, expensive (both for opportunity cost of not making medic pay and also the cost of the classes) and redundant.

I did it like that because of the extra pay involved for EMT-I. I get this question a lot and over paramedic school I made an extra 8k on top of what I would have made as a basic. I paid 800 for the course. Mathematically it just made sense to me. I also got an opportunity to be in the lead provider role using what I was learning in P school while I was at work. It really helped build my confidence as a provider.

I also couldn't start P school til the next semester so I had a free semester to do it.

 

[VirginiaEMT]

I did it like that because of the extra pay involved for EMT-I. I get this question a lot and over paramedic school I made an extra 8k on top of what I would have made as a basic. I paid 800 for the course. Mathematically it just made sense to me. I also got an opportunity to be in the lead provider role using what I was learning in P school while I was at work. It really helped build my confidence as a provider.

I also couldn't start P school til the next semester so I had a free semester to do it.[/QUOTE

I haven't spent one cent on my education thus far, other than books I have chosen to purchase outside of the classroom setting to learn. I am being reimbursed a majority of my paramedic fees as well.