Desert Ambulance 2019

RocketMedic

Californian, Lost in Texas
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And they keep expanding.

Check out their protocols. Another thing unique to Santa Barbara County is the ability for Paramedics to deem certain 911 calls BLS and have their EMT partner run the call. While that might be something other states do, it's virtually unheard of in Southern California.
We can’t do that at my current place in Texas...911 = ALS here
 

VentMonkey

Family Guy
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My mistake, it's been 10 years since I worked at Hall. Thanks for the update.
FWIW, this wasn’t intended to be snarky (having re-read it, I can see how it may have sounded so).

As far as Desert Ambulance, I don’t know of anyone other than a paramedic who’s used to work for them for a good while who now works for us.

If it speaks to anything, he works in Boron—the station that mutual aids at Kramer Junction with Desert Amb. the most—and has been at our company as long as me.

He’s also been a paramedic since I was in high school. I’m guessing he likes it here a smidge more.

KCFD #17, who also does the mutuals with that stretch of Kern/ San Bernardino Co.’s, almost always asks for our Boron unit to respond if they’re available since they seem to almost always be quicker.

If the call is on DA’s side, our hands may be tied, but typically it seems our units either are requested or get to that area before DA’s.

A lot of bad stuff happens at Kramer Junction...
 
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wtferick

wtferick

Forum Captain
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FWIW, this wasn’t intended to be snarky (having re-read it, I can see how it may have sounded so).

As far as Desert Ambulance, I don’t know of anyone other than a paramedic who’s used to work for them for a good while who now works for us.

If it speaks to anything, he works in Boron—the station that mutual aids at Kramer Junction with Desert Amb. the most—and has been at our company as long as me.

He’s also been a paramedic since I was in high school. I’m guessing he likes it here a smidge more.

KCFD #17, who also does the mutuals with that stretch of Kern/ San Bernardino Co.’s, almost always asks for our Boron unit to respond if they’re available since they seem to almost always be quicker.

If the call is on DA’s side, our hands may be tied, but typically it seems our units either are requested or get to that area before DA’s.

A lot of bad stuff happens at Kramer Junction...
Thanks for the input! Do you think it's worth commuting for the 12 hr shifts Hall has to offer for new hires? From OC/LA border.
 

VentMonkey

Family Guy
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Thanks for the input! Do you think it's worth commuting for the 12 hr shifts Hall has to offer for new hires? From OC/LA border.
That depends on factors only you could answer. I thought you were nurse-bound?

If so, I’d say no, focus on nursing school first.

How it’s typically working out for B’s:
They’re put on a BLS car where they actually run a fair amount of high-acuity calls in metro, and carry a large chunk of the workload.

Had a BLS unit launch us a few weeks ago to a scene, so they’re also seeing more time in the rural areas as well. It is a busy system for all ground crews.

Fire isn’t always happy about receiving a BLS unit, cuz’, you know? ALS fixes everything:rolleyes:, but that’s another story.

As far as the physical commute, I’m sure people still room with another, rotating their days to fit their respective schedules; something I have no firsthand experience with.
 
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wtferick

wtferick

Forum Captain
478
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That depends on factors only you could answer. I thought you were nurse-bound?

If so, I’d say no, focus on nursing school first.

How it’s typically working out for B’s:
They’re put on a BLS car where they actually run a fair amount of high-acuity calls in metro, and carry a large chunk of the workload.

Had a BLS unit launch us a few weeks ago to a scene, so they’re also seeing more time in the rural areas as well. It is a busy system for all ground crews.

Fire isn’t always happy about receiving a BLS unit, cuz’, you know? ALS fixes everything:rolleyes:, but that’s another story.

As far as the physical commute, I’m sure people still room with another, rotating their days to fit their respective schedules; something I have no firsthand experience with.
I actually dropped everything relating to nursing. Experimented with a side business for some extra cash, and ended up becoming an actual business... currently pursuing a degree in Marketing/Business Anatalytic.

Currently keeping employment for the health insurance!

As to why I'm looking around for a place I would while I attend school.
 

jgmedic

Fire Truck Driver
785
203
43
No problem. Is that medic's name James? I think I got hired with that guy.




FWIW, this wasn’t intended to be snarky (having re-read it, I can see how it may have sounded so).

As far as Desert Ambulance, I don’t know of anyone other than a paramedic who’s used to work for them for a good while who now works for us.

If it speaks to anything, he works in Boron—the station that mutual aids at Kramer Junction with Desert Amb. the most—and has been at our company as long as me.

He’s also been a paramedic since I was in high school. I’m guessing he likes it here a smidge more.

KCFD #17, who also does the mutuals with that stretch of Kern/ San Bernardino Co.’s, almost always asks for our Boron unit to respond if they’re available since they seem to almost always be quicker.

If the call is on DA’s side, our hands may be tied, but typically it seems our units either are requested or get to that area before DA’s.

