Off Shore companies

[Guest guest]

Have him check out Acadian Ambulance. They have an off shore division.

Kirk

EMT-B

[Guest guest]

Having worked offshore as a paramedic, I would like to say a little about

what it's like to be an offshore medic.

First of all, it is very little medicine and lots of clerical work. In most

places you answer phones and radios, dispatch helicopters and work boats,

handle food and supply purchasing, and lots of other clerical stuff.

Most of the paramedic stuff you do is the kind that most paramedics don't

want to do: clinic medicine. While there is occasional trauma, serious

trauma

seldom happens because of the safety programs in force. Most of the

patients you see will have colds, sore throats, foreign bodies in the eye, and a

variety of chronic medical problems that folks who have smoked all their lives

have.

In my job, I had 5 different antibiotics to give, and I had to know when and

how much to give for what. I had patients with mitral valve prolapses, MI,

congestive heart failure, allergies, boils, and rashes, the aforementioned

colds and sore throats, folks with diabetes and COPD, GERD, hemorrhoids, and the

whole spectrum of everyday illnesses. If you've never taken care of a boil

on somebody's butt, and don't know how to tell what's causing it or how to fix

it, better listen up, because that's the kind of thing you do. Your job is

to keep people healthy and working, not to send them to the hospital.

Unless things have changed, be prepared to study lots of medical sources like

the Merck Manual and other standard medical resources. Be ready to handle

patients for a long time sometimes, not always being able to transport off the

rig when you need to. There's none of this 5 minutes on scene, load and go,

and you're in the hospital 10 minutes later. I have had patients having an MI

to sit with for 6 hours until the weather was good enough to get them off the

platform. You may be doing things like nitro drips, and other things that

require medical knowledge, not hand-eye skills. There are plenty of those,

but overall it's clinic medicine.

So, if you want to be an offshore medic, best take the A & P course, some

chemistry, learn how your drugs work, when to give them and why, what to do when

they don't work or cause something you didn't expect, what the different kinds

of bacterial and viral infections are and what works on what, how to REALLY

interpret a 12-lead, and how to handle a patient with a raging fever, chills,

vomiting and diarrhea overnight.

Also get ready to get fat. The food is good and there's lots of it, and

it's generally fried. Stair climbing may be your best exercise opportunity,

along with weights.

It can be an interesting job, but it's not for trauma junkies. There are no

red lights and sirens on the rig.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

I'll second what Gene said. The offshore world is different. Most of the

time the paramedic serves as the dispatcher and HLO, acts as the safety

briefer, and takes care of a lot of sniffles. Most of the offshore paramedics

I

know work 14/14 schedules and you have to go to where the rig crew changes.

Earlier in the year, the rig was changing out of Houma, LA, then they switched

to Sabine Pass, TX. When they are through with the job out of Sabine,

they'll move the rig and the crew could just as easily wind up changing out of

Port

Fourchon or Bootheville. Depending on the contracting oil company, the crew

changes could be by boat or helicopter. Getting off a boat onto a drill rig

is a thrilling experience worthy of any E ticket ride at Disneyland.

It definitely takes special mettle to be an offshore paramedic. If you're

married, it means 14+ days away from home (usually a day to get there and a

day to get back - especially if they are changing out of Fourchon, Bootheville,

or Theodore, MS). The contracting oil company will want you to be at the

embarkation point by 0500, so that entails either driving all night or finding

a motel. Since they usually want you ready to work, driving all night isn't

really an option.

For those who do the job, my hat is off. More power to you.

Kirk

EMT-B

[Guest guest]

I have had a paramedic ask me about off shore companies (who was good

and who is not). Does anyone have any information on this subject?

Thanks

Peggy

Stinnett EMS

[Guest guest]

I am employed with Trinity Medical Management. They are based out of Baton

Rouge, La. I have been with them about 6 months or so and they are great to work

for. The medical director is very involved with the company, the work atmophere

on the rig is outstanding. Scedule is good I am on a 14/14 rotation. They have

very competetive pay and benefits.You can go to their website

trintymedicalmanagement.com

or give them a call @ . If you have any other questions feel free to

email me off the list @ pittbones@... Hope this helps.

JIMMIE D. WEST, JR EMTP

Off Shore companies

I have had a paramedic ask me about off shore companies (who was good

and who is not). Does anyone have any information on this subject?

