Why Austin is Losing Paramedics

[Guest guest]

Hey, Mike!

All you have to do is go through their boot camp academy. Now drop and give

me 30 and after you finish go clean the toilets. That will truly qualify

you to be an Austin/ County Paramedic.

GG

>

> I am a paramedic and I live in Austin. I went today and took the

> civil service test for the City of Killeen Fire / EMS department.

> Killeen runs fire and ALS EMS and had over 300 people test.

>

> I ran into two other firefighter/ I ran into two other firefighte

> departments who were also taking the test. Both of them are paid

> firefighter/ firefighter/<wbr>paramedics. Both are seeking employment

> they want to practice paramedicine and separately expressed the

> sentiment that Austin/ County EMS is not friendly to the idea of

> first-responder paramedics. Both stated that the overburdening

> process designed and implemented by Clinical Practice and approved by

> the Office of the Medical Director is not only demeaning to their

> status as paramedics, but is fiscally prohibitive for their local

> departments to support. Both WANT to be good paramedics, and both are

> leaving the communities they serve to find a place to do so.

>

> So, given that I know they both passed the exam, and that both have

> backgrounds suitable to employment, two Austin area fire departments

> and the communities they serve will be losing paramedics.

>

> Why? Because Austin/ County is too prideful to accept that

> paramedics are paramedics, and that after undergoing the same training

> and obtaining the same experience, should be treated as such.

> Instead, management at Austin/ County EMS, Clinical Practice and

> the Office of the Medical Director continually fail the citizens of

> Austin/ County by implementing processes and practices designed

> to " protect the castle " that is paramedicine in Austin so that only

> full-time employees of Austin/ County EMS are " ordained " to

> provide ALS-level care. In short, A/TC EMS's policies and procedures

> actually DECREASE the level of care available - particularly in county

> areas where A/TC EMS units are more spread out and have longer

> response times... the same places that these firefighter paramedics

> are leaving from out of frustration and the deaf ear of Dr. Racht.

>

> Why do I care?

>

> I lve in Austin. My daughter goes to school in Austin. My sister,

> brother-in-law and nieces live, work and drive here, too. People I

> care about are being underserved to serve the ego of medics who long

> ago lost the vision of providing care and now only exist to provide

> themselves a place to work - and protect the castle walls from other

> providers - all at the expense of those of us who need and depends on

> them.

>

> It's sad to see continual failure go unrecognized. It's disgusting to

> see it heralded as a model system.

>

> Mike , LP

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am a paramedic and I live in Austin. I went today and took the

civil service test for the City of Killeen Fire / EMS department.

Killeen runs fire and ALS EMS and had over 300 people test.

I ran into two other firefighter/paramedics from Austin area fire

departments who were also taking the test. Both of them are paid

firefighter/paramedics. Both are seeking employment elsewhere because

they want to practice paramedicine and separately expressed the

sentiment that Austin/ County EMS is not friendly to the idea of

first-responder paramedics. Both stated that the overburdening

process designed and implemented by Clinical Practice and approved by

the Office of the Medical Director is not only demeaning to their

status as paramedics, but is fiscally prohibitive for their local

departments to support. Both WANT to be good paramedics, and both are

leaving the communities they serve to find a place to do so.

So, given that I know they both passed the exam, and that both have

backgrounds suitable to employment, two Austin area fire departments

and the communities they serve will be losing paramedics.

Why? Because Austin/ County is too prideful to accept that

paramedics are paramedics, and that after undergoing the same training

and obtaining the same experience, should be treated as such.

Instead, management at Austin/ County EMS, Clinical Practice and

the Office of the Medical Director continually fail the citizens of

Austin/ County by implementing processes and practices designed

to " protect the castle " that is paramedicine in Austin so that only

full-time employees of Austin/ County EMS are " ordained " to

provide ALS-level care. In short, A/TC EMS's policies and procedures

actually DECREASE the level of care available - particularly in county

areas where A/TC EMS units are more spread out and have longer

response times... the same places that these firefighter paramedics

are leaving from out of frustration and the deaf ear of Dr. Racht.

Why do I care?

I lve in Austin. My daughter goes to school in Austin. My sister,

brother-in-law and nieces live, work and drive here, too. People I

care about are being underserved to serve the ego of medics who long

ago lost the vision of providing care and now only exist to provide

themselves a place to work - and protect the castle walls from other

providers - all at the expense of those of us who need and depends on

them.

It's sad to see continual failure go unrecognized. It's disgusting to

see it heralded as a model system.

Mike , LP

[Guest guest]

Mike,

I bet you didn't expect me to respond to your email....but...

