EMS Question

[dropdeded 0]

Kinda at a point where I need to make some decisions as far as where to put in a couple years in the field as an EMT (elsewhere) before I move on. I have been looking into AMR and was looking for opinions from any of the people here that may have experience with the company. Im not even sure I have to stay in So Cal although LA county would probably have a lot of good experience to offer. I also realize that AMR is HUGE and I will probably get eaten up by the machine that it is, but if its what I got to do, well, you know. As it is I've been with a small company for 6 months, the last 2 on an ALS ambulance running transfers, a lot of LDT's.

Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

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The Dude Abides.
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[captain1 0]

Go back to college if possible. Your job is low paying for all the shit you have to endure and see and experience. No offense intended. Helping people is a good thing. I am just brutally honest.

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

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Go back to college if possible. Your job is low paying for all the shit you have to endure and see and experience. No offense intended. Helping people is a good thing. I am just brutally honest.

Just curious...WHY is EMS such a low paying job? Doesn't make sense to me.

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[Clownburner 0]

No, it makes NO sense at all.

But it's low paying because there are (surprisingly) a lot of people willing to do the work so they can get into the fire dept, paramedic, or hospital service.

OTOH, the training I got to become a nationally-certified EMT was less than the training to get my massage technician certificate.

Go figure.

As to the original question, I've seen good things at Doctor's ambulance, they seem to treat their people pretty well.

7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez
"I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

[dropdeded 0]

Go back to college if possible. Your job is low paying for all the shit you have to endure and see and experience. No offense intended. Helping people is a good thing. I am just brutally honest.
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Im in college, EMS is just a start. I was a roofer for 20+ years and I really like the direction Im headed. I dont really know how far this will all go, and I sincerely appreciate your honesty, but it is a direction I have put a lot of thought into. As far as EMT's go Im finding out we are pretty much a dime a dozen. Thats why I am taking classes and am looking for any input on AMR.

Thanks

dropdeded

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The Dude Abides.
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[dropdeded 0]

Transferred a patient this morning to Kaiser in Panarama City.LA City Fire Paramedic asks me where we are from and then say's " Bakersfield???, are you fuckin LOST??" Great guys

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[crwmike 0]

Quote

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Go back to college if possible. Your job is low paying for all the shit you have to endure and see and experience. No offense intended. Helping people is a good thing. I am just brutally honest.

Just curious...WHY is EMS such a low paying job? Doesn't make sense to me.

Supply and demand. For whatever their individual reasons, thre are lots of people applying for these jobs. EMT is pretty basic training. Paramedic, depending on the state, requires some more classroom but tons of clinical hours.

In S. Florida, any private ambulance employee who doesn't have four applications into various Fire Departments either can't pass the physical agility or the background check.

EMT/Paramedics are some of the most dedicated health care workers around.

Michael

[Dagny 0]

I worked in EMS for seven years, almost five years as a paramedic. I loved the job, the pay wasn't all bad. I lived comfortably and could easily pick up details and overtime to afford the things I really wanted. It's hard work, you're not fully appreciated, it can be dangerous, abuse of the EMS system can be maddening, it can wear your body down, and there really isn't career advancement possible (unless you want to be a supervisor), but it's a mentally rewarding job. And it can be really fun. People who don't do it won't understand that part of it. It takes a special breed to work a unit and not burn out.

Anyway, since you're already in EMS and are asking about AMR, let me move on. I worked for AMR for 3 years. I was glad to leave AMR, but they gave me my start (as a basic) and I appreciate that. I learned a lot, but I got bored doing transfers all day. My biggest complaints about AMR are these...it's a corporation and it's a business. Bottom line is the almighty dollar. I saw people in the office downsized after years of service just to conserve money. Luckily, that never affected the EMT's.

Here are the things that annoyed me the most about the job itself in that red and white ambulance:
1. all the equipment was stocked by supply personnel and stored in locked cabinets. To access equipment, you had to cut the ties holding the cabinets closed and open the individual bags that held the equipment. Basically, they monitor supplies VERY closely and it just annoyed me after a while.

2. There is a system in place to monitor your driving. It beeps when you exceed a pre-set speed limit and when you turn to fast and when you brake too fast. Earn too many "beeps" and you can earn a suspension. It's a true pain in the ass when you're driving code III to a call. I never had an accident in a unit, but I got my fair share of beeps. I hated that thing.

