Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the services that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for EMS services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill the jobs. I'm not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My own county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not required by law to provide them. Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS has determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the county is without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck occurs? Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no service. I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their pickups and hightail it to the hospital. People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a bunch of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS service, then they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes necessary to support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when folks want to order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at paying $40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art EMS service. They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year to support EMS for the whole family. As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian to a lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other municipal services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service with tax dollars. You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or another or not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not billing for actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas charged $60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the services in what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs were. Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The rest of us got stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of course, shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the prevailing reimbursements for many years. When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will begin to understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If they don't want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but it's the reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot support a doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it won't have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and there will be none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose it. Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential service. We have done a miserable job of public education about how important we are. And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " because we have consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect because a large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising our level of professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because those who pay say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service costs big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants the service, it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot refuse service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, must either gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service available when WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world countries because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always much whining among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more taxes, but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always find the money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the state. So they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll do it without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer almost all of my career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. The same, BTW, with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with nothing, and the community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice little " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. Time to stop it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, buy decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for their expenditures. We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's deputies, state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer reserves, but they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though in rural Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts with $2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? Who has sold his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. Like I said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So either they decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. Simple economics. I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not helping by pulling it out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service that would pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are everywhere. There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. Gene G. In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, joetemt_p@... writes: > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > From:joetemt_p@... > Reply-to:texasems-l > To:texasems-l > Sent from the Internet > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are comperable > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > than that. > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to see > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing too. > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > public welfare. > > Joe T > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Right on Gene!! Once again... I'm in full agreement----ya'll can feel free to flame me right along with Gene. Cristi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2006 Report Share Posted April 17, 2006 Gene, Interesting Comments, I agree with you, my grand mother would say, " why buy the cow if you can get the milk free. " I'm willing to bet you most citizens in the state of Texas and visitors to the state ASSuME they can dial 911 and get an ambulance where ever they are in the state of Texas. You are right about the flat fee Dallas charged but through the years we have had to change our billing structure to help with the increased cost. Up until a couple years ago we would not charge a patient unless we transported them to an ER. Now we have out of residence, mileage, and other fees reflected on our bills. We had to do this in order to decrease the cost to our tax paying citizen. If the state of Texas would make EMS an essential service the local governments would find the funds. I hate to say it but it's going to take the death of some prominent citizens before some areas realize the importance of EMS. I may be wrong considering they don't seem to realize the importance of funding education. As for the volunteers you provide a very necessary service, but what's going to happen to you when you get an exposure, or your family when you get a disability. If these communities can have fund raisers for you when you get hurt or killed why cant they do it to purchase you some good equipment or insurance, just a thought. Maxie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 : You might check the Office of Rural Community Affairs _www.orca.state.tx.us_ (http://www.orca.state.tx.us) -Wes Ogilvie In a message dated 4/18/2006 7:42:03 AM Central Daylight Time, ryno5775@... writes: Gene; Actually, we in Marfa have been asked to look into an E.S.D., but honestly we don't have a clue where to start to get information. How to set it up. How it is funded best, insurance, benefits, etc. If anyone has detailed information please contact us off list @ 1-, marfaems@... , or ryno5775@... . We love EMS here, and don't want to see it go by the way side. RE Dodson wrote: Amen Gene... I moved back to Texas last year and have been waying the cost of getting back into frontier EMS, since I know as a paramedic I can handle the calls and not everyone can handle long distance transports. But I have to tell you I am not coming back in because I have grown up bills now and cannot afford the cost of being an EMS provider for the area that needs me most. That is sad. And it isn't the providers faults. Houses in Marfa are selling for 300,000.00+ because of a lot of east coast and european artsy money coming into the area-of course the long term locals are either taking the money and running or wondering how long they can stay. That whole area is undergoing major growing pains yet realistically very little has changed since