My solution is simple. Place them into first responder programs. Let them explore a portion of what EMS is and at the same time something they can have without a lot of time and money. EMT stands for technician, and with this it is considered a professional trade (volunteer or paid) and it holds responsibilities to the patient as being a member of the health profession (legally and litigiously).
Yes, skills are an essential and crucial part of the job. But, skills can be obtained by practice, review and continuation. In reality our skills is not that complicated in comparison to other professions. As a health care professional you are expected (as should be) to be held to academic levels, and have proficient skill level as well. This is why the profession is more difficult than others. We can not allow one or the other... I agree text book medics are worthless if they cannot perform, the same as skill medics who do not know how or properly misdiagnose but can perform the skill portion when instructed to. You cannot be half good in either one, again one must be proficient in both.
There are not many other professions that one can "jump" into. Not investigating prior to entering any profession is foolish. Even before entering a class or school. That is part of our problem.. sorry EMT school is easy to enter and easy to exit. There are many "health service career/occupations" courses designed to allow students to explore diverse health careers before investing and obligating time, dedication into a specific program. As well as career counselors, and basically discussing with career medics the good and the bad. I am sure many will misinterpet this, but consider how many in your class never went into EMS, any health career or passed that never should had.
Many never enter the field because after exposure or classes it is not what they expected. This is a shame because they do take up space, time and waste their money and time on a program as well as "flood" the numbers when comparing numbers for the work force. It is hard to justify increase pay, or need for more volunteers, when there are several hundred thousands of EMT's that are being certified yearly. Even though we know the real difference, it makes it hard to prove.
Personally, when I instructed Basic EMT I required Nelson Denny reading test. This gave me a chance to "screen" applicants. I would talk to them with guidance counselors and place them into a reading program, to enhance their basic educational skills. This is far more important than any program they may ever enter. By doing this, this allowed them to comprehend material better, have better study skills and a higher score on the NREMT exam.
I wonder how many on this forum has ever witnessed litigation and testimonies from EMT's from their charting, documentation as well as statements from them. I have and the part of the plaintiffs attorney is to project an image of ignorance, ill prepared and uneducated to the jury or judge. Even in the best educated levels (Dr.'s, etc..).
To persuade that the medics are not competent from their normal day actions to their education and intelligence levels is what juries make decisions from. I have seen PCR sheets enlarged to 6 foot size, with grossly mis-spelled common words, and even one had CPR misspelled multiple times. What image do you think this left... even though, I had heard that they were very "skilled". This leaves the jury to doubt credibility, and that is all it takes. Again, everyone is judged on how well they speak, write or communicate. Watch t.v. news reports... we have seen interviews, that we all cringe at.
Not everyone is cut out to work or be able to be in this profession... cold hard facts, but the truth. Like many other professions.
R/r 911