MAJOR FAIL in Mass.

[uglyEMT]

Mass. Revokes 211 EMT Licenses

By Erin Smith

Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)

BOSTON -- The state revoked the licenses of 211 EMTs after an investigation revealed they held falsified training records.

http://www.emsresponder.com/article/article.jsp?id=13682&siteSection=1

[Lone Star]

In my opinion, the only 'sad' part is that so many were too lazy to keep up on their CEU's (Continuing Education Units). The state did the right thing by suspending these people, and firing those 'instructors' that allowed/assisted in perpetrating this action.

[uglyEMT]

Totally agree with you Lone Its amazing this number of folks decided to be lazy instead of taking the few extra hours to keep up their educations. Its also sad too that instructors allowed this to happen by providing the credits. Mass definatly did the right thing by suspending them all and possibly revoking their credentials. It is such a FAIL to the public we serve for this too happen.

[fiznat]

If this is the same thing I heard about before, it is in regards to CPR cards.

Now, I know this is taboo and everything, but for the sake of discussion who here doesn't know someone who has had a friend "get him/her a card" for their CPR refresher? It happens all of the time in professional EMS, because a lot of people feel that it is a waste of time to re re-learn how to pump and blow when we do it so often. A lot of people also feel like CPR refresher is more about $$ for the AHA than actual education or proficiency.

...Even for those who attend the class, can you honestly say it is conducted in a serious and rigorous manner? Most of the CPR classes I've been are nothing more than rubber stamp conventions. How is that practice any better than just having a friend/instructor refresh your card for you?

Edited June 18, 2010 by fiznat

[Kim_Possible]

Karma is something. Considering many good individuals have been let go by this company for BS. Me being one of them, luckily I was smart enough not to trust them to recert me.

It is just amazing.

[HellsBells]

CPR refresher is more about $$ for the AHA than actual education or proficiency

I completely agree, in regards to AHA. Before taking an ACLS course, I had a valid CPR cert from red cross, but had to retake my CPR from AHA in order for them to consider it valid.

As for the original topic, I can't really comment, as I don't know the specifics.

[Richard B the EMT]

With no intent of either support or put-down, I wonder if "Lifeguard" saw this string?

[JTpaintball70]

As I've said all over when it comes to this, I would like to see all of these EMTs disbarred and never allowed to practice again, along with terminated and possible jail time.

[croaker260]

As I've said all over when it comes to this, I would like to see all of these EMTs disbarred and never allowed to practice again, along with terminated and possible jail time.

Kudos for Mass state EMS for doing the right thing.

My understanding is that many of these were from FD jobs. If that is the case, double Kudos for Mass EMS for standing their ground! I am sure the IAFF put tons of pressure on them to look the other way.

[Richard B the EMT]

As I've said all over when it comes to this, I would like to see all of these EMTs disbarred and never allowed to practice again, along with terminated and possible jail time.

I had an associate with a similar, yet dissimilar, case. He paid for the class, took it, passed, and was told by the training agency his NY State DoH EMT number. He had been working for 6 months or so, when an expected state audit of the company found that no such EMT number existed. The training agency had never filed the class he had been in with the Regional EMS COuncil (REMSCO), or the state DoH.

He was lucky on a few levels. On one, the company kept him on as an ambulette driver, until he went through an actual registered class, earning his EMT, on another, the state didn't charge him with impersonation (of being an EMT), as he was a victim of the agency's fraud. The last level he was lucky on, was that he both sued the training agency for the fees charged for the fraudulent training, and got the money back before the "teachers" vanished under the rocks like the snakes they were!