You made a comment

" Why? Because Austin/ County is too prideful to accept that paramedics are

paramedics, and that after undergoing the same training

and obtaining the same experience, should be treated as such. "

Paramedics are paramedics??? Really...then why, when an agency is hiring

paramedics do they test both written and practical knowledge? It is precisely

because paramedics are NOT paramedics. The skill set varies widely depending

upon what skill set they brought to their education, where they got their

education, how they have maintained their education and the experience they have

received.

We have similar issues in our system. We have paramedics that work for our

first responders and although we do credential them to operate as

paramedics...the process is longer and more arduous than the one our transport

medics go through...and the primary reason is different jobs and different

exposure volume and work loads. In our system, our transport medics will see 3

to 4 times as many patients in a month compared to our first responder medics.

In addition, our transport medics are with the patients for longer periods of

time and routinely do more skills and as such can remain more proficient in

these skills.

Here is an example...we have a senior paramedic in one of our first responder

agencies that applied for a PT position with us. During his testing megacode

when he got to the point where we usually arrive on scene...his skill

proficiency and ability went down hill. He even admitted that his skills were

weak from that point forward because of a lack of experience and exposure.

It wasn't that long ago that seriously long discussions about paramedics ability

to intubate. In this discussion it was mentioned that a large number of

paramedics get very few opportunities to practice intubation skills and some

systems in the USofA are actually moving away from it as the primary means of

airway control.

Do these outlying areas you talk about allow their folks to insert Combi-tubes

and defibrillate patients? If so, what else is needed to make a difference for

the patients?

BTW, I was not aware of any research that showed ALS first responders made a

difference in patient outcomes....maybe I have that wrong...maybe it was ALS

transport doesn't make a difference? Maybe it was both??? Hmmmm.....

Have these folks who are leaving their FD jobs for another FD job so they can

work as paramedics attempted to get a job with an EMS transport agency if their

career goals are to work as paramedics? Are they taking pay cuts to go to

Killeen or is this for additional money?

Just wanted to inquire...I am no means an A/TC apologist but working in a system

with both advanced transport and separate advanced 1st responders...and having

done so in other locations, I know that these issues are deep and more difficult

than " paramedics are paramedics "

Dudley

PS: BTW, what about this credentialing process is " demeaning " to them as

paramedics? I have no clue what the process in A/TC is, but demeaning? Do they

make them walk home from the hospital backwards with their pants down or

something?

Why Austin is Losing Paramedics

I am a paramedic and I live in Austin. I went today and took the

civil service test for the City of Killeen Fire / EMS department.

Killeen runs fire and ALS EMS and had over 300 people test.

I ran into two other firefighter/paramedics from Austin area fire

departments who were also taking the test. Both of them are paid

firefighter/paramedics. Both are seeking employment elsewhere because

they want to practice paramedicine and separately expressed the

sentiment that Austin/ County EMS is not friendly to the idea of

first-responder paramedics. Both stated that the overburdening

process designed and implemented by Clinical Practice and approved by

the Office of the Medical Director is not only demeaning to their

status as paramedics, but is fiscally prohibitive for their local

departments to support. Both WANT to be good paramedics, and both are

leaving the communities they serve to find a place to do so.

So, given that I know they both passed the exam, and that both have

backgrounds suitable to employment, two Austin area fire departments

and the communities they serve will be losing paramedics.

Why? Because Austin/ County is too prideful to accept that

paramedics are paramedics, and that after undergoing the same training

and obtaining the same experience, should be treated as such.

Instead, management at Austin/ County EMS, Clinical Practice and

the Office of the Medical Director continually fail the citizens of

Austin/ County by implementing processes and practices designed

to " protect the castle " that is paramedicine in Austin so that only

full-time employees of Austin/ County EMS are " ordained " to

provide ALS-level care. In short, A/TC EMS's policies and procedures

actually DECREASE the level of care available - particularly in county

areas where A/TC EMS units are more spread out and have longer

response times... the same places that these firefighter paramedics

are leaving from out of frustration and the deaf ear of Dr. Racht.

Why do I care?

I lve in Austin. My daughter goes to school in Austin. My sister,

brother-in-law and nieces live, work and drive here, too. People I

care about are being underserved to serve the ego of medics who long

ago lost the vision of providing care and now only exist to provide

themselves a place to work - and protect the castle walls from other

providers - all at the expense of those of us who need and depends on

them.

It's sad to see continual failure go unrecognized. It's disgusting to

see it heralded as a model system.

Mike , LP

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[Guest guest]

> Hey, Mike!

>

> All you have to do is go through their boot camp academy. Now drop and

> give me 30 and after you finish go clean the toilets. That will truly

> qualify you to be an Austin/ County Paramedic.

Gene -

Believe me, I know. And so do the folks I met yesterday. Matter of

fact, most of the central texas EMS certified folks there knew.

Austin was more or less the laughing stock.

The " buzz " was over on County (just north of Austin, includes

Round Rock and town) and their upcoming hiring process.

