Sussex County EMS

[NomadicMedic]

I just wanted to pass along some info about Sussex County EMS.

We are an all ALS, non transport agency, located in Southern Delaware, and we're looking for highly skilled, highly educated medics to join our system.

The lowdown on the county and system is here: http://www.sussexcountyde.gov/dept/ems/

And if you want to know more about the system, the "out of state paramedic certification process" or anything else, drop me a note. It's not easy to get hired here, but well worth it.

 

[Dav]

Reply

I am very interested in applying to Sussex county ems! I ave done some research over the past year. How intense is the hiring process? What are one of the benefits of working in Sussex and living in Delaware? I ave been a medic in Pittsburgh pa past four years looking for a change in pace.

Thanks

Dave gloss

 

[Handsome Robb]

I just wanted to pass along some info about Sussex County EMS.

We are an all ALS, non transport agency, located in Southern Delaware, and we're looking for highly skilled, highly educated medics to join our system.

The lowdown on the county and system is here: http://www.sussexcountyde.gov/dept/ems/

And if you want to know more about the system, the "out of state paramedic certification process" or anything else, drop me a note. It's not easy to get hired here, but well worth it.

I'm gonna get back to you in about 5 years after I finish school and get some experience under my belt...

 

[Anjel]

I'm gonna get back to you in about 5 years after I finish school and get some experience under my belt...

Ditto.

 

[fast65]

I'm gonna get back to you in about 5 years after I finish school and get some experience under my belt...

Same here...we can totally all move to Delaware and start a frat house


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[Anjel]

Same here...we can totally all move to Delaware and start a frat house


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I wanna come. So frat/sorority house? Lol

 

[fast65]

I wanna come. So frat/sorority house? Lol

Absolutely!


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[Hockey]

Non transport?

 

[terrible one]

ALS intercept. They have squads (think LAco) if a patient requires ALS one medic jumps in the ambulance (driven by the FD or volunteer I believe) and the other stays in the squad and they meet at the ER.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Dave (and others)- the hiring process is a bit intense. At least half of our applicants don't make it through the "medical oral board/scenarios" portion of the interview. It is a panel style interview that probes all areas of your knowledge and skills. Following that is a "chiefs interview" with senior staff, a physical and a PAT. If you make it through that, you'll be hired and you will enter the Out of State Paramedic Process. Similar to FTO time at other services, the process constantly tests your skills and critical thinking and is designed to weed out weak medics. It is not uncommon for newly hired paramedics to fail the process and be released from employment.

Not to make it sound brutal, but the process determines if you fit here and if you can meet the high standards.

As far as benefits to living in DE? It's sales tax free, close to the beach, great hunting and fishing, relatively inexpensive (at least it was for me, coming from Seattle!) decent protocols, great equipment, nice people... If you have specific questions I can address, let me know.

 

[NomadicMedic]

As far as the system, we have 8 stations, staffed with 2 medics per 12 hour shift. We are dispatched simultaneously with the volunteer fire department BLS ambulance on Charlie, Delta and Echo level calls. We will respond to the address, and start PT care with one or occasionally both of the medics riding to the hospital. If we split, the medic unit goes back in service "single medic" and can respond to calls with a second medic, usually a supervisor, as back up. Delaware law requires that two medics respond to any ALS call.

Here's a look at a reserve Suburban, two sets of gear in the 'Burban, and a regular squad.

 

[NomadicMedic]

I'd really encourage anyone who's interested in the system to come and do a ride along. Plan on spending a couple of days to really get a feel for the place before you decide. It's certainly a very different EMS system, and may not be everyone's cup of mud.

Oh, and come in the summer for maximum ridiculousness at the beach and surrounding areas.

 

[Hockey]

I don't get it...why would anyone want to work for a non-transporting agency?

I like having my ambulance, with my equipment, and not have to hop into another truck thats not mine. Maybe I'm just spoiled here

 

[MMiz]

I don't get it...why would anyone want to work for a non-transporting agency?

I like having my ambulance, with my equipment, and not have to hop into another truck thats not mine. Maybe I'm just spoiled here

Are you kidding? Where I used to work medics would take a pay cut to work the ALS first response units, yet there was a line of people waiting for a spot.

Respond to 911 calls, do the fun stuff, ride in the rig on exciting calls, and then conveniently leave when it was time for paperwork and decon. That's the life!

 

[medicdan]

As far as the system, we have 8 stations, staffed with 2 medics per 12 hour shift. We are dispatched simultaneously with the volunteer fire department BLS ambulance on Charlie, Delta and Echo level calls. We will respond to the address, and start PT care with one or occasionally both of the medics riding to the hospital. If we split, the medic unit goes back in service "single medic" and can respond to calls with a second medic, usually a supervisor, as back up. Delaware law requires that two medics respond to any ALS call.

Does the state only require that two medics "lay eyes" on the patient at some point in the encounter or stay with the patient (either in the ambulance or following in another vehicle)?

Where is the line between the ideal of two medics arriving at the same time/collaborating in care, and the second medic arriving late in care/at the hospital just to "sign the chart"?

Where does responsibility lie if the medic in the back of the truck makes a mistake while the second medic is called to a different call?

 

[Hockey]

Are you kidding? Where I used to work medics would took a pay cut to work the ALS first response units, yet there was a line of people waiting for a spot.

Respond to 911 calls, do the fun stuff, ride in the rig on exciting calls, and then conveniently leave when it was time for paperwork and decon. That's the life!

:lol:

True. Good points. I'm sure I'd be all over something like that in a couple years.

 

[Anjel]

:lol:

True. Good points. I'm sure I'd be all over something like that in a couple years.

Heck ya I want to work on the PFR cars.

Have to have like 2 years in first as medic.

Like mmiz said. People wait for those spots to open up.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Does the state only require that two medics "lay eyes" on the patient at some point in the encounter or stay with the patient (either in the ambulance or following in another vehicle)?

Where is the line between the ideal of two medics arriving at the same time/collaborating in care, and the second medic arriving late in care/at the hospital just to "sign the chart"?

Where does responsibility lie if the medic in the back of the truck makes a mistake while the second medic is called to a different call?

Nowhere did I say two medics have to touch or make contact with the patient, I said two medics "must respond". On priority one calls, both medics will ride in and someone will drive the truck back. On priority 2 and 3 calls, the less acute stuff, one medic can easily handle the care, leaving your partner available for other calls or the single guy will cancel the backup. And where would the responsibility lie if a single medic in your system made a mistake? On the medic, of course. That's no different than anyplace else.

And we have to write extensive charts on every call... And we decon, too.

 

[NomadicMedic]

And it's interesting to note, we cover so many different areas that it's easier to have your own ALS gear in a bag. Having worked in the back of an ambulance full time, I can say now that there's no way I'd want to go back to the bus, when I have all my ALS gear on the chase truck.

Again, this isn't a perfect system… And it may not be for everybody. However, I sure do like it a lot and I would say, without hesitation, we have some of the best medics in the country working here. The pay, the benefits, the vacation time, the ConEd, the equipment, the trucks... All of it adds up to make for an excellent system.

Hey, If you're happy posting on a street corner in between BLS nursing home returns and 911 calls … Then go for it. For me, those days are over.

 

[Handsome Robb]

From talking to you briefly about it it sounds like a system that I would love to work in. But I'm not a huge of the east coast....Why are all the good services out there and not on the Left Coast?