Private Ambulance Services?

[us_linguist]

Heya guys. Been talking with some EMT guys back home and apparently a lot of the ambulance work is done by C.A.R.E, a private ambulance firm who is contracted by the counties and such. Anyone had any experience with private companies such as this? What are the advantages of working here instead of with counties/cities? Any differences in operation?

~Steve

 

[KEVD18]

private services are sometimes contracted to provide local rescue. this simplifies things for the town since all they have to do is write a check.

these jobs may be easier to get than a local rescue or third service. there probably be a civil service or residency requirment. however, these compaines usually have a transfer division. expect to have to put your time in the renal roundup before assignment to a rescue shift.

 

[AnthonyM83]

I think working for a private ambulance service is just fine. WestMed which is in your area is a particularly good one, except for a few select individuals...but you'll probably get the most positive feedback from employees than from anyone else.

Don't really know what to compare it, though. I don't know anyone who works for a non-private ambulance service (other than FF staffed ambulances).

 

[Jon]

priviate services are OK.. the benifits and pay are often not as good as a county employee would get, but the better services pay OK.

 

[Tincanfireman]

I've been working for a private service for over a year and love it. Yes, we are rightfully called Carcinioma Cowboys or Kidney Kids who do the Renal Roundup, but it's a great place to sharpen your skills and learn a lot (especially gerentology...lol). I have been doing 911 for over 20 years in the fire service and have a whole collection of the "been there, done that" t-shirts in my closet of experiences. This is so different. In addition to the bread and butter dialysis and radiation calls, we also do critical care transport from our moderately sized town to the Big Hospitals in the state, and that is a chapter in itself. We routinely do 50+ mile transports with unstable MI's, expectant mothers with preemies all but hanging out of their bodies, peds in respiratory distress, brain bleeds going for surgery, and, well, I'm sure you get the idea. We also get a chance to build a solid relationship with our regulars, some of whom have no family outside of the folks who take them to the doctor's office or the podiatrist. Call me sappy, but I just finished a Christmas CD that we're going to play in the unit tomorrow, just because I know they like stuff like that. No, we don't get the constant adrenalin rush of a 911 service, but I'm OK with that, too. PM me if you have any questions; I'll be happy to answer as many as you have.

 

[trauma1534]

I've been working for a private service for over a year and love it. Yes, we are rightfully called Carcinioma Cowboys or Kidney Kids who do the Renal Roundup, but it's a great place to sharpen your skills and learn a lot (especially gerentology...lol). I have been doing 911 for over 20 years in the fire service and have a whole collection of the "been there, done that" t-shirts in my closet of experiences. This is so different. In addition to the bread and butter dialysis and radiation calls, we also do critical care transport from our moderately sized town to the Big Hospitals in the state, and that is a chapter in itself. We routinely do 50+ mile transports with unstable MI's, expectant mothers with preemies all but hanging out of their bodies, peds in respiratory distress, brain bleeds going for surgery, and, well, I'm sure you get the idea. We also get a chance to build a solid relationship with our regulars, some of whom have no family outside of the folks who take them to the doctor's office or the podiatrist. Call me sappy, but I just finished a Christmas CD that we're going to play in the unit tomorrow, just because I know they like stuff like that. No, we don't get the constant adrenalin rush of a 911 service, but I'm OK with that, too. PM me if you have any questions; I'll be happy to answer as many as you have.

Good post. I agree. This is a good place to start and get your feet wet, then move on to the bigger and better agancy, then go back there when you are burned out and have been there and done that enough that you don't want to have the big rush anymore. This is one of EMS's few "retirement" places of employment, that also serves as a good "entry level position". Low stress.