Is there a shortage of EMS workers in your area?

Do you perceive a shortage of EMTs and/or Paramedics either nationally or in your local area? Is there a difference for rural or urban areas? I was having a discussion the other night with a friend and he brought up these questions so I would like to know how you all feel about it.

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Permalink Reply by itku2er on December 25, 2008 at 10:26am

ok then we will add that element are there enough COMPETENT providers out there?

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Permalink Reply by Colorado Medic on December 25, 2008 at 4:05pm

living in Denver Colorado, I could only wish there was a shortage of EMS workers. Seems as though a few months ago Paramedics were in high demand and hard to come by for agencies like AMR and Pridemark, however it now appears as though the positions have been filled and it's hard to come by a job.

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Permalink Reply by Michael A. Loiz on December 25, 2008 at 10:24pm

In CT we do see a shortage. EMT/Medics either leave the business all together, or they are using the "EMS" side as a stepping stone into other field professions with more traditional employee benefits such as a stable schedules, representation & pensions. (Fire / LAW). Some are items that most privates find difficult to provide.

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on December 26, 2008 at 6:51pm

In our area of PA we have a shortage of paramedics.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on December 28, 2008 at 7:28am

I intensely dislike the term "EMS workers"! It's almost as bad as "ambulance drivers."

To the public, we are all paramedics. Why can't we have a unified collective title that is not offensive, like law enforcement officers (municipal police, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, etc.) are all law enforcement officers or "cops." Firefighters, regardless of level of certification, are firefighters. We in EMS have a bunch of "inside baseball" terms tied to microscopic differences in certification that confuse the public and lead to the media and others calling us "emergency workers" or "EMS workers" or something else meaningless.

Just my two cents.....

Skip

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Permalink Reply by Kris Kaull on December 28, 2008 at 10:32am

Hey Skip...

What term do you prefer? Law enforcement officers, firefighters, and ...

I agree, we confuse the public. And, we're not telling our story. If we don't tell it, who will?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Kirkwood on December 30, 2008 at 1:27pm

Paramedics! The public doesn't know, understand, or care about our inside baseball whose is bigger than who!

Skip

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Permalink Reply by Kris Kaull on December 30, 2008 at 1:40pm

I'm in. In fact there was a push to go this way awhile back (you may know more than me on this issue). The community has adopted the term 'paramedics' -- so let's go with it.

~ Kris, Paramedic

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Kreitzer on February 14, 2009 at 4:55pm

I am just concerned that if I refer to myself as a paramedic could I possibly have legal issues down the road. I have had people ask if I am a paramedic and correct them that I am an EMT and then give them the laymen's explaination of the difference between the two.

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Edwards on April 6, 2009 at 8:42am

Thats my point also...I'm a EMT-I not a paramedic, what are the ramifications of being called a paramedic when in fact i'm not. What about just MEDIC??????? kind of a loose term to describe EMS????