3. AMR supplied a fanny pack with isolation supplies (gown, mask, and a bunch of other bulky crap you'll never use) and they required that it be worn at all times while on duty. I hated that thing, too. It was big and bulky and didn't sit on my hip right and made it difficult to sit in the seats and drive.

4. Rules, rules, rules. I truly believed the company wouldn't be happy unless the medics had colostomy bags, foley catheters, and were able to mainline food so there wouldn't be a need for food and bathroom breaks. Seriously, sometimes transfers were being held and if you got caught hitting a drive-thru for a bite to eat...that meant being written up. It was better when I worked for a public service...the dispatchers tried to take care of us, you know? I worked 911 for almost five years and we were constantly running, but I didn't feel like I was being beat down by the dispatchers. They tried to give us a minute to grab food or go to the bathroom and I understood when circumstances just wouldn't allow it. There's a difference between "no food for you" because someone got hit by a car and yeah, but I'm holding a code one transfer so NO.

On the other hand, one of the benefits of AMR is that the trucks are fully supplied and you'll never be left on a call without code supplies, tape, jelcos, and O2 masks (as happened frequently at the public service). There is a chain of command there that is easy to follow. If you have a problem, you can take it far if you need to and it'll get handled. There was a good benefits program which included a 401K, stock options, and the company matched your contribution. Also, continuing education was provided in-house which was really convenient. And, now that I'm in medical school, I have a much greater appreciation of how much you can learn from the really sick medicals you transport. (I loved to peruse a patients chart while we were stuck on long drives)

The problems I had with AMR were issues that occurred at one particular location. My suggestion is this, understand that it's a business and they are in it to make money. Understand that if you compromise a contract (fight with a nurse, whatever) they will penalize you and kiss ass to make up at the facility even if you were right. And ask the people working there if they're happy and what they think.

It's a decision only you can make, but make it for the right reasons and don't turn back. Go for whatever you think is right and enjoy your time in EMS, the memories will last a lifetime!

Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic.
-Salvador Dali

[captain1 0]

It has its ups and downs. You found a niche in the industry. Biotech sales.

[dropdeded 0]

Thanks Dagny. Sounds like pretty much what I've been told by a few co-workers that have worked for AMR. I really dont feel discouraged knowing what a "machine" it is. My whole goal is to spend a few years getting some good hard experience so I will have a good EMT base that I can work off of. Im going to do some more asking around and if its all good, Im probably going to go for it. Not sure where yet being as Im not really tied to the area Im at now.
There are a few smaller Ambulance companies in the area but I kinda think I would get a lot more experience in the "machine".
Thanks again for your reply, it was very helpful.

dropdeded

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The Dude Abides.
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[Billy 0]

Hey Ed,
AMR is all over, including the northwest here. I would look at what type of rig configuration they ran. I know some places will pair you up with an EMT-P so you'll get the ALS experiance and someone to mentor you along,, but not all places do. In Seattle they have rigs that are EMT's only and it seems all they do is grunt transfers. If you really wanna learn get paired with a medic at least. I've been in ambulances all over the northwest and haven't seen much of Dagny's situation up this way.

I know the AMR guys here in Spokane are union, and that if you go from an EMT to an EMT-P you currently lose any seniority and have to start over as a medic, but the union is fighting that now and it could soon change.

I worked EMS as an EMT for years and then got my RN and now am a flight RN EMT-P and I love it. Flight Nurse/Paramedics can get jobs pretty much anywhere. I know the U of A in Tucson has an accelerated RN program that you can get through in something like 13-14 months, with an agreement to work at the U hospital for some time afterwards and they will pay for the program. RN's are in short supply with hiring bonuses etc to compensate for some stressful conditions but that is a whole other thread. I don't know if AMR is in Tucson, but with Eloy and Coolige close by it's worth a look. I started EMS in Tucson and it's large enough to see it all, especially the South and West side!
Good Luck Bro...

Natural Born FlyerZ.com

[skydiverbrian 0]

Everyone's advice was great, but I'll add that you should find try to find a job with a company that does 911 calls. Some AMR locations run that way, others don't. Rural/Metro is another big company to check out.

There's a HUGE difference from chucking patients between hospitals and doing on-scene care. Experience in the on-scene 911 arena will get you farther. And you'll learn more.

In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal