BEorP

I'm amused by uneducated EMTs who think that the only thing that matters is what skills/drugs they have and completely forget about education.

I'm from London, Ontario but go to school in Toronto. In September I will be entering third year of the Jont Paramedic Program (U of T/Centennial) so I'll be in my second and final year of actual Paramedic stuff.

Why not just add more preceptorship time?

What would they be in their first year of work?

Do you think EMT-Bs should work on ambulances? (I mean real ones, not just transfer cars)

In Ontario, the lowest level of education to work on an ambulance is a two year college diploma. (Although I do not know of any volunteer services, they would need to meet the exact same requirement.) And quint, I'm not a "paragod" especially since, as I have mentioned before, I am just a student. Don't fault me because I think that anyone who responds to a medical emergency should be educated.

Yes, basics are basics. Why do you then claim you're not under educated? You need a lot more education that EMT-B to be a health care professional rather than an ambulance driver.

Just wanted to mention that I went as an observed with SW Ambulance in Scottsdale when I was visiting last December and everyone there was very nice and welcoming... seemed like a relatively nice place to work.

Sorry... I stopped reading after that.

I believe this is the article here

1. I didn't ask you for praise. I am not a Paramedic, I am just a student. I said that I'm glad I know educated people will show up if I call 911. 2. If I were asking for praise then I would have told you that I am actually in a four year Primary Care Paramedic degree program. That's right, four years to do less than an EMT-J. Education... an interesting concept, eh?

Oh I'm so silly. I must have forgotten that we judge EMS systems by drugs and skills. It'd be a shame if we had to judge it by the fact that when I call 911 I know that I am getting two people who have AT LEAST two years of education and that no one with 120 hours of training will ever show up to help my family members. But we don't need this debate again :wink:

Narcan without even calling medical control... Don't ACPs even need to call for it?

I love Ontario. If people want to have volunteer services, fine (although it sure seems like better care is offered by paid people who do it as a career rather than a hobby). But if you're going to have a volunteer service you should at least act like a service. That means answering calls! If it's just whoever wants to that answers the page and there's not even a schedule it sounds a lot more like a bunch of people with light bars on their cars who choose when they want to help.

How long would it take them to get to the third page?

And what happens when you do?

If I were VSA and you were working on me I'd want you using proper BLS adjuncts and maneuvers. Jaw thrust, head tilt-chin lift, OPA, NPA, proper bagging including a good face mask seal... ever heard of any of that? Maybe they didn't have time for that in your 200 hour class. Idealy if I were VSA I would want an ETT placed by skilled hands, but yours are not skilled and there's a lot more to EMS than "skilled hands."Do not take this as an insult, I am halfway through my PCP program and I do not claim to have skilled hands or know everything... but I also understand why BLS providers can't use advanced airway devicdes.

What are the rules in your state about speed limits when responding at the highest priority?

Well I don't want someone who has two DUIs caring for my family members. If you've saved two lives already then just keep doing what you're doing since it sounds like it's working. Please please please let this be a joke

Because if you are serious then you the model person who should NOT be in EMS.

You know who saves trauma pts? Trauma surgeons. We drive them to the hospital and do what we can on the way.

Ummm the legal limit in Ontario is 0.08 (I assume yours is somewhere near this) so why would I care if you were only "a little bit" drunk while driving? I had a close friend killed by a drunk driver. Not like once is excusable, but twice?!? (not to mention those are only the times you've been caught) [As a side note, EMS is a lot more than massive trauma.] You made at least two very poor choices in your life so find a different career and think about your actions first next time.

Thanks for all the feedback. Another question regarding non-in-house ACP training... how hard is it to get into? (even with experience) What is it that they look at with admissions that you can be working on in your few years as a PCP before applying?

Thanks for your input, Dust. I didn't mean to exclude the Americans completely and it's good to get your input, especially since it's different than EMT-B to EMT-P. I mean is it easier to get a job as an ACP than a PCP? Do you think 1-3 years of experience is worth it even if it is with a county service like Huron or Bruce where the call volume is extremely low? Also, you said that ACP(f) requires 2000 hours as a PCP so if you got to ACP before then you're out of luck? (probably a stupid question...)

What are everyone's thoughts on going straight to ACP with no experience at the PCP level? I know some of our American friends have said that there is no point in working as an EMT-B and have pointed out that other health professionals do not need to start at a BLS level. I am wondering if they feel the same way about this with PCPs and also what Ontario medics think about this. (It seems that our situation is at least a little different since PCPs can get fairly well paying jobs and at least do a bit of SR.) I know it is an expensive thing to do, but with our 500 hours field experience during PCP school enough to go onto ACP training? Will it make the job hunt easier than trying to find employment as a PCP? What about EMS politics, will it be frowned upon by other medics if you are an ACP who spent no time as a PCP? If money were no object, would you (an Ontario Paramedic) have gone straight to ACP?