Thanks

Peggy

Stinnett EMS

[Guest guest]

Tell him to go to rigzone.com. He can post his resume there. Most offshore

companies offer no benefits. The pay is about 220-250 dollars a day. When I

looked into it I found that I would be making about the same thing per year. I

may have made about 3,000 dollars more a year. for working about the same

amount of hours. If he is single it may be worth it for him. If he has a

family and needs insurance I hear that it cost an arm and a leg. My brother

worked offshore for about a year and said it was not really worth. Most places

you also have to leave out of Lousiana.

stinnett_ems wrote: I have had a paramedic ask

me about off shore companies (who was good

and who is not). Does anyone have any information on this subject?

Thanks

Peggy

Stinnett EMS

[Guest guest]

Sounds like it's closely compared to being a Navy Corpsman (IDC)....

Jim

>From: wegandy1938@...

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Re: Off Shore companies

>Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:31:37 EDT

>

>Having worked offshore as a paramedic, I would like to say a little about

>what it's like to be an offshore medic.

>

>First of all, it is very little medicine and lots of clerical work. In

>most

>places you answer phones and radios, dispatch helicopters and work boats,

>handle food and supply purchasing, and lots of other clerical stuff.

>

>Most of the paramedic stuff you do is the kind that most paramedics don't

>want to do: clinic medicine. While there is occasional trauma, serious

>trauma

>seldom happens because of the safety programs in force. Most of the

>patients you see will have colds, sore throats, foreign bodies in the eye,

>and a

>variety of chronic medical problems that folks who have smoked all their

>lives

>have.

>

>In my job, I had 5 different antibiotics to give, and I had to know when

>and

>how much to give for what. I had patients with mitral valve prolapses,

>MI,

>congestive heart failure, allergies, boils, and rashes, the

>aforementioned

>colds and sore throats, folks with diabetes and COPD, GERD, hemorrhoids,

>and the

>whole spectrum of everyday illnesses. If you've never taken care of a

>boil

>on somebody's butt, and don't know how to tell what's causing it or how to

>fix

>it, better listen up, because that's the kind of thing you do. Your job

>is

>to keep people healthy and working, not to send them to the hospital.

>

>Unless things have changed, be prepared to study lots of medical sources

>like

>the Merck Manual and other standard medical resources. Be ready to handle

>patients for a long time sometimes, not always being able to transport off

>the

>rig when you need to. There's none of this 5 minutes on scene, load and

>go,

>and you're in the hospital 10 minutes later. I have had patients having

>an MI

>to sit with for 6 hours until the weather was good enough to get them off

>the

>platform. You may be doing things like nitro drips, and other things that

>require medical knowledge, not hand-eye skills. There are plenty of

>those,

>but overall it's clinic medicine.

>

>So, if you want to be an offshore medic, best take the A & P course, some

>chemistry, learn how your drugs work, when to give them and why, what to do

>when

>they don't work or cause something you didn't expect, what the different

>kinds

>of bacterial and viral infections are and what works on what, how to REALLY

>interpret a 12-lead, and how to handle a patient with a raging fever,

>chills,

>vomiting and diarrhea overnight.

>

>Also get ready to get fat. The food is good and there's lots of it, and

>it's generally fried. Stair climbing may be your best exercise

>opportunity,

>along with weights.

>

>It can be an interesting job, but it's not for trauma junkies. There are

>no

>red lights and sirens on the rig.

>

>Gene G.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Gene,

You made alot of good points with your reply, however things

have changed quite a bit or it may be that I am lucky enought to be on a really

good rig and working for a great doctor. There is a little clerical work on my

rig, yes I do answer the phone when I can. We don't have to dispatch

helicopters, or boats the company man has a dispatcher for all that now. We

still try to catch the radio when a helicopter is calling, but once again the

company man dispatcher usually handles that. The barge engineer handles ordering

everything that is not medical related. We have to keep up with our inventory

and order our supplies whether it is presciption meds or the OTC meds. Camp boss

handles all the food prep and supply. We do safety inspections, and handle the

safety classes on the rig. Medicine is our main job out here on the rig, or

other big focus is on knowing who is on the rig at all times in case of an

emergency. I agree with you 100% most of the medicine out

here is the type that most paramedics don't want to do. I am a trauma junkie,

adrenaline junkie whatever people want to call it, but I love doing this type of

medicine as well I feel that it will make me a better street medic in the long

run. Most of it is clinic medicine, I have had very little trauma, but when

trauma happens out here you better be at the top of your game because it will

always be bad. We have numerous antibiotics out here (more than 5), and a large

amount of OTC meds. There is alot to learn in order to work out here, but I know

with us if I ever have a question I can call the doctor and he will be there to

help out. I have been very lucky so far with the emergencies I have had to have

transported off the rig usually within a hour, but that may not be the case

every time. Weather plays a major role in transprtation out here like you said.

