Nate

I can't see them making it much further west then Beaumont. Stat Care is pretty stable in that area.

Which is why I don't the ER gig.

The only issues I didn't like about AMR is: 1. The pay sucks. 2. They only let you work 8, 12, or 16 hour shifts (around here). 3. Paramedic/Basic truck, mostly paramedic calls. 4. Almost nothing but transfer. 5. Posting. 6. They don't seem to want to work with school schedules (around here). However, if I was new into EMS and looking for a company that wasn't going to go out of business, get shut down for Medicare fraud tomorrow, and would make sure the person I was working with was capable of performing at their skill; then I'd probably go to AMR. I actually ask the new hires we get why they picked this service, you'd be surprised how many don't do their homework and simply say "because you have pretty ambulances." :shock: You guys think I'm joking, but one day your going to see a Dateline Special on EMS in Houston. Heck right now there is a private service in North Houston that is upset that the local 911 service started doing transfers to help offset their costs. So they threw a big fit and a few of them are in trouble for vandalizing that 911 services ambulances. I think if someone told me to go key an ambulance because they were taking calls from us that I'd walk out and keep on walking to another service for a new job. So back on topic, you can do a lot worse then AMR....a lot worse!

If I arrive on scene after a BLS crew has attempted to do anything then I simply have them write a report up to the point of my arrival, and my report starts from my point of arrival and will state that events PTA can be checked for accuracy by reading run ticket number ?????? I then will turn in my report with their report attached to mine. They however DO NOT leave the ER until I have this report. For scenes where they make arrival before me simply just put the patient on oxygen (similar to a first responder) I just list what they did PTA and have the medic who performed that skill initial that portion of the run ticket's narrative. Usually I'm first on scene, so I don't come across this to much.

So you were reading into what I wrote instead of asking me to clarify it? :roll: Come on man, you should know me better then to believe that just because a cop is there that it is safe. I was posting in response to what someone else had posted about making a scene before PD arrived. We don't do that around here, we always wait for PD if the nature of the call could be violant. Also, the doors at Bay Star lock, the doors at the other city service lack locks. That was an issue that was addressed when we ordered our new ambulances for the city I work in. :wink:

If they are a true paramedic then I see no problem with them on a 911 rig, if they aren't a true paramedic and they are being used as a substitute then I see a lawsuit waiting to happen. That would be like taking a CCEMT-Paramedic and putting them in the ICU...while they might be able to do the job, it doesn't mean they are they best person for the job.

The reason why you eliminate those in a supervisor or leadership role is because you want to isolate any threat of a mutiny. That isn't being mean, that is smart business. What your left with is a bunch of people who will continue to work for you provided you pay somewhat around what you were making before. I've seen several cities that have changed services and the people stay, they just put on a different uniform. That happened in Galveston County when they went from Rural Metro, to GoldStar, and finally to their individual city services. AMR has a bad reputation here in Houston, they use to back up a lot of 911 services and handle a lot of hospitals. Now all they do is Memorial Hermann Hospital chain, mutual aid HFD, and work a few stand by events. They are always hiring because they can't hold onto employees and they don't always hire the best (that comes from friends who work there). AMR has money, and each location is going to be different because they are all ran by a different management team. So if you have an area where they do a good job, then you'll get a good "story," and if your in an area that sucks...then you'll hear how AMR sucks. If AMR is taking over your area and you don't want them there, your county judge, and other county officials don't want them there and you should have nothing to worry about. I don't know how your state works, but in Texas the county/city makes choices in regards to their provider, not the state.

I didn't know there was a state that allowed nurses to be part of an EMS team (meaning them and a medic only). :shock:

We get paged, if you develop a trend of not fixing your mistakes here you get pulled in and not paid to fix your reports (you've had a chance to do it on company time). If you don't show up, bam your gone...end of story. It is part of being a responsible medic. Whether it is a set of vitals or a clear time, it is my responsibility to complete my run ticket. We pay people to do this job, however they only do this job. Our QA team is very good at catching mistakes, finding trends that need to be corrected with some people through additional training, and making sure we change our run tickets up as new rules/regulations come down the pipes from the local, state, and federal authorities. Your going to have to pay me more then over time to read run tickets.

I discovered that one day while sitting in the supply building.

They can sue me, number one thing (remember back in school) is the safety of you and your crew. The only doors that lock are the cab doors, all of the other doors are just like a fire truck....no locks. Now at the other service I work for we do have locks on the doors (and they are used).

You mean the old ones that said Texas Department of Health? Thats what is on my shirts, all of the new paramedics have the DSHS ones. I know a guy who still has Special Skills. :shock:

Yeah, I'll stick to my hard job of transporting girls in swim suits. :wink:

Dang it, I knew I was suppose to read something. I have to wonder what areas your wanting information on as well. Nate

I've noticed that in most ER's they don't put a backboard under the patient. :shock: All of our codes get boarded with a c-collar (holds head/airway in alignment), and strapped down with quick straps (four to five "buckled" straps that attach to the board to hold the patient on). I personally don't like to stay on scene and work a code. I work it long enough to get the patient on the board, and in my truck. Now I might sit in the truck and finish getting what ever I need to get done and a few rounds of drugs (we are usually with in 10 minutes of an ER). I usually stop and remind who ever is driving me that we don't need to drive like John Force. For some reason people think that when we have a CPR we need to drive in super dooper warp speed mode. :? CPR while moving, it can be done, but I agree that it isn't the safest method. To be honest, that's why I'm always in the jump seat so I can see what all is going on, can access the patient, and push drugs as needed. Not to mention it has a seat belt. :wink: When we enter the ER I don't really see how the CPR/ventilation can be all that great rolling down the hall though. We live, we learn, and things change eventually.

Word, I kind of like the Texas patch though.

The gold is so blaw...

It isn't hard, it is easy to pass, and the NREMT-P test didn't really have that many "paramedic" questions on it either.

I have to agree with the two above posters.

Not to mention that your kind of keeping a truck out of service that could be out helping someone else while you work a SIDS child.

If you are applying for initial certification, no. If you are applying for renewal and you've done your CE, yes. I'll give you this one, the DSHS site isn't the best for navigation unless you know what to look for.

I feel that we can generally "handle" most situations. However, that is general. I think it takes a speical kind of person with proper psychological training to truly help someone who has suffered this kind of loss until they are able to seek professional help on a regular basis (if they need it). I don't know of too many people who could lose a child and not be effected. Truth is, at the age of 22 I do not feel that I could empathize with a parent seeing as how I am; (a) an only child, ( do not have children, © have no formal training on how to manage something of this nature. However, I do plan on finding out how I can learn how to help people better in these situations.

Dang you guys are old. Just playing. I have only been in for four years, and I have truly enjoyed it.

We have a "big boy" ambulance, and a "big boy" cot, and it takes forever for this truck to get here (since it is never where you need it. Some days I wish I got paid by the ton.