Lack of volunteers because of accrediation rule?

[brentoli]

ESCANABA - Rampart officials say they don't know if they will adopt a lengthier and more expensive training program to meet new requirements set to take effect in 2013.

The National Registry Emergency Medical Technician recently decided it will no longer certify paramedics who graduate from unaccredited training programs.

Rampart officials report only two of the 42 EMS training programs in Michigan, both downstate, have the required accreditation.

Venetia Bryers, paramedic instructor and CEO of Rampart EMS, said Rampart EMS of Marquette General Hospital has not decided what to do about the change.

"We are waiting for more thorough feedback from around the state to determine if Michigan can live with the requirement for paramedic graduation from an accredited program to qualify for testing with National Registry at that level," Bryers said.

She added that Michigan is looking at alternatives to the Ohio-based National Registry before a decision is made.

She said instructors are concerned students will not be able to attend lengthy training sessions.

"If they have to take 40 hours in one week, we might see an impact in the number of enrollees," said Bryers. "And to be very honest we're short on qualified EMS personnel."

Bryers said there are 24 individuals who cover all of Delta County and its adjoining areas. There are also volunteers who do basic emergency services in the outlying areas of Rock, Garden and Masonville Township who would have difficulty participating in lengthy sessions.

"If we continue to make access more difficult, in particular for volunteers, we're going to threaten to make them extinct," she said.

Rampart EMS provides service to all of Delta County, north Menominee and southern Marquette counties.

Bryers said the accreditation is essentially an unfunded mandate and meeting the National Registry's accreditation standards would be costly.

"Obviously if you have a longer training program you'll have greater education costs," she said. "If you increase that you also decrease the earning power of students."

Bryers said Rampart already uses the National Registry of EMTs' test to certify paramedics and emergency medical technicians. She said the school is successful despite the fact it does not meet accreditation standards.

"Marquette General Hospital School of EMT has the highest pass rate in the state of Michigan for paramedics and is not yet accredited... therein begs the question of, 'Is this something we need at this time?'" said Bryers. "If there are poor programs, perhaps a better approach would be to target those."

Daily Press

How many states require NREMT registration for their paramedics? What exactly does a NREMT accrediation consist of? Can anyone from Michigan vouch is this really a serious issue there? How many volly paramedics are there?

Not posting to start a war, just curious, I read this article, and one thing that suck out was the 2 out of 42 programs that have accrediation. How serious of an issue is Michigan facing because of this?

[freethinker]

Yes, that article seemed confusing. To my knowledge, paramedic programs are accredited, not EMT courses. Maybe National Registry wants to make an accreditation program for EMT classes as well, and then demand that no one can become certified as a paramedic through National Registry without taking accredited EMT and paramedic classes.

It basically comes down to this: Access vs quality. A paramedic service can do both BLS and ALS, obviously. That's Cadillac coverage. But not everyone needs paramedic-level care. True, sometimes what sounds like a BLS call turns out to be serious, but that's a calculated gamble the system takes. The reason is that not everyone can afford to pay for Cadillac coverage, or wants to pay for it. In suburban areas, people might be willing to vote tax increases on themselves to provide "the best of everything," be it schools, EMS, whatever. They'd probably even be willing to pay for European-style physician EMS, the true Rolls Royce coverage if there ever was one.

However, in rural and urban areas, there's no money tree to shake. If the property taxes go up, the rent goes up, and some people can barely get by as it is. That's why volunteers do BLS in some areas. That's also why, incidentally, nurse practitioners and PAs often do more primary care than doctors in those types of places- increase accessibility and reduce the cost.

[Richard B the EMT]

Point: New York State allows NREMT from within NYS, but does not accept it from other states.

[Dustdevil]

Venetia Bryers, paramedic instructor and CEO of Rampart EMS, said Rampart EMS of Marquette General Hospital has not decided what to do about the change.

I'll tell her what she should do about it. Quit. GTF out of EMS administration and education if your priorities are so friggin shallow. Jesus H. Christ. It's FIVE YEARS AWAY! If you really, really think you are completely incapable of implementing a solution within that time, just GET OUT NOW before you embarrass yourself even more than you just have, you pathetic loser.

"We are waiting for more thorough feedback from around the state to determine if Michigan can live with the requirement for paramedic graduation from an accredited program to qualify for testing with National Registry at that level," Bryers said.

That reminds me of those wankers that can't find any volly squad to accept them anywhere, so they think they'll just set up their own squad and appoint themselves chief. :roll:

She said instructors are concerned students will not be able to attend lengthy training sessions.

Concerned? Where's your goddamn concern for your patients, a-hole?

"If they have to take 40 hours in one week, we might see an impact in the number of enrollees," said Bryers. "And to be very honest we're short on qualified EMS personnel."

And lowering the professional status of the job is likely to make it more attractive to people? Get real.

"If we continue to make access more difficult, in particular for volunteers, we're going to threaten to make them extinct," she said.

And...? Is there a down-side to this?

Bryers said the accreditation is essentially an unfunded mandate and meeting the National Registry's accreditation standards would be costly.

How the hell long have you been in EMS, bimbo? Are you just now figuring out that quality medical care is expensive? Little slow on the uptake, aren't you?

"Obviously if you have a longer training program you'll have greater education costs," she said. "If you increase that you also decrease the earning power of students."

What "earning power"? You're talking about volunteers, aren't you? There's your problem. The volunteers are the reason you have no "earning power". With no volunteers to give it away for free, I can assure you that your "earning power" will quickly escalate. Or else people will die with no ambulance to pick them up, which is already happening, thanks to your volunteers who are too busy to devote enough time. So again, what's the down-side?

Bryers said Rampart already uses the National Registry of EMTs' test to certify paramedics and emergency medical technicians. She said the school is successful despite the fact it does not meet accreditation standards.

Define "success". Hitler succeeded in invading and occupying France. Just because something succeeds does not make it a good thing.

"Marquette General Hospital School of EMT has the highest pass rate in the state of Michigan for paramedics and is not yet accredited... therein begs the question of, 'Is this something we need at this time?'" said Bryers. "If there are poor programs, perhaps a better approach would be to target those."

If you're so damn "successful", then what are you afraid of? If you're so teh aw3some, don't you think you can get your ducks in a row in FIVE WHOLE YEARS? If not, you suck. Period.

[spenac]

Dust could you please tell us how you feel? I hate how you avoid giving your opinion. :twisted: :twisted:

Yup another reason to leave EMS, no one wants to improve it. I am sick of the minimum attitude displayed by so many. The accreditation is not that big of a deal. The better the education required the better our pay will get.

[Dustdevil]

If any of you Michiganites know this broad, PLEASE invite her here!

[Chief1C]

Careful, she'll break your other arm..

[JPINFV]

Careful, she'll break your other arm..

Is she like the Governor of Alaska or something?

[Dustdevil]

Is she like the Governor of Alaska or something?

She can beat me anyday! :twisted:

I am indebted to akflightmedic for introducing me to the greatness that is Sarah Palin a year and a half ago!

[PRPGfirerescuetech]

Ummm....what?

Imma havta stand behind old-man dust on this one.

It appears that when you remove the semantics, you have an empty page.