I started writing about the area in 2000. The same core people are still keeping EMS going in Ft. , Marfa and Presidio and I have so much respect for them. They are the energizer bunnies of EMS! Eventually something is going to give out there and it will probably be the backs of the bunnies:) Raina Dodson M.S. Retired LEMT-P Presidio EMS >From: wegandy1938@... >Reply-To: texasems-l >To: texasems-l , Paramedicine >Subject: Re: EMS salaries >Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:55 EDT > >These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the services >that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for EMS >services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill the >jobs. I'm >not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My own >county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. > >In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any >EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not >required >by law to provide them. > >Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS has >determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the county >is >without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck >occurs? > >Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no service. > >I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their pickups and >hightail it to the hospital. > >People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a bunch >of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS service, >then >they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes necessary >to >support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when folks >want to >order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at paying >$40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art EMS >service. > They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year to >support EMS for the whole family. > >As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian to a >lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other municipal >services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service with tax >dollars. >You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or another or >not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. > >I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not billing for >actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas >charged >$60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the services >in >what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs were. >Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The rest of >us got >stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of >course, >shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the prevailing >reimbursements for many years. > >When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will begin >to >understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If they >don't >want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but it's >the >reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot support >a >doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it won't >have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and there >will be >none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose it. > >Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential service. >We have done a miserable job of public education about how important we >are. >And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " because we >have >consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. > >Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect because a >large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising our >level of >professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because those >who pay >say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. > >If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service costs >big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants the >service, >it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot refuse >service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, must >either >gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service available >when >WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. > >Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world countries >because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always much >whining >among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more taxes, >but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always find >the >money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the >state. So >they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. > >Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll do it >without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their >communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer almost >all of my >career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. The >same, BTW, >with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with nothing, and >the >community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice little > " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. Time to >stop >it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, buy >decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for their >expenditures. > >We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's deputies, >state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer reserves, >but >they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though in >rural >Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. > >Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts with >$2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? Who has >sold >his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. Like >I >said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So either >they >decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. > >Simple economics. > >I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former >President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not helping by >pulling it >out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service that >would >pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are everywhere. >There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. > >OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. > >Gene G. > > > > > > >In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, >joetemt_p@... writes: > > > > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > > From:joetemt_p@... > > Reply-to:texasems-l > > To:texasems-l > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are comperable > > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > > than that. > > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to see > > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing too. > > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > > public welfare. > > > > Joe T > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Amen Gene... I moved back to Texas last year and have been waying the cost of getting back into frontier EMS, since I know as a paramedic I can handle the calls and not everyone can handle long distance transports. But I have to tell you I am not coming back in because I have grown up bills now and cannot afford the cost of being an EMS provider for the area that needs me most. That is sad. And it isn't the providers faults. Houses in Marfa are selling for 300,000.00+ because of a lot of east coast and european artsy money coming into the area-of course the long term locals are either taking the money and running or wondering how long they can stay. That whole area is undergoing major growing pains yet realistically very little has changed since I started writing about the area in 2000. The same core people are still keeping EMS going in Ft. , Marfa and Presidio and I have so much respect for them. They are the energizer bunnies of EMS! Eventually something is going to give out there and it will probably be the backs of the bunnies:) Raina Dodson M.S. Retired LEMT-P Presidio EMS >From: wegandy1938@... >Reply-To: texasems-l >To: texasems-l , Paramedicine >Subject: Re: EMS salaries >Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:55 EDT > >These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the services >that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for EMS >services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill the >jobs. I'm >not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My own >county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. > >In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any >EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not >required >by law to provide them. > >Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS has >determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the county >is >without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck >occurs? > >Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no service. > >I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their pickups and >hightail it to the hospital. > >People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a bunch >of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS service, >then >they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes necessary >to >support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when folks >want to >order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at paying >$40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art EMS >service. > They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year to >support EMS for the whole family. > >As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian to a >lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other municipal >services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service with tax >dollars. >You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or another or >not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. > >I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not billing for >actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas >charged >$60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the services >in >what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs were. >Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The rest of >us got >stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of >course, >shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the prevailing >reimbursements for many years. > >When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will begin >to >understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If they >don't >want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but it's >the >reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot support >a >doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it won't >have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and there >will be >none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose it. > >Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential service. >We have done a miserable job of public education about how important we >are. >And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " because we >have >consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. > >Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect because a >large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising our >level of >professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because those >who pay >say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. > >If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service costs >big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants the >service, >it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot refuse >service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, must >either >gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service available >when >WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. > >Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world countries >because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always much >whining >among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more taxes, >but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always find >the >money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the >state. So >they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. > >Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll do it >without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their >communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer almost >all of my >career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. The >same, BTW, >with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with nothing, and >the >community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice little > " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. Time to >stop >it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, buy >decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for their >expenditures. > >We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's deputies, >state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer reserves, >but >they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though in >rural >Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. > >Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts with >$2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? Who has >sold >his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. Like >I >said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So either >they >decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. > >Simple economics. > >I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former >President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not helping by >pulling it >out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service that >would >pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are everywhere. >There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. > >OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. > >Gene G. > > > > > > >In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, >joetemt_p@... writes: > > > > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > > From:joetemt_p@... > > Reply-to:texasems-l > > To:texasems-l > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are comperable > > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > > than that. > > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to see > > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing too. > > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > > public welfare. > > > > Joe T > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 I totally agree with all your statements. I recently moved to Arizona and now work for a private company that has a union. Initially I was against union activity, but now I see how it can help with wages, equipment, etc. Where I worked in Texas before I was making less money for more hours working, not getting compensated for doing extra projects, and being caught in the " that's how it works " routine. Here, I work 48 hours (2-24's) a week (compared to average of 56 before) for more money, I am compensated for extra projects, already received a raise (in less than a 6 mth when I started), have new e quipment, great quarters, and the best thing, I don't have to work overtime over my scheduled hours unless I want to. And no, I am not just scraping by. Oh, did I say I received a very nice bonus (considerably more than AMR's $1500 they advertise). I agree we need to stand up for ourselves and our service/profession, but if the higher ups won't listen, then maybe it's time to move on. (Yes, the grass is greener here). Arizona may not be your cup of tea, maybe it's Florida, Washington, etc. The best thing Texas did was go to National Registry because having this cert makes it extremely easy to move from state to state. Volunteer services are important parts of the communities they serve. Many on the service are kin to the founders of the department and feel a moral obligation to continue this community tradition. Although I cannot fault them for their dedication, I agree they should have better equipment, compensation, and recognition with county funding. Gene, you are right that the people will only complain if the fire truck or ambulance isn't there when they want or need it, but could care less if the response of these vehicles doesn't affect them. How does this change? If the services stopped responding, how would this affect the public perception short and long term? It's a delicate situation that will take a lot of hits before it improves. Just my opinion, although it doesn't count for much Joanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Gene; Actually, we in Marfa have been asked to look into an E.S.D., but honestly we don't have a clue where to start to get information. How to set it up. How it is funded best, insurance, benefits, etc. If anyone has detailed information please contact us off list @ 1-, marfaems@... , or ryno5775@... . We love EMS here, and don't want to see it go by the way side. RE Dodson