Nate

I think that Texas has one of the lowest costs of living. Land is pretty cheap (because there is so much of it), and we have no state income tax. You can get a decent size house for around $110,000 (2,000 square feet).

So why don't they just fire this guy?

Dang, that guys is skinny.

The same is said for geography, English, art history, economics, government, and history. However it is called being WELL ROUNDED. Like Dustdevil said, organic chemistry is important in understand the body, physics is important in understanding how/why things happen and the forces behind them. Some of the basic formulas of physics are used in accident investigation.

Sounds like you could use a new ambulance service, 20 minutes on a hypoglycemic patient is to long. It is cool that you were able to start treatment, most of the nusring homes here in Houston just look at the patient, they don't actually start IV's and give medications.

Once again, what level you are certified at, or the level that best represents you. Not what your going to school for, not what you can and can't do, only what level best represents you. I am also amazed at how many people actually selected a blank option.

Haha, if I told people how much I made there would be some really pissed off co-workers.

Well I think everything that I wanted to say has been covered when it comes to the volunteer issue. Back on topic as far as New York City. Maybe it would be best for the city to form a comitte to investigate what the EMS personal are wanting/willing to do. If a decent contract can be offered and the unification of NYC EMS into one service (third party sounds best), then I say do it. If it can't, then go back to the table to figure out what it would take to bring all of the medics together into one system.

Biology, microbiology, A&P I, A&P II, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, child psychology, sociology, college algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, medical terminology, geography, and english.

Easy way to fix this, hire nothing but ugly instructors that no one would want to be caught dead with.

I was going to edit the poll, but I guess I can't.

I had a guy who was stabbed through the neck with the blade sticking out the other side.

Just kind of wondering this, but how many people here are certified. Please select the option that describes your CURRENT certified level.

Eh, I'd work in the country if the pay was worth it.

I kind of thought the parking brake was common sense, then again I drive a five speed.

This along with other topics are so touchy and hard to discuss on this particular website. It seems that the minute that someone says something about volunteers being bad for EMS, there is always someone bashing them for their thoughts. It seems like every single time someone says lets eliminate or run paramedic only trucks, there is someone there to bash that person. These very same people are usually unaware of how their remarks and actions effect those that happen to be paid paramedics. It is to the point where I don't normally bother with these type of discussions because of the number of people who seem be unable to see the other sides point of view.

So is the company that serviced the SNF unit AMR or another company?

I did some homework, but I'm still confused one issue...is it AMR that provides the BLS transport for King County, or does a King County ambulance staffed by a BLS crew do the BLS transport? They seem like they are actually from another world, their education standards should be used to model similar service IMHO. I think that the citizens of King County seem to have a pretty awesome ambulance service. I'm sure they (and the paramedics who work for them) are very proud of this.

So is Medic1 the private service or the FD based service? Because if it is the private service that has only ALS rigs, why was a BLS crew from them on a call if they don't have BLS rigs?

Yeah, around here if you get MCI (which happens more then you think down here) you will usually see five to six different Fire/EMS services, plus the chemical plants fire/EMS, and then you get the private services that mutual aid for transport, so what happens is you end up with paramedics from one service on another services BLS ambulance, etc.

Since I was only allowed to select one option, I picked "better education" as my choice. The reason behind this is because I feel that our current level of education for paramedics is not enough. I do not feel that a paramedic can be produced in two years when we have the ability to extend the education. Personally, I believe that four years of college/training and four years of clinical rotations is a good start. The second thing we are going to have to do is provide better education for the EMT-B and EMT-I as well, and make it so that an ambulance has to have a paramedic. Otherwise, I fear that services will staff only EMT-B and EMT-I for the simple fact that they are "cheaper" to pay then a four year degreed paramedic. Texas has delt with this issue for some time, and the number one road block that we have is small municipal services that do not want to see this happen.

I think that in order for a private ambulance service to hold a contract with anyone, they should be able to at least meet or exceed the ability of the local FD. If they can't afford to become an ALS provider and they are the only provider around (or better then the alternative company that runs ALS), then maybe the private service should calling FD for assistance when a call like this comes in. That way if the patient is bad, or does code between the initial call and your arrival, at least ALS is already enroute, or there with you. I mean, if it turns out to be a true BLS call then FD can go back in service and the private company can transport. I think instead of this municipal vs. private war going on that some people like to start, we should start looking at ways to integrate the two. Contrary to some EMS personnel's belief, there are private services that actually are more capable then municipal services. Last time I checked, I was the same paramedic whether I was working at the city or at my second job on the private ambulance.

Dr. DeBakey is THE MAN when it comes to cardiology. He is the icon doctor of Methodist Hospital here in Houston, and along with Dr. Duke (Hermann Hospital) and a few others, he makes up a core group of elite doctors that have given us such advanced medicine. The Texas Medical Center, a grouping of hospitals including Hermann, St. Lukes, Methodist, Texas Children's, and M.D. Anderson all work together, and Dr. DeBakey has lead a few of these medical revolutions. His recent work was on a "fake" mechanical heart.