Apparently they have an incredibly low turnover rate and many, many

more applicants than jobs - they're doing something right!

Anecdotally, I've heard that the first day on the job in on

County EMS is something to the effect of " Welcome! You're all

paramedics, so as of today you've all passed the hiring process and

background check, so you're all credentialed in our system. We're not

here to train you how to be paramedics, we're here to train you how to

be WilCo paramedics and all about who we are. " There's also some

pretty good documentation on their web site about their philosophy

with regards to patient care, employee responsibility and

professionalism. *That* seems like " the model system, " at least in

terms of retaining smart employees who are dedicated to doing their

level best because they're expected to be (and treated like)

professionals.

Mike

[Guest guest]

If you want to practice paramedicine, you will be missing a grand

opportunity today at 5PM. Today is the deadline for accepting applications

for Paramedic here with Colorado County EMS. Rural trauma, Rural response,

creating and assisting VFDs with our new FR initiatives and training,

constantly changing and progressive protocols. Ag, hunting, farming, 2

state highway and 1 interstate and 3 facilities that offer patent care

challenges due to emergency transfers to larger medical centers will test

any medic that feels they are on the top of their game.

Does this peak you interest, even a little bit? Think about taking part and

contributing to a service that is taking on change head-on and re-defining

the " S " in EMS from Service to Services.

Ponder, assess, reflect, call now. Operators, no, an operator is standing

by.

L.

Director

Colorado County EMS

office

[Guest guest]

KUDOS TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WISH MY COMPANY WAS LIKE THAT !

Mike wrote:

> Hey, Mike!

>

> All you have to do is go through their boot camp academy. Now drop and

> give me 30 and after you finish go clean the toilets. That will truly

> qualify you to be an Austin/ County Paramedic.

Gene -

Believe me, I know. And so do the folks I met yesterday. Matter of

fact, most of the central texas EMS certified folks there knew.

Austin was more or less the laughing stock.

The " buzz " was over on County (just north of Austin, includes

Round Rock and town) and their upcoming hiring process.

Apparently they have an incredibly low turnover rate and many, many

more applicants than jobs - they're doing something right!

Anecdotally, I've heard that the first day on the job in on

County EMS is something to the effect of " Welcome! You're all

paramedics, so as of today you've all passed the hiring process and

background check, so you're all credentialed in our system. We're not

here to train you how to be paramedics, we're here to train you how to

be WilCo paramedics and all about who we are. " There's also some

pretty good documentation on their web site about their philosophy

with regards to patient care, employee responsibility and

professionalism. *That* seems like " the model system, " at least in

terms of retaining smart employees who are dedicated to doing their

level best because they're expected to be (and treated like)

professionals.

Mike

[Guest guest]

> The " buzz " was over on County (just north of Austin, includes

> Round Rock and town) and their upcoming hiring process.

> Apparently they have an incredibly low turnover rate and many, many

> more applicants than jobs - they're doing something right!

> Anecdotally, I've heard that the first day on the job in on

> County EMS is something to the effect of " Welcome!  You're all

> paramedics, so as of today you've all passed the hiring process and

> background check, so you're all credentialed in our system.  We're not

> here to train you how to be paramedics, we're here to train you how to

> be WilCo paramedics and all about who we are. "   There's also some

> pretty good documentation on their web site about their philosophy

> with regards to patient care, employee responsibility and

> professionalism.  *That* seems like " the model system, " at least in

> terms of retaining smart employees who are dedicated to doing their

> level best because they're expected to be (and treated like)

> professionals.

>

on County EMS is an excellent system, and a great place to work...no

doubt. However, they (WilCo) also do NOT recognize ALS first responders, and

it is a major issue of contention among their first responder organizations.

[Guest guest]

I will give you this you are a salesman that believes in his product.

Good luck getting your medics. We have finally filled all of our positions after

four years of empty slots. Keeping my fingers crossed that these will stay a

while. Over the last years we have lost two to Austin EMS and two to Austin PD.

Only one still works for Austin PD.

Keep At it

Henry

Re:Why Austin is Losing Paramedics

If you want to practice paramedicine, you will be missing a grand

opportunity today at 5PM. Today is the deadline for accepting applications

for Paramedic here with Colorado County EMS. Rural trauma, Rural response,

creating and assisting VFDs with our new FR initiatives and training,

constantly changing and progressive protocols. Ag, hunting, farming, 2

state highway and 1 interstate and 3 facilities that offer patent care

challenges due to emergency transfers to larger medical centers will test

any medic that feels they are on the top of their game.

Does this peak you interest, even a little bit? Think about taking part and

contributing to a service that is taking on change head-on and re-defining

the " S " in EMS from Service to Services.

Ponder, assess, reflect, call now. Operators, no, an operator is standing

by.

L.

Director

Colorado County EMS

office