EMS Only Rank Structure?

Doctors, RNs, RRTs aren't expected to be on scene. We do the heavy lifting and over reaching. We should be more mindful of or overall health for this reason.
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1. What the heck does that have to do with medals an ribbons?
2. MDs, RNs, and RRTs do end up in scene responses by ambualnce and helicopter in some circumstances, both in this country and others.
3. EMS lifts, CNA/LPN/RNs lift far more... and the other hand's on healthcare professions still lift plenty unless they are a Pharmacist or a Psychologist.

Woodtownemt said:
As we speak the next chapter is being written (community para-medicine)
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Really, no it isn't. At it's best community paramedicine would constitute a small portion of EMS practice. As it is, it is a distraction and a continuation of the destructive EMS culture of "take a 2 week class and now I'm superEMT with a whole new scope!" Either we are for real education to be professionals or we are going to remain a field of trained specialists. But we cannot be the latter while pretending to be the former. Doing so just makes the rest of the healthcare professionals smile and nod while we pat ourselves on the back.
 
To be honest I could not agree more, this can also attach to the infamous badge issue. if your in EMS you should be doing it to HELP PEOPLE(not saying you dont), but i know for myself I do not need a medal or a shiny award to know that I put in a good days work. Imagine if your an Trauma surgeon with 20 years experience, that person would have had 400 medals for various things, and to be honest if i could be as gifted as somebody like that, I would DENY them. EMS is the newest field, firefighters and police have been around for a long while and have established themselves, summit is correct EMS is the laughing stock of first responders(if you had to pick one). BOTTOM LINE: if your an EMT/RN/Paramedic/Flight medic/ER doc/**insert fancy title here**, it is a job yes, but you are in it as a civil servant and should not need medals and awards to feel good about what you do.
 
All I can I say to that is different strokes for different folks. Md, RN,PA, etc do have some form of it. Its just more in the form recognition, employee of the month, stemi success rates even, etc. My original point was towards if havings such things would help morale. I think you got to caught up on the whole military example. All in all we need more passionate people in the field.
 
It is great to recognize good performance and meeting quality measures!

Ribbons and decorations for EMS is pretentious paramilitarism.
 
I personally dont think it is good, because then certain people would get caught up in getting an award and not doing their job. i also think that it would get caught up in "corruption" or the bosses son\daughter\cousin would get the award all the time ect ect. The military does it to assist with ranking systems, private --> corporeal--->sergeant so on and so forth. Employee of the month, is a better approach. Also how can you judge somebody for EMS, pysch work is just as important(as im gathering from my multiple instructors**including paramedics**) as a medic performing a cric or a chest decomp.
 
Summit said:
It is great to recognize good performance and meeting quality measures!

Ribbons and decorations for EMS is pretentious paramilitarism.
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true. I myself would rather scholarships, fellowships, bonuses, hell some days maybe even a hug.
 
i just hope i can meet somebody i helped, and truly know that i helped them. especially working in LE sometimes you feel like you ruin something, but i just like to help people and as you can see me spread out on different topics here, an EMT for me would be mostly volly work. Dont wanna take the easy road, but also dont have time for medic school ect. However, i think that no matter what type of "folk" you are, you should not be in EMS at any stage for accolades.
 
Eh I feel that some type of ranks are appropriate. Here we have attendant (b/i/p), paramedic team captain, sr team captain, supervisor. We are looking at adding an fto rank between tc and senior too.
A rank structure gives you something to work towards and helps prevent stagnation. Plus the raises are always nice
 
Top down

Director of Clinical Operations
Assistant Director of Operations (one each for Feild Ops and Clinical Control)
District Operations Manager
Territory Manager
Shift Supervisor (Auckland) or Shift Manager (large urban centres only)
Station Manager or Group Manager (Auckland only)
Ambulance Officer (report to TMs)
 
Summit said:
It is great to recognize good performance and meeting quality measures!

Ribbons and decorations for EMS is pretentious paramilitarism.
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What do you feel is an effective way to recognize, both internally and externally, efforts by EMS personnel that would be described as "heroic"?
 
Guess that depends on what we call "heroic". Most times when this term is used, it is describing our day to day job functions. Heroic measures were taken or heroic action when in reality it is what is expected of us, just happened to be a well publicized story or event.

Are there heroes? Yes....most of the ones I know of were sent home in a box. Does being a hero = sacrifice....not always.
Other heroes I know of were stripped of their medic license, yet saved a life....they lost their job too! I do not think they will get a medal.

I dunno man, such a mixed bag for me. I think most medics would appreciate paid time off in lieu of ribbons or certificates. I sure as heck would!
 
akflightmedic said:
I think most medics would appreciate paid time off in lieu of ribbons or certificates.
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Nailed it.

And to be frank the ribbons, pomp, and circumstance is all just giant self-congratulatory masturbation event for everyone else but the actual EMTs and medics. I'll pass on that and so will the vast majority of my co-workers which is why my agency has to make it an order to show up to an award ceremony.
 
However, some pomp and circumstance is good press for the agency. Lord knows EMS could do a better job of showcasing what we do.
 
DEmedic said:
However, some pomp and circumstance is good press for the agency. Lord knows EMS could do a better job of showcasing what we do.
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Make sure it showcases EMS as healthcare professionals vs street soldiers with bandaids and backboards.
 
DEmedic said:
However, some pomp and circumstance is good press for the agency. Lord knows EMS could do a better job of showcasing what we do.
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My initial reaction was that "Doctors and nurses, let alone firefighters, don't have to pull stunts like these for respect so why should we!?" But after thinking it over they seem to get a lot more respect than our industry does as a whole (especially those of us who are single role paramedics). I still think they dumb but ultimately do serve a point. I will just continue to wallow in mediocrity so I don't get caught up in said ceremonies.
 
My former agency's citation bar system, as well as what each ribbon stood for.

We also had dress uniforms for special occasions, a color guard, and were seen as equals with the city's FD and PD.

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We had also given out ribbons for working during major events (Superstorm Sandy, the Tango & Cash heroin in Feb 1991, and probably others that were before my time).

Honestly, EMS is pretty horrible at recognizing good work among it's personnel, and these types of things can help build morale, as well as become a source of pride for people. If you don't reward people for doing good work, they tend to stop trying to do good work, and doing just enough to keep their job.
 
EMS and paramedicine in Canada is recognized as having a paramilitary structure (though it is definitely paramilitary LIGHT). We do have an honour guard for ceremonial functions and ribbons that are part of the Canadian Honours System can be worn on our uniforms. There are a number of paramedics that have served in the armed forces and they are able to wear those ribbons on our uniforms (and medals on our dress uni) if they choose. As an agency, we don't have any medals or ribbons to award (employee recognition is done in other ways, usually certificates or plaques) but there is an "EMS Exemplary Service Medal" that is awarded by our Governor General.

https://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16060&lan=eng
 
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