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The discussion on bridge programs, combined with a friendly calling out, prompted this thread. Given the community we've developed here I also felt it was important to say something as I think the frequency of my participation here may change a bit. Have no fear, though. I'm not leaving. After a number of years in EMS I found myself pretty much tapped out in terms of what career options were available to me. I'd worked on the ground. I'd done critical care. I'd done HEMS. Each move only led to me to wanting to learn and do more. Without moving into administration, something I don't want to do, there weren't many options left available to me. Don't get me wrong. I love EMS. I love being a paramedic. It just reached a point where it wasn't enough. So what's a guy to do? He goes to PA school. That's what he does. The whole time I was working I was taking random classes here and there. They were mostly science and health care classes. The academic work set me up for PA school which was 27 months of pretty intense study. My first year of school was as a full time student while working PT on weekends. (Yeah... I don't recommend that. About three months into the year I got sick and was sick for the next eight months. I finally got better when I quit working.) My clinical year (15 months) was 90 hours a week minimum of clinical, study and research projects. It certainly wasn't easy. In the end, though, it got me to where I am now. I'm working in an ER as a PA doing a whole lot more than I ever thought I would be doing. It's not just a skill thing. It's being able to assess and treat and refer patients in a way I couldn't do as a paramedic. And, working in the ER of a hospital with a pretty solid EMS system in place, I'll have options available to me to give back to EMS in ways I couldn't before. So that's where I am. Of course, there's more to the story. But I don't want to drone on and on. If anyone has any questions I'm happy to answer them.

What training are you planning on getting to run that ultrasound machine? I'm curious not argumentative. Will the hospitals trust a paramedic's reading of a portable ultrasound in the field when they often do not trust them with their 12 lead interpretations. Do you really need a ultrasound in your ambluance and what will it be used for?

Hey guys, I am doing some self study on ventilators, I have attempted to study on this subject multiple times but have been unable to find much out there. Is there any site or PPT that ya'll have that could be useful? I am not looking for just transport medic training. all information is welcome. Thanks, FireEMT2009

Are you kidding? One of the bigger problems EMS has is the IAFF.

in Houston we are in a transition from lp-12 to another monitor, which we are testing. its between zoll x, lp-15, and phillips heart start mrx. the zoll x is super light, the bp cuff gets a bp really fast and accurate. on cardiac arrest patients it is very efficient it charges up to 200 joules but actuallys shocks up to 280 from what i saw. the rep said the pads talk to eath other and see how much current is needed to get a good biphasic shock. the 12 lead print out is different than an lp-12. white paper with faint big and small boxes its a 3 by 4 read out, different than were used to. i had it for about 1 month and overall i liked it. i had 4 cardiac arrests with it and a couple cvas. no stemis tho. sweet little cpr sternum pad to measure the depth and rate of compressions. very long battery life, had a long cpr case where he was shocked 9 times and maybe lasted an hour and 45 minutes. so far ive tried all of them and the zoll x is very high up there on my list.

Why do you have to bring up minorities?

Congrats and good luck. Don't be a stranger, think of us as study buddies.

Welcome Chris, Is it mostly different good or different bad compared to the military?

I remember back when I was doing non-emergent transport services decades ago there were times when our patient unexpectedly deteriorated and we had to call for EMS to assist. I wonder what he would do in this case?

I passed!! Just waiting to take NREMT