Re: Paramedic Shortage

[Guest guest]

> As the NR makes getting paramedic certification harder, and the

> shortage becomes more severe, (which is inevitable for the next

> several years), the pay scale will have to go up.

Is NR really making it " harder, " in an educational sense, to become

certified? Or is it merely making it more complicated in an administrative

sense? Food for thought.

> how about a union for ems? how about a strike? something to

> show that ems personnel are serious in what we believe in.

Great idea. What better way to show the public that we are nothing more

than uneducated labourers instead of educated professionals?

Rob

[Guest guest]

I have to agree on some points

NR is not making it necessarly harder, however is more complicated. It

breaks up the continuiety we have come to expect. It also makes it more

expensive to achieve. It also makes the records keeping more extensive./

As for union? There was a time in this country that unions were absolutely

necessary for labor. The problem is that they now are so large the the cost

to the laborer to keep them is difficult. They have recieved a black eye

from some things that have occured in the past. But mostely the demands are

so high that management will ship jobs over seas rather than pay for them.

I would like to point out that organization is absolutely necessary if we as

a group plan to improve our situation.

It will take organization from the majority of Texas Certified EMS

persosnnel, but we can achieve our goals if we band together and speak with

one loud voice.

Voice of Hope for EMS

[Guest guest]

)

< Anyway, point is, it really has nothing to do with volunteering, it

<has to do with those of us who do it for a living.

Although it's not the point of the entire discussion, it may very well be a

contributing factor.

I'm currently a volunteer paramedic, and have been for almost 20yrs. I have

a master's degree in education, and have taught special ed for many years as

well. To make a long story short.....I love EMS, and I'm good at what I do.

It cant pay me well enough to leave my kids and go off to work....hats off to

those of you who can do it. Education didnt pay very well either, nor does the

fire service(hubby's with a city FD), but many ems salaries are ridiculous.

Even if I managed to find a ft paid position in EMS that paid well, I'd

continue to volunteer within my own community. But, again...to leave my kids

for

24 hrs at a time, for a " pittance " is not worth it.

Kathi

[Guest guest]

I have no idea what the out come was but let the volunteers worry about it.

Not sure what the point was.

I'm sure the poor patient..or their family worried about it as well. Our

volunteer service gets our units out--at times 4 of them, plus at least 2 ALS

responders.

Kathi

[Guest guest]

I disagree in areas where volunteers the Medicare pay level is much lower and

the pay is lower and the pay services have a much harder time collecting no

matter what quality of service they deliver.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Re: Re: Paramedic Shortage

The statement about pay being low because of people who are willing to

" do it for free " is, in my opinion, comparing apples to oranges, and not

really the point. Volunteers, both in EMS and fire service, (such as myself

many

years ago in my home town), do it for a sense of community, and other

motivations. The vast majority have another job to support themselves and

their family,

are not the individuals having to deal with the pay issue. These people, by

definition, aren't worried about how much they are getting paid, because, of

course, they are not getting paid.

There are individuals who are working for very low (8-10/hr) wages

right now for some private services and some municipalities. My original point

on

a previous post about the NR being good for pay rates still should hold true.

If there are less people who are paramedic certified, then maybe the

individual medic making the lower rate will see an opportunity to leave for a

higher

rate, or may be able to leverage a higher rate out of their current employer.

It will almost inevitably increase the pay scale if the employers need to

attract paramedic level individuals to hire, and will give incentives to offer

more money per hour so that employer can pick and choose the most qualified of

the applicants. Supply and demand. (Just like OPEC is doing to us right now at

the gas pumps)

Anyway, point is, it really has nothing to do with volunteering, it

has to do with those of us who do it for a living.

Chris