SandpitMedic
Crowd pleaser
- 2,309
- 1,260
- 113
http://mobile.journals.lww.com/em-n...ewer.aspx?year=2014&issue=08000&article=00017
More PR. I like it.
The article:
By Scot Phelbs.
I'm never quite sure if emergency physicians really understand paramedics. I know many have a good understanding of our skills and training, and that a few were once paramedics. But I'm not sure they understand the environment in which we work or the barriers we face in providing care.
Being a paramedic is a hard, dirty job, and most of us will not make it to retirement. Injuries happen constantly when lifting and moving people. EMTs and paramedics have injury rates higher than firefighters and other health care providers (Prehosp Emerg Care 2005;9[4]:405), and 74 percent of Fire Department of New York EMS employees also suffered an injury at some time in their career that resulted in back pain. (U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA;http://1.usa.gov/VHQfbA.) Yet less than 65 percent of EMTs and paramedics have either short- or long-term disability insurance. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;http://1.usa.gov/1jsbN1q.)
The profession can be deadly, too. A paramedic is almost as likely as a police officer to die on the job. A total of 114 EMTs and paramedics were killed (12.7 fatalities per 100,000) between 1992 and 1997, compared with 14.2 for police officers. (http://bit.ly/1rHySlW.) All that for a 2005 median national wage of $12.54 an hour, less than half of firefighters' $26.82 (and $4 less per hour than LPNs and LVNs. (NHTSA;http://1.usa.gov/1jsbN1q.) EMS as a result is a transitory career (at least for non-fire service systems). One study of New Jersey's hospital-based paramedic system found that no one in any of the 13 focus groups of six to 14 people each could name five paramedics who retired after completing years of service with a full pension. (New Jersey Department of Health;http://bit.ly/1iNrJAz.)
Moderator Edit: Post edited to meet our rules on Fair Use.
http://emtlife.com/help/terms#fairuse
More PR. I like it.
The article:
By Scot Phelbs.
I'm never quite sure if emergency physicians really understand paramedics. I know many have a good understanding of our skills and training, and that a few were once paramedics. But I'm not sure they understand the environment in which we work or the barriers we face in providing care.
Being a paramedic is a hard, dirty job, and most of us will not make it to retirement. Injuries happen constantly when lifting and moving people. EMTs and paramedics have injury rates higher than firefighters and other health care providers (Prehosp Emerg Care 2005;9[4]:405), and 74 percent of Fire Department of New York EMS employees also suffered an injury at some time in their career that resulted in back pain. (U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA;http://1.usa.gov/VHQfbA.) Yet less than 65 percent of EMTs and paramedics have either short- or long-term disability insurance. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;http://1.usa.gov/1jsbN1q.)
The profession can be deadly, too. A paramedic is almost as likely as a police officer to die on the job. A total of 114 EMTs and paramedics were killed (12.7 fatalities per 100,000) between 1992 and 1997, compared with 14.2 for police officers. (http://bit.ly/1rHySlW.) All that for a 2005 median national wage of $12.54 an hour, less than half of firefighters' $26.82 (and $4 less per hour than LPNs and LVNs. (NHTSA;http://1.usa.gov/1jsbN1q.) EMS as a result is a transitory career (at least for non-fire service systems). One study of New Jersey's hospital-based paramedic system found that no one in any of the 13 focus groups of six to 14 people each could name five paramedics who retired after completing years of service with a full pension. (New Jersey Department of Health;http://bit.ly/1iNrJAz.)
Moderator Edit: Post edited to meet our rules on Fair Use.
http://emtlife.com/help/terms#fairuse
Last edited by a moderator:
