Re: RE: [Texas's-L] Is Everyone in Austin Deaf!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Lawrence, many of us in all types of EMS systems can appreciate your

perspective on this. We know it is frustrating to have delays in a hiring

process when you are eager to get into an organization and apply the

knowledge and skills that you have developed either in school or with your

last employer.

Please understand that all of us walk a fine line between quality and

quantity and I think you will find that the time and effort spent 'up front'

to select high quality candidates is of very definite long-term benefit by

creating a workforce of highly skilled, caring EMS professionals. We have

heard this message very clearly from our paramedics at Austin- County

and we believe we have an ethical and moral commitment to our customers to

select the best qualified caregivers available.

As for testing, the state scores reflect the minimum acceptable score for

passing the paramedic exam. That is the very nature of the state

testing/certification/licensure process. Many employers prefer, and we are

one of these, to identify providers who demonstrate a higher level of

academic performance as measured by a written test. This is simply used as a

benchmark and is always reviewed in context of other selection process

components such as scenarios and interviews.

Good luck finding a position that satisfies your personal career goals and

needs. I encourage you to be patient and to take feedback and use it to

improve as you move through your EMS career.

Respectfully,

Chris

_____

Christian E. Callsen, Jr., LP

Senior District Commander, Strategic Planning

Terrorism Duty Officer

Austin- County EMS

Office

Pager

Fax

chris.callsen@...

RE: [Texas's-L] Is Everyone in Austin Deaf!!!!!

The article did leave out some points. Before I say them I am not

complaining or anything like that, it is more of a suggestion. One of the

reasons why some of these civic EMS departments are running low on medics is

that they have a unnecessarily long process before they hire a medic. The

test grades they require ( written) is very high, some times hirer than what

the state requires, it should be remembered that not all medics memorize

their text books to pass these tests. I know of two such places that have a

minimum grade of 80 to pass and if a person has not had a resent refresher

course OT just out of school, they may very well have a hard time passing am

not at all saying that the test should be removed or any such thing. What I

am saying is that the companies that are in need of medics should take a

very long and hard look at their hiring process and see what is anything

they can do to make it go faster in order to get people. For example, I

applied at Montgomery County last week and was told that they will not be

having a testing time for about 6 weeks or more. Now think about all the

overtime they are paying because of this. Plus, of all the applicants they

get in that are qualified to take the test and if they have to wait that

long, then these same people will be out looking for work elsewhere and if a

job comes up and they take where does that leave MCHD ? This is not just

about MCHD so not feel like it is please. I know a few people there and I

have respect for them. This is about the EMS organizations and their need of

taking a close look and deciding just how can they get the medics hired and

what can they do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure if you have ever run a hiring process for EMS, I'm going to

guess and say no.

System have standards, which is what makes them quality systems and is why

you want to work for them. Just because a system is in need of employees

doesn't mean they are going to lower their standard just so anyone can get a

job. Most system are willing to eat the OT and wait for the quality

employee. It goes back to Customer Service. If I lower my systems standards

just to get a warm body in then it will do more harm then good in the long

run.

Hiring Processes are not just thrown together and done at your (the

applicants) liesure. They take time to create and are very costly to run.

Which is why they have set dates for their process. It takes time and

committment from those who will be putting on the process. Many systems have

a certain amount of time which the positions are posted for. This is usually

done so that they can get the most applicants possible for 1 hiring process.

Good luck in your hunting..

Lt. K. Wiseman, EMT-P

EMS 10, B Shift

on County EMS

bwiseman@...

RE: [Texas's-L] Is Everyone in Austin Deaf!!!!!