wrote: Amen Gene... I moved back to Texas last year and have been waying the cost of getting back into frontier EMS, since I know as a paramedic I can handle the calls and not everyone can handle long distance transports. But I have to tell you I am not coming back in because I have grown up bills now and cannot afford the cost of being an EMS provider for the area that needs me most. That is sad. And it isn't the providers faults. Houses in Marfa are selling for 300,000.00+ because of a lot of east coast and european artsy money coming into the area-of course the long term locals are either taking the money and running or wondering how long they can stay. That whole area is undergoing major growing pains yet realistically very little has changed since I started writing about the area in 2000. The same core people are still keeping EMS going in Ft. , Marfa and Presidio and I have so much respect for them. They are the energizer bunnies of EMS! Eventually something is going to give out there and it will probably be the backs of the bunnies:) Raina Dodson M.S. Retired LEMT-P Presidio EMS >From: wegandy1938@... >Reply-To: texasems-l >To: texasems-l , Paramedicine >Subject: Re: EMS salaries >Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:55 EDT > >These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the services >that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for EMS >services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill the >jobs. I'm >not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My own >county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. > >In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any >EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not >required >by law to provide them. > >Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS has >determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the county >is >without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck >occurs? > >Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no service. > >I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their pickups and >hightail it to the hospital. > >People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a bunch >of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS service, >then >they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes necessary >to >support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when folks >want to >order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at paying >$40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art EMS >service. > They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year to >support EMS for the whole family. > >As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian to a >lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other municipal >services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service with tax >dollars. >You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or another or >not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. > >I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not billing for >actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas >charged >$60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the services >in >what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs were. >Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The rest of >us got >stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of >course, >shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the prevailing >reimbursements for many years. > >When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will begin >to >understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If they >don't >want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but it's >the >reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot support >a >doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it won't >have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and there >will be >none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose it. > >Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential service. >We have done a miserable job of public education about how important we >are. >And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " because we >have >consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. > >Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect because a >large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising our >level of >professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because those >who pay >say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. > >If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service costs >big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants the >service, >it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot refuse >service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, must >either >gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service available >when >WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. > >Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world countries >because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always much >whining >among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more taxes, >but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always find >the >money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the >state. So >they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. > >Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll do it >without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their >communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer almost >all of my >career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. The >same, BTW, >with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with nothing, and >the >community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice little > " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. Time to >stop >it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, buy >decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for their >expenditures. > >We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's deputies, >state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer reserves, >but >they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though in >rural >Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. > >Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts with >$2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? Who has >sold >his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. Like >I >said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So either >they >decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. > >Simple economics. > >I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former >President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not helping by >pulling it >out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service that >would >pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are everywhere. >There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. > >OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. > >Gene G. > > > > > > >In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, >joetemt_p@... writes: > > > > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > > From:joetemt_p@... > > Reply-to:texasems-l > > To:texasems-l > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are comperable > > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > > than that. > > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to see > > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing too. > > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > > public welfare. > > > > Joe T > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Gene; Actually, we in Marfa have been asked to look into an E.S.D., but honestly we don't have a clue where to start to get information. How to set it up. How it is funded best, insurance, benefits, etc. If anyone has detailed information please contact us off list @ 1-, marfaems@... , or ryno5775@... . We love EMS here, and don't want to see it go by the way side. RE Dodson wrote: Amen Gene... I moved back to Texas last year and have been waying the cost of getting back into frontier EMS, since I know as a paramedic I can handle the calls and not everyone can handle long distance transports. But I have to tell you I am not coming back in because I have grown up bills now and cannot afford the cost of being an EMS provider for the area that needs me most. That is sad. And it isn't the providers faults. Houses in Marfa are selling for 