EMT-B calling himself a 'Medic' in Indiana

[Just Plain Ruff]

My answer is No on being able to call yourself a medic when you are a emt-b.

If you call yourself a medic then you should be able to do the medic skills.

But just like Dust, it's stressing over semantics and there are bigger things out there to have an issue with.

Now if you tell the nurses or doctor you are a paramedic and the doctor says "Ok, start a IV and give 25 mg glucose" and you tell him "well, I'm just an EMT" you had better be ready to bring in your pants about 2 sizes from the ASS Chewing that you will be given from that Doc.

[Richard B the EMT]

I have heard EMTs from B to P level called "Doc" by unknowing civilians. If directed at me, I thank them for the promotion. However, from strictly a legal standpoint, call yourself whatever level you've already achieved, not what you're in class for, to keep yourself out of a potential bind. Back in 1974, I actually was yelled at for referring to myself as an "EMT Candidate" while takinbg my initial class as an EMT.

[uglyEMT]

I agree. The answer is NO. I would never call myself a medic just to make life easier. I refer to myself as either a Basic or to laypersons just EMT.

One difference being I was once called a Medic in a news article as were my fellow EMTs (no medics around at all). I tried to have the news paper redact the story and told them why and the difference between the two. Unfortunatly the editor didnt feel the need to make the change so I wrote a little Editorial piece to at least inform the public. I actually never kept the article because I was ashamed of being called something I wasn't.

[Bieber]

Honestly, I loathe being called an EMT or an ambulance driver. I worked hard to become a paramedic, and I don't like not being recognized for it. But you know what? In the grand scheme of things, what I am called ranks pretty damn low on my list of concerns and priorities for EMS. We have much, MUCH bigger issues than what we're called. So if an EMT calls themselves a medic or whatever, that's fine. That's a show of their character and I'll remember them for it, but at the end of the day I know what I am and they know what they are--even if they're too ashamed to say it aloud.

I do think we need to simplify things for the public, maybe such as in Canada or--what I think would be more ideal--abolish EMTs all together. You're either a paramedic with a Bachelor's in paramedicine or a paramedic practitioner with a Master's in paramedicine. But that ideal future of mine is a dream that's a long, long ways away if it ever happens at all. Until then, we'll be EMTs, paramedics, medics, ambulance drivers, and every other term under the sun because we have decided to make up all of these feel good titles instead of putting that energy into making a profession worthy of a title.

[BEorP]

I do think we need to simplify things for the public, maybe such as in Canada or--what I think would be more ideal--abolish EMTs all together.

Exactly, if we want the public to actually know what to call us then we need to settle on one title first. It seems like the Ontario/Australian model where everyone is a "paramedic" of some type would be best. Internally, we know that an Advanced/Intensive Care Paramedic offers a higher level of care, but to the public we're all some type of "paramedic" and it is not wrong to refer to a provider of any level as such.

[Richard B the EMT]

It can be considered a matter of pride. Steve Berry, the Colorado based Paramedeic who does the "I am NOT an Ambulance Driver" series, once had a display, where one of his characters was the Medic in Charge at, if I remember correctly, a car crash extrication, a Cardiac Arrest, and an in-the-home baby delivery. In the final panel, at the pool hall with his "friends" after work, one of these "friends" asks him, "When are you going to get a real job?" Our Medic character looked crestfallen at the question.

On a call, I probably wouldn't take the time to correct a civilian as to my level of training, unless they referred to me as "ONLY" an "Ambulance Driver". I'd probably only correct them, as we've discussed on many other strings, here in the EMT City, in a social gathering, and I'd add, "I've been proudly serving since 1973". Others might edit the statement from when they started, obviously.

[tniuqs]

Exactly, if we want the public to actually know what to call us then we need to settle on one title first. It seems like the Ontario/Australian model where everyone is a "paramedic" of some type would be best. Internally, we know that an Advanced/Intensive Care Paramedic offers a higher level of care, but to the public we're all some type of "paramedic" and it is not wrong to refer to a provider of any level as such.

