In Your Opinion, What Is Holding USA EMS Back?

[itku2er]

Personally I think its the images that people precieve from TV shows. How can we be taken seriously when there are so many TV shows that betray us as incompenent twits who are more interested in getting into our partners pants than taking care of a patient. The news stories to back this up dont help us much either. With the recent story in DC and all its no wonder they see us that way. Who can respect a profession when we are our own worse enemy?

Terr

[Scaramedic]

Crap like this does not help...

Goldsboro — A Goldsboro police officer and a Wayne County paramedic were arrested late Wednesday in connection with a break-in and assault in Lenoir County, authorities said.

A Wilkes County paramedic has been arrested on charges related to stealing morphine and other drugs from his job with the Wilkes County Emergency Medical Service and his volunteer service with the Wilkes Rescue Squad.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A Maryland paramedic has been arrested by U.S. federal authorities on charges of conspiring to provide material support to a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group linked to terrorist attacks in India and the disputed region of Kashmir.

MAUMELLE, AR -- Three men, including a Houston-area paramedic, were arrested after investigators found nearly 400 pounds of marijuana in an ambulance. Police said they discovered the drugs after the ambulance broke down near a gasoline station.

A Bellingham Fire Department paramedic is sitting in an Idaho jail after being arrested June 19 on suspicion of felony rape and misdemeanor domestic battery.

A Colonie paramedic is facing child pornography charges.

Police said Calvin Saylors Junior had more than 500 images of sexual acts involving children on his computer.

As reported by EMS News a 34-year-old paramedic from Oakland County, California, has been arrested and charged with being an internet predator.

Marty

[aussiephil]

more interested in getting into our partners pants

Terr

I thought this was the primary objective?

[itku2er]

No :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[aussiephil]

Crap like this does not help...

Marty

Marty,

unfortunatley as I have said before, some of this is reported as a paramedic did this when it had nothing to do with his employment. The sad fact is we will have sexual predators ( i am a pervert not a predator & i heard those snickers) paedophiles (that is the correct spelling) & other sicko's, but, unfortunatley because of our position in the community it makes what they think is good journalism.

These sick bastards are in reality in every profession, every town, every country but the accountants never have their professions named or the journalists for some strange reason (Conspiracy thoerists enter at this point please). These are in the minority NOT the majority & we, as pre hospital clinitians need to be professional enough to prove to our patients that we are not all of that ilk.

Phil

[Scaramedic]

That's my point Phil it's always "PARAMEDIC ARRESTED." I can tell you why, most reporters have a real hard on for any public officials, it's their bread and butter.

Peace,

Marty

[becksdad]

I think we need to take a great deal of responsibility for this lack of perceived professionalism ourselves. Ems as a whole in the U.S. is filled with people who perpetuate a negative perception.

We have the whackers who simply get off on lights and sirens and "excitement". I know plenty of professionals in this field as well, and not a one of them is infatuated with any of this stuff. We have burned-out providers who bitch and moan about every single call, who attempt to talk patients out of going to the hospital with them - sometimes with disastrous results. We have providers who apparently don't have a clue as to how to assess different patients, or how to interpret assessment information. Lack of education? Let's talk about that next....

It's impossible to argue against increasing education. But many of us CHOOSE ignorance! EMT's who never want to learn anything beyond the basic 120 hour course. Providers who only meet the minimum CEU requirements in the easiest possible way. Hell, the agency I worked with for several years utilized an online CEU program for both Basics and Medics. When I did the Medic programs, every single question on the tests were BLS questions!!!

Impossible to financially afford or have time for formal education? How about educating yourself? How about being interested enough in this profession to learn as much as you can? Even if the things you learn address issues that are beyond your scope of practice. It can only make you a better provider and patient advocate. And it will certainly make you better at assessing patients and communicating with other healthcare professionals.

I really think that if we individually elevate ourselves, we will slowly begin to attract the caliber of people who will perpetuate professionalism. To a great extent it is up to us. As established providers, we need to promote all these things to newer people. Newer people - choose your mentors wisely! There are in fact many excellent, professional people within EMS.

I wanted to say more, really, but I'm at work and need to go. But just a final thought: Regardless of anyone's perception, I consider myself a professional. I want professio0nal partners, and mostly I have had them. If you act and strive for professionalism, you are a professional. So do it.

[Richard B the EMT]

I figure most here would not remember Bill Mauldin. He was a cartoonist in the "Stars and Stripes" military newspaper, back during the Second World War (not that old, myself, but I read a few of his books).

One comic panel he had in his book, "Back Home", showed a couple reading a newspaper, which every headline was Veteran this or Veteran that. One comments to the other, "There's a story of a triple ax homicide on page 17, no veterans involved!"

Figure it this way. After the old adage, "If it bleeds, it leads," for garnering a headline, even so-called "union friendly" newspapers go after public servants, as "they failed to maintain their 'higher standards' BECAUSE they were public servants, and tarnished the image we, the public, have of them." The wording is mine, but you get the idea.

[VaREMS1]

1. Minimum of an AS degree for Paramedics, just like RN's. No accelerated non-degree programs allowed.

2. Total seperation from the Fire Departments. No ifs/ands/butts (sic) about it.

3. Autonomy would be nice, as well as licensure. With that comes being held professionally responsible for your actions. Hello, malpractice insurance!

4. Volunteer EMS/Rescue exists, as a reserve force primarily.

[FormerEMSLT297]

I agree with most of what others posted.

The biggest issue is not being lumped into the FD. Most fire depts. provide very poor EMS service, they are not progressive, they dont take the EMS part seriously, and the EMS side of the house ALWAYS takes a back seat to the FIRE side of the house.

Punishing Firefighters by putting them on Ambulance detail does NOTHING to porivde quality patient care, it just makes the FF resentful of having to do EMS.

Fire based EMS systems do one thing and one thing only, they allow the IAFF to have more members, and they allow FD's to get bigger budgets, and have more people....

They do nothing to provide quality patient care.

My thoughts are my own and do not represent my agency or dept, or company.