300,000.00+ because of a lot of east coast and european artsy money coming into the area-of course the long term locals are either taking the money and running or wondering how long they can stay. That whole area is undergoing major growing pains yet realistically very little has changed since I started writing about the area in 2000. The same core people are still keeping EMS going in Ft. , Marfa and Presidio and I have so much respect for them. They are the energizer bunnies of EMS! Eventually something is going to give out there and it will probably be the backs of the bunnies:) Raina Dodson M.S. Retired LEMT-P Presidio EMS >From: wegandy1938@... >Reply-To: texasems-l >To: texasems-l , Paramedicine >Subject: Re: EMS salaries >Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:55 EDT > >These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the services >that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for EMS >services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill the >jobs. I'm >not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My own >county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. > >In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any >EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not >required >by law to provide them. > >Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS has >determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the county >is >without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck >occurs? > >Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no service. > >I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their pickups and >hightail it to the hospital. > >People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a bunch >of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS service, >then >they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes necessary >to >support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when folks >want to >order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at paying >$40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art EMS >service. > They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year to >support EMS for the whole family. > >As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian to a >lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other municipal >services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service with tax >dollars. >You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or another or >not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. > >I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not billing for >actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas >charged >$60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the services >in >what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs were. >Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The rest of >us got >stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of >course, >shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the prevailing >reimbursements for many years. > >When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will begin >to >understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If they >don't >want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but it's >the >reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot support >a >doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it won't >have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and there >will be >none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose it. > >Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential service. >We have done a miserable job of public education about how important we >are. >And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " because we >have >consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. > >Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect because a >large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising our >level of >professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because those >who pay >say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. > >If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service costs >big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants the >service, >it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot refuse >service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, must >either >gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service available >when >WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. > >Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world countries >because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always much >whining >among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more taxes, >but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always find >the >money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the >state. So >they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. > >Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll do it >without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their >communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer almost >all of my >career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. The >same, BTW, >with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with nothing, and >the >community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice little > " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. Time to >stop >it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, buy >decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for their >expenditures. > >We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's deputies, >state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer reserves, >but >they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though in >rural >Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. > >Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts with >$2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? Who has >sold >his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. Like >I >said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So either >they >decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. > >Simple economics. > >I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former >President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not helping by >pulling it >out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service that >would >pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are everywhere. >There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. > >OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. > >Gene G. > > > > > > >In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, >joetemt_p@... writes: > > > > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > > From:joetemt_p@... > > Reply-to:texasems-l > > To:texasems-l > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are comperable > > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > > than that. > > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to see > > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing too. > > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > > public welfare. > > > > Joe T > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 Thank-you Wes. ExLngHrn@... wrote: : You might check the Office of Rural Community Affairs _www.orca.state.tx.us_ (http://www.orca.state.tx.us) -Wes Ogilvie In a message dated 4/18/2006 7:42:03 AM Central Daylight Time, ryno5775@... writes: Gene; Actually, we in Marfa have been asked to look into an E.S.D., but honestly we don't have a clue where to start to get information. How to set it up. How it is funded best, insurance, benefits, etc. If anyone has detailed information please contact us off list @ 1-, marfaems@... , or ryno5775@... . We love EMS here, and don't want to see it go by the way side. RE Dodson wrote: Amen Gene... I moved back to Texas last year and have been waying the cost of getting back into frontier EMS, since I know as a paramedic I can handle the calls and not everyone can handle long distance transports. But I have to tell you I am not coming back in because I have grown up bills now and cannot afford the cost of being an EMS provider for the area that needs me most. That is sad. And it isn't the providers faults. Houses in Marfa are selling for 300,000.00+ because of a lot of east coast and european artsy money coming into the area-of course the long term locals are either taking the money and running or wondering how long they can stay. That whole area is undergoing major