So once again that medic has to be at the top of his game if he is to succeed

out here. I agree with the following a

100%

" So, if you want to be an offshore medic, best take the A & P course, some

chemistry, learn how your drugs work, when to give them and why, what to do when

they don't work or cause something you didn't expect, what the different kinds

of bacterial and viral infections are and what works on what, how to REALLY

interpret a 12-lead, and how to handle a patient with a raging fever, chills,

vomiting and diarrhea overnight. "

If you decide not to take the courses or put in the time to learn it once you

are out here (you have lots of down time) you will not suceed. Moving on yes if

you are not careful you will get FAT the food is great out here anything from

steaks, seafood, fried chicken just about anything you can think of. Plus all

the bluebell you can eat.

I have found it to be a very rewarding descion for me, it is not for everybody.

The money is great( avg $260/12hrs), the time off is great 14 days off in a row

every month give or take a day here and there for travel time. It gives me time

to enjoy my family and I still have time to ride the ambulance each month. I

would advise anyone that is thinking about it to do the research on it talk to

rig medics, but more importantly talk to your spouse, children, family about it

because it will affect them with you being gone for 14 days at a time.

Well like I mentioned earlier Genes reply was pretty accurate and well respected

by me. I just thought I would add to it. Stay safe and have a nice day.

JIMMIE D. WEST, JR EMTP

Re: Off Shore companies

Having worked offshore as a paramedic, I would like to say a little about

what it's like to be an offshore medic.

First of all, it is very little medicine and lots of clerical work. In most

places you answer phones and radios, dispatch helicopters and work boats,

handle food and supply purchasing, and lots of other clerical stuff.

Most of the paramedic stuff you do is the kind that most paramedics don't

want to do: clinic medicine. While there is occasional trauma, serious trauma

seldom happens because of the safety programs in force. Most of the

patients you see will have colds, sore throats, foreign bodies in the eye, and a

variety of chronic medical problems that folks who have smoked all their lives

have.

In my job, I had 5 different antibiotics to give, and I had to know when and

how much to give for what. I had patients with mitral valve prolapses, MI,

congestive heart failure, allergies, boils, and rashes, the aforementioned

colds and sore throats, folks with diabetes and COPD, GERD, hemorrhoids, and the

whole spectrum of everyday illnesses. If you've never taken care of a boil

on somebody's butt, and don't know how to tell what's causing it or how to fix

it, better listen up, because that's the kind of thing you do. Your job is

to keep people healthy and working, not to send them to the hospital.

Unless things have changed, be prepared to study lots of medical sources like

the Merck Manual and other standard medical resources. Be ready to handle

patients for a long time sometimes, not always being able to transport off the

rig when you need to. There's none of this 5 minutes on scene, load and go,

and you're in the hospital 10 minutes later. I have had patients having an MI

to sit with for 6 hours until the weather was good enough to get them off the

platform. You may be doing things like nitro drips, and other things that

require medical knowledge, not hand-eye skills. There are plenty of those,

but overall it's clinic medicine.

So, if you want to be an offshore medic, best take the A & P course, some

chemistry, learn how your drugs work, when to give them and why, what to do when

they don't work or cause something you didn't expect, what the different kinds

of bacterial and viral infections are and what works on what, how to REALLY

interpret a 12-lead, and how to handle a patient with a raging fever, chills,

vomiting and diarrhea overnight.

Also get ready to get fat. The food is good and there's lots of it, and

it's generally fried. Stair climbing may be your best exercise opportunity,

along with weights.

It can be an interesting job, but it's not for trauma junkies. There are no

red lights and sirens on the rig.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

Hey, thank you Jimmie, for that update. Good information, bud!

