Boston??

[p3medic]

Good points. Learning how to drive and speak properly will come....with time.

[Richard B the EMT]

"Car" pronounced like "saw"? I thought it was "Bostonspeak" pronounced "Cahh"!

[Just Plain Ruff]

I pawked mah caw vewy faw from tha baw

[spenac]

I pawked mah caw vewy faw from tha baw

Yall Darn Yanks talk funny.

[Richard B the EMT]

I pawked mah caw vewy faw from tha baw

Now we know Ruffems' true identity: Elmer Fudd (millionaire, he owns a mansion and a yacht)!

[FormerEMSLT297]

Can you post up the pay scale for comparision ..... curios to see, what the pay is vs. other areas. thanks

[p3medic]

I know there is a pay chart around here somewere, but for the life of me I can't find it. Ball park figures, BLS start around 17/hr while in the academy, and top out around 25, medics start around 27, tops out around 34/hr, not including the other built ins, i.e hazard duty, longevity, diff's etc...

[backinboston]

To the original poster....

If you are going to be a new medic and want to work for Boston EMS... although much less appealing, I highly recommend you find a Private that has some good 911 shifts in the area (there are ample options) to work for on the side. Boston EMS will not be promoting any new medics to their ranks without putting in your time.

Working there BLS trucks will get you great experience and allow you to prove yourself to others but without developing and keeping your skills up it will be an unattainable goal. From what Ive heard, there are a lot of BLS Boston EMS personal that hold an EMT-P but are just waiting for a spot to appear, then get chosen and finish the required time. Its a great goal but something way down the street.

Good luck, and if you have any questions this is a great place to ask. I am sure there are a lot of us from boston somewhere around here

[ambodriver]

so even if I am a paramedic if I get hired by boston ems I have to work as a basic?

then after one year i *might* be promoted to paramedic?

Would the paramedic then have to retake the paramedic classes?

Man, that's crazy!

I could not see wasting my time working as a basic with a NREMT-P license hoping for a chance to become a paramedic all over again. Seems to be you have to start you EMS career with Boston as an EMT-B for this to make any kind of sense.

How crazy would it be if you were a paramedic working on a Boston BLS rig, and you had a patient that needed some ALS skill/drug to save them but you couldn't do it?

:roll:

[GypsyMedic]

I moved into the Boston area five years ago and never thought I would stay, so I never took the Boston test, though I have a lot of former coworkers who do work there. They've been there for years and though they've been a medic for my system, they are still basics on the other side of the river. I've heard that Boston has an amazing system and they're training is outstanding. My buddies have said they've learned so much more there than anywhere else they've been and the above is true, it's a constant learning process.

There are many other private ambulance services, but know that if you work BLS, you will probably be doing a lot of transfers. It can be frustrating, but if you look at it as learning, you will do fine. Check into Cataldo or Professional if you want to get some decent experience before going to Boston. Fallon, Armstrong and Lifeline (among many, many others) are around as well and will primarily be doing transfers. Get ready for a paycut, though, because BLS doesn't make much! For a steady Monday through Friday 8-5 job, transfer only but a little better pay, go to Spaulding Ambulance.

Boston is a pretty great city and everyone is right about the driving. I lived in Texas where they drive like complete maniacs and this place blows them way, WAY out of the water!! It's a confusing city to learn as well because it isn't on any sort of grid or pattern...very confusing and easy to get turned around.

A few things to remember when you get here: never, ever look both ways before crossing as cars are watching out for you at all times. Using your blinker is a sign of frailty, and NO one is frail in Boston! Leave off all R's in any sentence, be sure to replace them any place else you so choose, making Law-Lawr...or Melissa-Melisser.

You'll love it here, though. Very cool city & lots to do.