growing pains yet realistically very little has changed since I started writing about the area in 2000. The same core people are still keeping EMS going in Ft. , Marfa and Presidio and I have so much respect for them. They are the energizer bunnies of EMS! Eventually something is going to give out there and it will probably be the backs of the bunnies:) Raina Dodson M.S. Retired LEMT-P Presidio EMS >From: wegandy1938@... >Reply-To: texasems-l >To: texasems-l , Paramedicine >Subject: Re: EMS salaries >Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:55 EDT > >These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the services >that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for EMS >services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill the >jobs. I'm >not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My own >county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. > >In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any >EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not >required >by law to provide them. > >Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS has >determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the county >is >without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck >occurs? > >Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no service. > >I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their pickups and >hightail it to the hospital. > >People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a bunch >of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS service, >then >they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes necessary >to >support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when folks >want to >order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at paying >$40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art EMS >service. > They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year to >support EMS for the whole family. > >As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian to a >lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other municipal >services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service with tax >dollars. >You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or another or >not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. > >I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not billing for >actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas >charged >$60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the services >in >what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs were. >Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The rest of >us got >stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of >course, >shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the prevailing >reimbursements for many years. > >When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will begin >to >understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If they >don't >want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but it's >the >reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot support >a >doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it won't >have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and there >will be >none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose it. > >Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential service. >We have done a miserable job of public education about how important we >are. >And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " because we >have >consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. > >Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect because a >large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising our >level of >professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because those >who pay >say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. > >If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service costs >big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants the >service, >it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot refuse >service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, must >either >gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service available >when >WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. > >Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world countries >because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always much >whining >among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more taxes, >but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always find >the >money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the >state. So >they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. > >Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll do it >without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their >communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer almost >all of my >career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. The >same, BTW, >with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with nothing, and >the >community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice little > " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. Time to >stop >it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, buy >decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for their >expenditures. > >We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's deputies, >state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer reserves, >but >they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though in >rural >Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. > >Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts with >$2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? Who has >sold >his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. Like >I >said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So either >they >decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. > >Simple economics. > >I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former >President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not helping by >pulling it >out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service that >would >pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are everywhere. >There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. > >OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. > >Gene G. > > > > > > >In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, >joetemt_p@... writes: > > > > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > > From:joetemt_p@... > > Reply-to:texasems-l > > To:texasems-l > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are comperable > > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > > than that. > > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to see > > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing too. > > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > > public welfare. > > > > Joe T > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2006 Report Share Posted April 18, 2006 If your interested in forming a ESD you can contact the following: Kenton P (512)338-5322. (kcampbell@...) Be careful what you wish for. The funding may be less and once you are a ESD the other tax entities my drop you like a hot rock. Anyway, Kenton was very informative and may be of service. Henry RYAN CAVANESS wrote: > Gene; > Actually, we in Marfa have been asked to look into an E.S.D., but > honestly we don't have a clue where to start to get information. How > to set it up. How it is funded best, insurance, benefits, etc. If > anyone has detailed information please contact us off list @ > 1-, marfaems@... , or ryno5775@... . We love > EMS here, and don't want to see it go by the way side. > > > RE Dodson wrote: > Amen Gene... I moved back to Texas last year and have been waying > the cost > of getting back into > frontier EMS, since I know as a paramedic I can handle the calls and > not > everyone can handle long distance transports. But I have to tell you > I am > not coming back in because I have grown up bills now and cannot afford > the > cost of being an EMS provider for the area that needs me most. That > is sad. > And it isn't the providers faults. Houses in Marfa are selling for > 300,000.00+ because of a lot of east coast and european artsy money > coming > into the area-of course the long term locals are either taking the > money and > running or wondering how long they can stay. That whole area is > undergoing > major growing pains yet realistically very little has changed