A lot depends upon the size of the platform you're working on. The bigger

the platform, the more employees on board, the more medical and the less

clerical you will do. On the smaller platforms, you'll be doing more clerical,

but

on the bigger ones, you'll be doing more medical. But like Jimmie says,

it's clinic medicine for the most part, but when you do have a trauma, it's

Ba**s

to the Wall for you until you can get them to the hospital, which may be in

an hour, at best, or in 12 hours or more, at worst.

He's 100% correct that if you don't want to learn about A & P and pharmacology

in detail, you won't make it offshore.

It was exciting for me when I did it. I loved the responsibility and the

autonomy. Yes, I had medical directors available by phone most of the time,

but they didn't want to talk to me unless I had a stable patient. Otherwise, I

was burning the patient's time with a phone call to find out what I should

have already done.

I also loved the sunrises and sunsets, the helo flights over water and being

able to watch sharks, dolphins, and wild humans engaging in their rutting

rituals in full view from the helo or the rig, the solitude that you can find in

a

corner of a fantastic structure set in the middle of nowhere, held up by

faith and what you hope are stable legs, the swaying of the rig in 92 mph winds,

and the knowledge that if it tips over you're going to be history in a short

few minutes. That can concentrate the mind.

Learning to live with and love and respect folks who do body-destroying work

12 hours a day, 7 days a week, who never complain, who have the greatest sense

of humor, who will give you the shirt off their backs, who call you Doc and

will never let you carry a piece of equipment or a patient, who work covered in

slime and muck, and who will party with you as hard as they work when they're

on shore, will kick your ass or back your ass, all in the same night, and

still love you, is an experience that few have. The oil patch is hard. But

it

can be a great experience if you're not a rigid person. If you go there

with set expectations, you'll fail. If you go there wanting to learn, it will

be the greatest experience you've ever had.

GG

>

> Gene,

> You made alot of good points with your reply, however things have changed

> quite a bit or it may be that I am lucky enought to be on a really good rig

and

> working for a great doctor. There is a little clerical work on my rig, yes I

> do answer the phone when I can. We don't have to dispatch helicopters, or

> boats the company man has a dispatcher for all that now. We still try to catch

> the radio when a helicopter is calling, but once again the company man

> dispatcher usually handles that. The barge engineer handles ordering

everything

> that is not medical related. We have to keep up with our inventory and order

our

> supplies whether it is presciption meds or the OTC meds. Camp boss handles

> all the food prep and supply. We do safety inspections, and handle the safety

> classes on the rig. Medicine is our main job out here on the rig, or other

> big focus is on knowing who is on the rig at all times in case of an

emergency.

> I agree with you 100% most of the medicine out

> here is the type that most paramedics don't want to do. I am a trauma

> junkie, adrenaline junkie whatever people want to call it, but I love doing

this

> type of medicine as well I feel that it will make me a better street medic in

> the long run. Most of it is clinic medicine, I have had very little trauma,

> but when trauma happens out here you better be at the top of your game because

> it will always be bad. We have numerous antibiotics out here (more than 5),

> and a large amount of OTC meds. There is alot to learn in order to work out

> here, but I know with us if I ever have a question I can call the doctor and

he

> will be there to help out. I have been very lucky so far with the

> emergencies I have had to have transported off the rig usually within a hour,

but that

> may not be the case every time. Weather plays a major role in transprtation

> out here like you said. So once again that medic has to be at the top of his

> game if he is to succeed out here. I agree with the following a

> 100%

> " So, if you want to be an offshore medic, best take the A & P course, some

> chemistry, learn how your drugs work, when to give them and why, what to do

> when

> they don't work or cause something you didn't expect, what the different

> kinds

> of bacterial and viral infections are and what works on what, how to REALLY

> interpret a 12-lead, and how to handle a patient with a raging fever,

> chills,

> vomiting and diarrhea overnight. "

>

> If you decide not to take the courses or put in the time to learn it once

> you are out here (you have lots of down time) you will not suceed. Moving on

> yes if you are not careful you will get FAT the food is great out here

anything

> from steaks, seafood, fried chicken just about anything you can think of.

> Plus all the bluebell you can eat.