>

> The article did leave out some points. Before I say them I am not

> complaining or anything like that, it is more of a suggestion. One of the

> reasons why some of these civic EMS departments are running low on medics

is

> that they have a unnecessarily long process before they hire a medic. The

> test grades they require ( written) is very high, some times hirer than

what

> the state requires, it should be remembered that not all medics memorize

> their text books to pass these tests. I know of two such places that have

a

> minimum grade of 80 to pass and if a person has not had a resent refresher

> course OT just out of school, they may very well have a hard time passing

am

> not at all saying that the test should be removed or any such thing. What

I

> am saying is that the companies that are in need of medics should take a

> very long and hard look at their hiring process and see what is anything

> they can do to make it go faster in order to get people. For example, I

> applied at Montgomery County last week and was told that they will not be

> having a testing time for about 6 weeks or more. Now think about all the

> overtime they are paying because of this. Plus, of all the applicants they

> get in that are qualified to take the test and if they have to wait that

> long, then these same people will be out looking for work elsewhere and if

a

> job comes up and they take where does that leave MCHD ? This is not just

> about MCHD so not feel like it is please. I know a few people there and I

> have respect for them. This is about the EMS organizations and their need

of

> taking a close look and deciding just how can they get the medics hired

and

> what can they do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I hadn't read Chris' post prior to posting. I agree completely with your

post.....

Good luck with your processes as well..

RE: [Texas's-L] Is Everyone in Austin Deaf!!!!!

>

>

>

> The article did leave out some points. Before I say them I am not

> complaining or anything like that, it is more of a suggestion. One of the

> reasons why some of these civic EMS departments are running low on medics

is

> that they have a unnecessarily long process before they hire a medic. The

> test grades they require ( written) is very high, some times hirer than

what

> the state requires, it should be remembered that not all medics memorize

> their text books to pass these tests. I know of two such places that have

a

> minimum grade of 80 to pass and if a person has not had a resent refresher

> course OT just out of school, they may very well have a hard time passing

am

> not at all saying that the test should be removed or any such thing. What

I

> am saying is that the companies that are in need of medics should take a

> very long and hard look at their hiring process and see what is anything

> they can do to make it go faster in order to get people. For example, I

> applied at Montgomery County last week and was told that they will not be

> having a testing time for about 6 weeks or more. Now think about all the

> overtime they are paying because of this. Plus, of all the applicants they

> get in that are qualified to take the test and if they have to wait that

> long, then these same people will be out looking for work elsewhere and if

a

> job comes up and they take where does that leave MCHD ? This is not just

> about MCHD so not feel like it is please. I know a few people there and I

> have respect for them. This is about the EMS organizations and their need

of

> taking a close look and deciding just how can they get the medics hired

and

> what can they do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree completely. I myself am not complaining you understand. What I am

doing is stating a point and perhaps making a suggestion that maybe useful

in hiring medics. At no point should quality be hindered but as we all know

sometimes a governmental process runs slow and for no good reason. But, and

I say but again, I am not saying that there are no reasons behind this. I am

saying that if there are ways to make the system work faster and better with

no loss in quality then why not look into doing that very thing. We do it

all the time in our lives in upgrading our computers, finding faster way to

get to work ,ect. Just because something has been done a certain way does

not mean that it is the best way is the point that I am trying to make.

> RE: [Texas's-L] Is Everyone in Austin Deaf!!!!!

>

>

>

> The article did leave out some points. Before I say them I am not

> complaining or anything like that, it is more of a suggestion. One of the

> reasons why some of these civic EMS departments are running low

> on medics is

> that they have a unnecessarily long process before they hire a medic. The

> test grades they require ( written) is very high, some times

> hirer than what

> the state requires, it should be remembered that not all medics memorize

> their text books to pass these tests. I know of two such places

> that have a

> minimum grade of 80 to pass and if a person has not had a resent refresher

> course OT just out of school, they may very well have a hard time

> passing am

> not at all saying that the test should be removed or any such

> thing. What I

> am saying is that the companies that are in need of medics should take a

> very long and hard look at their hiring process and see what is anything

> they can do to make it go faster in order to get people. For example, I

> applied at Montgomery County last week and was told that they will not be

> having a testing time for about 6 weeks or more. Now think about all the

> overtime they are paying because of this. Plus, of all the applicants they

> get in that are qualified to take the test and if they have to wait that

> long, then these same people will be out looking for work

> elsewhere and if a

> job comes up and they take where does that leave MCHD ? This is not just

> about MCHD so not feel like it is please. I know a few people there and I

> have respect for them. This is about the EMS organizations and

> their need of

> taking a close look and deciding just how can they get the medics

> hired and

> what can they do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Comments inline...

