EMS Captain isn't an EMT

Our ems captain is in charge of ordering supplies, setting policy, making sure charts are done, etc.

it just seems that a person with that responsibility should atleast be am emt running calls

I am not gunning for the position or anything. I have only been with the dept. A few months. It just seems like something is out of wack.
 
It is out of whack... its just not your department trust me. Its one of the main reasons I no longer have the desire to volunteer anymore which is a shame because I used to really enjoy it. I just can't deal with the volunteer mentality anymore.
 
trevor1189 said:
Our ems captain is in charge of ordering supplies, setting policy, making sure charts are done, etc.

it just seems that a person with that responsibility should atleast be am emt running calls

I am not gunning for the position or anything. I have only been with the dept. A few months. It just seems like something is out of wack.
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I disagree, EMS your a fire company, you dont need an EMT to order supplies, policy setting, and making sure paperwork is done. An EMT doesnt make you any better or wiser at doing those things. Just a thought.
 
As of now most of ems decisions are made by a fire captain and cleared thru the ems captain. Hopefully in the future that will change and the ems captain will be a little more active. Whoever that may be.
 
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I disagree, EMS your a fire company, you dont need an EMT to order supplies, policy setting, and making sure paperwork is done. An EMT doesnt make you any better or wiser at doing those things. Just a thought.
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How do you set or enforce policy or QA patient care reports when a person has no idea what the standard is, what works, what doesn't work, and has no clue what they are managing? Making sure the "paper work" is done goes much, much further than making sure its completed within a certain time frame. This person probably can't even write a PCR let alone QA one and gives provider feedback.

Without a working knowledge and experience base, a officer cannot effectively direct his people, maintain morale, be strategic and progressive, and push the department upward.
 
How do you set or enforce policy or QA patient care reports when a person has no idea what the standard is, what works, what doesn't work, and has no clue what they are managing? Making sure the "paper work" is done goes much, much further than making sure its completed within a certain time frame. This person probably can't even write a PCR let alone QA one and gives provider feedback.
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You make a lot of assumptions. One does not have to hold EMT certification to know about EMS. Hell, some EMTs don't know about EMS. You assume because the captain isn't an EMT that it makes them a completely ignorant to the way things work. It very well may be possible that this person has a better grasp on the innerworkings of EMS than their own EMTs, just does not hold the certification.

Also, ordering supplies, making sure paperwork is complete and setting policy to run a business, because essentially that is what any department is, does not require medical training. I don't consider QA/QI to be part of making sure paperwork is complete.
 
Sasha said:
You make a lot of assumptions. One does not have to hold EMT certification to know about EMS. Hell, some EMTs don't know about EMS. You assume because the captain isn't an EMT that it makes them a completely ignorant to the way things work. It very well may be possible that this person has a better grasp on the innerworkings of EMS than their own EMTs, just does not hold the certification.

Also, ordering supplies, making sure paperwork is complete and setting policy to run a business, because essentially that is what any department is, does not require medical training. I don't consider QA/QI to be part of making sure paperwork is complete.
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Policy as far as business side like billing, station management ect or are you referring to SOP related to field operations?
 
An EMS captain that isn't an EMT is like a president not being a citizen of their country :blush: :o :blink: :ph34r: B)
 
Sasha... I been there way too many times and seen it with my own eyes... I know how volunteer departments work.... yes, certification and experience are required. Were not talking about the administrative side like an EMS Secretary, Company President, or VP.

I'm not making assumptions. Being familiar with Pennsylvania EMS and the volunteer/combination departments in it, and serving as the Deputy Chief of EMS Operations, I know all too well.

Its kinda like me being a Fire Captain without having any real fire experience or training. I'm sure many will follow me into the fire, huh.
 
ResTech said:
Sasha... I been there way too many times and seen it with my own eyes... I know how volunteer departments work.... yes, certification and experience are required. Were not talking about the administrative side like an EMS Secretary, Company President, or VP.

I'm not making assumptions. Being familiar with Pennsylvania EMS and the volunteer/combination departments in it, and serving as the Deputy Chief of EMS Operations, I know all too well.

Its kinda like me being a Fire Captain without having any real fire experience or training. I'm sure many will follow me into the fire, huh.
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actually from what he described the duties to be, it sounds very much like the administrative side
 
One has to know these departments to understand.... this is probably Mr. Fred who lives in the farmhouse down the street who wants to be important in the organization and sit in on all the meetings and make decisions, but has no desire to become properly trained and certified. It is a status thing.

An officer position is just that. Being an officer goes above and beyond the expectation and leadership displayed by field personnel. One should not achieve an officer position with no experience or very little. Officers are the people you go to for advice with confidence they have the experience and knowledge to be objective and give you the right information.
 
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