since I > started writing about the area in 2000. The same core people are > still > keeping EMS going in Ft. , Marfa and Presidio and I have so much > respect for them. They are the energizer bunnies of EMS! > > Eventually something is going to give out there and it will probably > be the > backs of the bunnies:) > > Raina Dodson M.S. > Retired LEMT-P > Presidio EMS > > > >From: wegandy1938@... > >Reply-To: texasems-l > >To: texasems-l , Paramedicine > >Subject: Re: EMS salaries > >Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:00:55 EDT > > > >These wages will prevail until people stop going to work for the > services > >that pay $8.00/hr. Municipal and county governments who contract for > EMS > >services will pay as little as they can, so long as people will fill > the > >jobs. I'm > >not picking on Marfa here, it's just the trigger for this thread. My > own > >county's hospital district EMS service is little better in pay. > > > >In some areas, governmental units will even decline to provide any > >EMS services, since EMS is not an essential service and they are not > >required > >by law to provide them. > > > >Right now, in County, which adjoins my county, the local EMS > has > >determined that it will no longer respond outside the city, and the > county > >is > >without coverage. What's going to happen when that school bus wreck > >occurs? > > > >Unless the rest of us decide to rescue them, there will be no > service. > > > >I guess the good old boys can load them into the beds of their > pickups and > >hightail it to the hospital. > > > >People get exactly what they deserve. If the voters are happy with a > bunch > >of county commissioners who will not find a way to provide EMS > service, > >then > >they don't deserve to have any. Or if they won't pay the taxes > necessary > >to > >support the service, they don't deserve it. It's funny that when > folks > >want to > >order two large pizzas and have them delivered, they don't flinch at > paying > >$40, but they won't pay that much a year to support state of the art > EMS > >service. > > They'll spend $50 a weekend on beer, but they won't pay $50 a year > to > >support EMS for the whole family. > > > >As far the posts about the $2,000+ bill that was sent by Midlothian > to a > >lady, that service is simply billing to reflect costs. The other > municipal > >services in that area who charge less are subsidizing the service > with tax > >dollars. > >You can pay now, or you can pay later, but you'll pay one way or > another or > >not have the service. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. > > > >I believe that one of the big mistakes that EMS has made is not > billing for > >actual costs starting years ago. I remember when the city of Dallas > >charged > >$60 per ambulance run, and that charge set the limits for all the > services > >in > >what Medicare decided was the service area, no matter what the costs > were. > >Dallas was simply subsidizing the service to keep fees down. The > rest of > >us got > >stuck with $25 reimbursements because Dallas set the rates. That, of > > >course, > >shows how long I have been in this business. But those were the > prevailing > >reimbursements for many years. > > > >When people have to pay the real costs of service, perhaps they will > begin > >to > >understand what it costs to provide state of the art service. If > they > >don't > >want to do that, then let them go without service. That's harsh, but > it's > >the > >reality for other levels of medical service. If your county cannot > support > >a > >doctor, it won't have one. If it cannot support a dentist, then it > won't > >have one. If it cannot support a supermarket, it will close, and > there > >will be > >none. Why should EMS be any different? Either support it or lose > it. > > > >Somewhere, sometime, EMS must assert itself as being an essential > service. > >We have done a miserable job of public education about how important > we > >are. > >And we have fostered the notion that we're " ambulance drivers " > because we > >have > >consistently resisted improvements in education and professionalism. > > > >Which comes first? The chicken or the egg? We get no respect > because a > >large number of us act like " ambulance drivers " and resist raising > our > >level of > >professionalism. Then we don't get paid as professionals, because > those > >who pay > >say that we're low level and don't deserve higher salaries. > > > >If the public wants EMS service, it must recognize that good service > costs > >big money, that many folks do not pay, and that if the public wants > the > >service, > >it must pay the price in the way of either taxes or fees. We cannot > refuse > >service to those who cannot pay, so the rest of us, as a society, > must > >either > >gut up and make up the difference in order to have the service > available > >when > >WE need it, or throw in the towel and live like a 3rd world country. > > > >Apparently, lots of places in Texas prefer to live like 3rd world > countries > >because they won't pay the costs of EMS service. There is always > much > >whining > >among landowners and taxpayers that they just cannot afford any more > taxes, > >but they find the money to pay for what they want. They can always > find > >the > >money to fly to Las Vegas or make the trip to the casinos outside the > > >state. So > >they either decide to WANT EMS and pay for it, or they do without it. > > > > >Then, there are the volunteers who want to do EMS so bad that they'll > do it > >without pay, with rattletrap equipment, but they WANT to serve their > >communities. I hate to say this, because I have been a volunteer > almost > >all of my > >career, but the volunteers need to get a grip and quit doing this. > The > >same, BTW, > >with volunteer fire departments. They try to do the job with > nothing, and > >the > >community basically gives them nothing to work with, but puts nice > little > > " thank you notes " in the local paper when they save the hacienda. > Time to > >stop > >it. There is plenty of money to pay for emergency service districts, > buy > >decent equipment, pay a skeleton crew, and reimburse the rest for > their > >expenditures. > > > >We never have volunteer municipal police departments, sheriff's > deputies, > >state troopers, or game wardens. Some places may have volunteer > reserves, > >but > >they always have the basic component of paid employees, even though > in > >rural > >Texas they may make even LESS than EMS folks. > > > >Isn't it strange that people are still filling up their juggernauts > with > >$2.65 per gallon gasoline and diesel, and it will soon top $3.00? > Who has > >sold > >his pickup or Suburban and bought a hybrid? Know anybody? I don't. > Like > >I > >said, folks can find the dinero to pay for what they want to. So > either > >they > >decide to pay for EMS, or they shouldn't have it. > > > >Simple economics. > > > >I know this will offend many volunteers. In the words of our former > >President, " I feel your pain. " But let's face it. You're not > helping by > >pulling it > >out of the fire for the folks who could afford to pay for a service > that > >would > >pay you a decent wage for when you work. Paid volunteers are > everywhere. > >There is no reason why Texas cannot have them. We're not that poor. > > > >OK. Let's hear it. I've got my body armor on. > > > >Gene G. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >In a message dated 4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time, > >joetemt_p@... writes: > > > > > > > Subj: Re: City of Marfa is hiring medics > > > Date:4/17/06 11:46:38 Central Daylight Time > > > From:joetemt_p@... > > > Reply-to:texasems-l > > > To:texasems-l > > > Sent from the Internet > > > > > > > > > > > > Sorry Tater, I'll try to reply now. > > > The benifits for the other paid services in this area are > comperable > > > to what they offer. The closest in pay to them I believe is > > > something like $10.50/hr with incentives for certs above the basic > > > > CPR and ACLS. Just about every " skilled " job in this area (and yes > > > > that includes plumbers, carpenters, and oilfield hands) pays more > > > than that. > > > I probably shouldn't have started all this, but I just hate to > see > > > these low end wages for EMS perpetuated. I love what I'm doing > too. > > > A person just about has to to put up with what we do on a daily > > > basis. Its just a shame that a person has to work 2 or 3 jobs to > > > make a living doing what they love and that is so vital to the > > > public welfare. > > > > > > Joe T > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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