A lot of bad stuff happens at Kramer Junction...
 

pl8guy

Forum Ride Along
7
2
3
2019 info:
Pay = insulting
Teamsters Union so rates are non negotiable

Medics $12/hr ot after 8 hours ending at 24 hours ( 12 for first 8 hours then 1.5x for the last 16)
Emts $10/hr and only 16/24 hours paid unless you get up x amount of times

Works out to less than having ot after 40hrs a week with the amount of time you spend up there

1 station in Barstow.
3 medic (P/b) units daily.
Medics start part time until a full time spot opens. All emts are part time only except for a few dinosaurs.
Schedule is 48on48off then 48on 96off.
You can pick up just a 24 or stack shifts up to a 120 as a medic or a 48 as an emt.

Call volume
- busy busy busy! Expect 1-2 hours of sleep per 24hr shift. If you’re lucky maybe 3-4 not consecutively of course.
You will run all 911 and IFT calls. There are no bls units to supplement call volume

- 16 runs in a 48. Usually 3 are IFTs from BCH to loma linda or arrowhead.
- run all transfers out of BCH and Fort Irwin.
- bls BCH to local snf or VA
- Fort Irwin to Camp Pendleton.
- occasionally transport to sunrise in vegas

911s - majority will be in the city limits with quick turnaround.
Response district is about an 70 mile radius from Barstow. Response times of 45+ mins are common for the fringes
95% of your patients will be homeless and or dealing with substance abuse problems

Traumas out on the 15,40 and the infamous Kramer Junction will be common.

Most Traumas, Strokes and STEMIs you will make the call to fly out or transport by ground or combination ( coordinate a meet up point to transfer care to heli)
This depends on your clinical judgment and availability of resources.

Fire departments.
Barstow fd is ALS and will assist you with pt care. Great bunch of guys. Department has a very high turnover rate.
SbcoFD hit or miss. Might get a 1 man volunteer ff/emt on a patrol maybe you get a medic. Kind of a mixed bag
Kern county FD. Solid crews. BLS only
Calico/dagget volunteers - either 80 year old grandma or 14 year old timmy. Huge lack of training and clinical competency. Expect to walk into a room with 10 of them standing around wearing 20 year old bunker gear twiddling their thumbs
MCLB Barstow- ALS great crews always there to back you up when you need it the most.

Expect to be the only medic on your calls. Most of the time you will be and it means you need to call the shots. A big difference for most other socal gigs.

Equipment
New ford transits
All manual stryker gurneys
Zoll E series monitors

Management
Still family owned and old school
No supervisors only an ops manager
Do your job don’t complain

Sorry for the formatting but I hope this answers your questions.
 
OP
OP
wtferick

wtferick

Forum Captain
478
101
43
2019 info:
Pay = insulting
Teamsters Union so rates are non negotiable

Medics $12/hr ot after 8 hours ending at 24 hours ( 12 for first 8 hours then 1.5x for the last 16)
Emts $10/hr and only 16/24 hours paid unless you get up x amount of times

Works out to less than having ot after 40hrs a week with the amount of time you spend up there

1 station in Barstow.
3 medic (P/b) units daily.
Medics start part time until a full time spot opens. All emts are part time only except for a few dinosaurs.
Schedule is 48on48off then 48on 96off.
You can pick up just a 24 or stack shifts up to a 120 as a medic or a 48 as an emt.

Call volume
- busy busy busy! Expect 1-2 hours of sleep per 24hr shift. If you’re lucky maybe 3-4 not consecutively of course.
You will run all 911 and IFT calls. There are no bls units to supplement call volume

- 16 runs in a 48. Usually 3 are IFTs from BCH to loma linda or arrowhead.
- run all transfers out of BCH and Fort Irwin.
- bls BCH to local snf or VA
- Fort Irwin to Camp Pendleton.
- occasionally transport to sunrise in vegas

911s - majority will be in the city limits with quick turnaround.
Response district is about an 70 mile radius from Barstow. Response times of 45+ mins are common for the fringes
95% of your patients will be homeless and or dealing with substance abuse problems

Traumas out on the 15,40 and the infamous Kramer Junction will be common.

Most Traumas, Strokes and STEMIs you will make the call to fly out or transport by ground or combination ( coordinate a meet up point to transfer care to heli)
This depends on your clinical judgment and availability of resources.

Fire departments.
Barstow fd is ALS and will assist you with pt care. Great bunch of guys. Department has a very high turnover rate.
SbcoFD hit or miss. Might get a 1 man volunteer ff/emt on a patrol maybe you get a medic. Kind of a mixed bag
Kern county FD. Solid crews. BLS only
Calico/dagget volunteers - either 80 year old grandma or 14 year old timmy. Huge lack of training and clinical competency. Expect to walk into a room with 10 of them standing around wearing 20 year old bunker gear twiddling their thumbs
MCLB Barstow- ALS great crews always there to back you up when you need it the most.

Expect to be the only medic on your calls. Most of the time you will be and it means you need to call the shots. A big difference for most other socal gigs.

Equipment
New ford transits
All manual stryker gurneys
Zoll E series monitors

Management
Still family owned and old school
No supervisors only an ops manager
Do your job don’t complain

Sorry for the formatting but I hope this answers your questions.
Everything I was looking for. Thanks!
 

RocketMedic

Californian, Lost in Texas
4,997
1,461
113
Where do they find stuff for the E series?
 
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