Firstly .. I believe you are seriously deluded that these "generic tittles" but in passing would also state that the PCP program in ONT is one of the best in the free world, I had the pleasure of working with a stellar PCP at a forest fire in northern AB ... what a relief compared to working with a EMR that did not know how to pull a cot out of a rig. Following that should we be calling the EMR level a Paramedic as well ? (for the US guys and gals this is a 120 hour course with zero actual patient contact)

So just what is in a Title .. really ? Is it just arrogance or does it go way beyond ? I know that it does ... hope you can follow my rambling missive.

Absolutely disagree with the generic "Paramedic" title used for all levels, although at one time I voted for this with PAC the PCP, ACP, CCP levels the rationale at the time being "the public was confused" with EMT and Paramedic ? Was the public confused .. NO,and in hind site which is 20/20 this has just added to the confusion and I believe delayed the development in any government run system period !

The reason I regret my vote is this is because of the British Columbia experience, where every Ambulance has "EMERGENCY PARAMEDIC" stencilled permanently on the side. As a the direct result of this has the public believing that EVERY gut wagon has a real "PARAMEDIC" inside. This is false advertising bottom line ! the typical Joe Public in BC does and still can recall the days of Gage and Desoto, and is expecting the same ... btw that TV show had tremendous positive impact on the psyche of the North American Public.

For an example compare AB vs Ont experience and the number of ALS services in rural and remote areas, then get back to me, hell out of Kenora the level of care on board many fixed wing Air Ambulance is PCP.

There is simply no rational medical justification that every Ambulance in Canada should NOT have the ACP level, why should an urbal taxpayer have a superior level of care compared to the rural taxpayer ?

Look to the Canada Health Act guidelines, under assesibility but I digress.

BTW the OPAL studies are HUGELY flawed, funded with the intent to "save government money only" and if you don't believe me. I have managed to convinced Dr. K. Westley (JEMS) of this (with the assistance of a bottle of screech) and he has since reversed his position on his initial meta-studies.

In fact the vast majority of these BCAS trucks just have a silly flash box and a tank of O2, maybe Entonox (if they have that endorsement) so just compare that to AB where the "generic" ACP is packing RSI, Cardiac meds, narcs, and TNK. Quite a difference in level of care is it not ? It is very unfortunately the outcome studies have never been undertaken "remote vs urban" ALS vs BLS because they do not HAVE rural ALS in BC, it could be a real eye opener alone with a patient satisfaction survey in pain control alone. IMHO The BC government (or any government operated entity) adopting this singular term has without doubt delayed the development in the provision of Advanced Life Support to rural communities. I am very concerned with the AHS (AB) "takeover to perfection" following this BC lead we are witnessing this in may areas ... ps just ask Mobey .

Opinion -> If one has worked in "remote" BC .. the arrogance of the run of the mill PCP is at an all time high, you may find this to be a very true statement when and if, you BEorP get to work in industry and see for yourself the WCB / BCAS influence ... meh what a mess.

New Topic The term "DOC" I have worked with the Americans that have "traditional" military background, this term is used as a right of passage for a field medic with their platoon or unit. Initially I had some difficulty when I was called "Doc" until it was explained that it was a positive sign of acceptance within a tight knit group, bottom line this is a compliment.

I was called "THE VET" i.e. Veterinarian one day by a very senior Safety Officer at a rather Large Woodland Fire Overhead Team meeting, he was a true horseman and most sincerely this title used was one of the biggest compliments I have ever received in my entire carreer as Vets are educated not in just one mammalian system, but every critter under the sun, (very applicable at a Forest Fire btw) they are the top ten percent of all those that apply to the "medical" fields.

cheers ... VET to the 2 legged mammals.

[Ella]

Call yourself whatever the heck you want. If you do it enough times, others might even believe you.

[uglyEMT]

I was thinking of the whole names thing and remembered a rather good thread from Dwayne our resident pararescueman technical specialist ninja about people throwing names around.

Wish I knew where it was...

[DwayneEMTP]

Yeah, Ugly, that thread (not sure where it is either) is a perfect example of my feelings on this...

But this thread also makes my previously stated point. I mentioned that if you don't have the backbone to be honest about your cert level, then I won't really trust you on much of anything. The reason that I mention backbone is the fact that none of those that argued for their habit of calling themselves medics seem to not have enough backbone to continue in the conversation...And that's unfortunate.

Argue your point, concede your point, but if you don't have the balls/ovaries necessary to even debate it then you certainly shouldn't be calling yourself medics in any context...

Dwayne