The MAIN difference I see between the two is that the FL scope of practice is light years ahead of CA.
Yeah, but that's not really saying much, TBCH.
Personally I don't get the whole scope thing aside from select paramedic jobs (e.g., off shore, CCP/ HEMS, rural, and overseas). In The States, on the ground generally speaking I don't see the need for some huge, flashy formulary.
I think realistically if we could swap certain meds for others, and work off of state protocols I would be ok with that. As it is now, much of what we're even allowed in my county we don't necessarily see enough of to justify keeping.
I could work in a dozen systems, and sure each is different, but as far as what the "end goal" for field paramedics is, it typically stops after a certain step. Here, even when I do ground work I hardly call for, nor do I need orders or think "Man, I really wish I had 'X, Y, and Z' because I just know it would have made all of the difference".
Plus, how many of these systems, or states with elaborate protocols really enter them routinely, aside from perhaps some of the more rural areas?
I guess I feel like the entire state itself gets branded as archaic because of Los Angeles County, which in fact is false. I'm only speaking in terms of EMS, not all the other California mumbo jumbo.