>

> I have found it to be a very rewarding descion for me, it is not for

> everybody. The money is great( avg $260/12hrs), the time off is great 14 days

off in

> a row every month give or take a day here and there for travel time. It

> gives me time to enjoy my family and I still have time to ride the ambulance

each

> month. I would advise anyone that is thinking about it to do the research on

> it talk to rig medics, but more importantly talk to your spouse, children,

> family about it because it will affect them with you being gone for 14 days at

> a time.

>

> Well like I mentioned earlier Genes reply was pretty accurate and well

> respected by me. I just thought I would add to it. Stay safe and have a nice

day.

>

> JIMMIE D. WEST, JR EMTP

>

> Re: Off Shore companies

>

> Having worked offshore as a paramedic, I would like to say a little about

> what it's like to be an offshore medic.

>

> First of all, it is very little medicine and lots of clerical work. In most

> places you answer phones and radios, dispatch helicopters and work boats,

> handle food and supply purchasing, and lots of other clerical stuff.

>

> Most of the paramedic stuff you do is the kind that most paramedics don't

> want to do: clinic medicine. While there is occasional trauma, serious

> trauma

> seldom happens because of the safety programs in force. Most of the

> patients you see will have colds, sore throats, foreign bodies in the eye,

> and a

> variety of chronic medical problems that folks who have smoked all their

> lives

> have.

>

> In my job, I had 5 different antibiotics to give, and I had to know when and

> how much to give for what. I had patients with mitral valve prolapses, MI,

> congestive heart failure, allergies, boils, and rashes, the aforementioned

> colds and sore throats, folks with diabetes and COPD, GERD, hemorrhoids, and

> the

> whole spectrum of everyday illnesses. If you've never taken care of a boil

> on somebody's butt, and don't know how to tell what's causing it or how to

> fix

> it, better listen up, because that's the kind of thing you do. Your job is

> to keep people healthy and working, not to send them to the hospital.

>

> Unless things have changed, be prepared to study lots of medical sources

> like

> the Merck Manual and other standard medical resources. Be ready to handle

> patients for a long time sometimes, not always being able to transport off

> the

> rig when you need to. There's none of this 5 minutes on scene, load and go,

> and you're in the hospital 10 minutes later. I have had patients having an

> MI

> to sit with for 6 hours until the weather was good enough to get them off

> the

> platform. You may be doing things like nitro drips, and other things that

> require medical knowledge, not hand-eye skills. There are plenty of those,

> but overall it's clinic medicine.

>

> So, if you want to be an offshore medic, best take the A & P course, some

> chemistry, learn how your drugs work, when to give them and why, what to do

> when

> they don't work or cause something you didn't expect, what the different

> kinds

> of bacterial and viral infections are and what works on what, how to REALLY

> interpret a 12-lead, and how to handle a patient with a raging fever,

> chills,

> vomiting and diarrhea overnight.

>

> Also get ready to get fat. The food is good and there's lots of it, and

> it's generally fried. Stair climbing may be your best exercise opportunity,

> along with weights.

>

> It can be an interesting job, but it's not for trauma junkies. There are no

> red lights and sirens on the rig.

>

> Gene G.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Is this the same Bobby that I worked with at Gulf Coast EMS in Bay City

in 2002.

Herford

Bobby wrote:

Tell him to go to rigzone.com. He can post his resume there. Most

offshore companies offer no benefits. The pay is about 220-250 dollars a day.

When I looked into it I found that I would be making about the same thing per

year. I may have made about 3,000 dollars more a year. for working about the

same amount of hours. If he is single it may be worth it for him. If he has a

family and needs insurance I hear that it cost an arm and a leg. My brother

worked offshore for about a year and said it was not really worth. Most places

you also have to leave out of Lousiana.

stinnett_ems wrote: I have had a paramedic ask me about

off shore companies (who was good

and who is not). Does anyone have any information on this subject?

Thanks

Peggy

Stinnett EMS

[Guest guest]

I currently work for Global Ind. out of Carlyss, La.. As an EMT-B i

make about 15.00 hr for a 12 hr day working 28 on and 28 off, they

also pay you to go to scoll and pay for the classes i have insurance

on me and my family, also a very good 401K. if you look hard enough

you can find the good jobs. believe they may be looking for a few

more medics right now.

I have had a paramedic ask

me about off shore companies (who was good

> and who is not). Does anyone have any information on this subject?

> Thanks

> Peggy

> Stinnett EMS

>

>