RE: [Texas's-L] Is Everyone in Austin Deaf!!!!!

The article did leave out some points. Before I say them I am not

complaining or anything like that, it is more of a suggestion. One of the

reasons why some of these civic EMS departments are running low on medics is

that they have a unnecessarily long process before they hire a medic.

M> Many of the civic EMS departments have a longer process either because

they receive a whole lot more applicants, or because they are civil service, or

because they run training academies for new hires and will interview/hire in a

space between academy start dates. These things are unusual with smaller

departments, who usually train on-the-job with respect to protocols, paperwork,

district training, etc. Of course, your mileage may vary.

The

test grades they require ( written) is very high, some times hirer than what

the state requires, it should be remembered that not all medics memorize

their text books to pass these tests. I know of two such places that have a

minimum grade of 80 to pass and if a person has not had a resent refresher

course OT just out of school, they may very well have a hard time passing am

not at all saying that the test should be removed or any such thing.

M> In my opinion, 80 is not " very high. " The state only sets a minimum

standard. Nothing against any medic who meets this standard, they deserve their

patch as much as someone who scores 100, but some services want to set a higher

bar. In the case of the services you mention, I've tested with one and been

invited to test with the other. For the one I did test with, the test was in

fact more comprehensive than some services protocol tests, let alone initial

exams. They were, however, willing to work with those persons who did not score

80, so no one left " feeling stupid, " and my understanding was that many will

have the chance to retest. Of course, your mileage may vary.

What I

am saying is that the companies that are in need of medics should take a

very long and hard look at their hiring process and see what is anything

they can do to make it go faster in order to get people.

M> See, I'd have to disagree... If you hire the first one, you might

not get the most qualified one, or better yet, the one that best fits your

service (who might have a better background, personality, etc.). Services

typically don't want people, they want good people. Exceptions will be those

services struggling to keep their heads above water, who may have to take what

they can get, especially if they don't have the ability to offer higher pay,

etc.

For example, I

applied at Montgomery County last week and was told that they will not be

having a testing time for about 6 weeks or more. Now think about all the

overtime they are paying because of this.

M> In certain circumstances, overtime is cheaper than a full-time person.

Sounds strange, but when you factor in benefits, this may be true for a given

position. Also, 6 weeks of overtime may be cheaper than hiring someone, paying

them to train, then having them leave. Factor in uniform costs, gear (MCHD

issues a lot of quality gear to keep their folks safe), etc. and you get the

picture.

Plus, of all the applicants they

get in that are qualified to take the test and if they have to wait that

long, then these same people will be out looking for work elsewhere and if a

job comes up and they take where does that leave MCHD ?

M> That's not necessarily true. Take me, for instance. I've applied

where I want to work, and I'm willing to wait and hear back from them. I'm not

in a position that I have to leave where I'm at (in fact, I'm a homeowner with a

daughter starting school this fall, so bouncing up and leaving on a whim just

wouldn't work). A lot of the seasoned medics I know are the same way, and a lot

of folks who haven't been able to afford to do EMS full time are able to

consider a career change now because of higher salaries and better benefit

packages offered by some services.

This is not just

about MCHD so not feel like it is please. I know a few people there and I

have respect for them. This is about the EMS organizations and their need of

taking a close look and deciding just how can they get the medics hired and

what can they do to speed up the process without sacrificing quality.

M> What about this? We have EMSAT now... what if EMSAT could consider

taking a role to " index " its members, administer an agreed-upon level of test

(in fact, a banded-result test where employers could measure performance against

the standards they choose), personality profiles, etc? Would this be helpful

(just thinking)... then employers could come to EMSAT, pay them to search their

database of potential applicants and actually notify folks they are interested

in, accept the test results, etc. It would be a major undertaking, but it's a

thought... a statewide database of medics, results, etc. You could double-blind

it so that no personal information was available until either party made it

available... (brainstorm from a computer geek, watch out!).

Mike