FTO Program for a Rural EMS

[Kbaize]

I am wondering if someone could help me out with this? I am currently a EMS Director of an Rural EMS service that runs 600-800 calls a year. I am wanting to know some examples of someone that has been through a FTO program when they got hired on somewhere where there is only 1-2 calls a day and how long of a program were you on before being turned out on your own? The problem I have is not enough calls to do this in a reasonable amount of time and my budget does not allow me to pay them until they are on their own. I am wondering this for a new EMT-B that is fresh out of school and also what about a paramedic that has been working here for awhile as a EMT-B and knows how we operate and now do I ride with him until I feel comfortable with the medic skills or just turn them loose? Let me know your thoughts and experiences.

 

[luke_31]

I currently work for a service that runs a similar call volume. However I came in with previous paramedic experience in IFT and some 911. The best advice I could offer is to have the new employees ride as a third person for two weeks and then pair them up with experienced providers. During their third person time run scenerios with them on the type of calls that you normally run along with the infrequent calls to help get them situated with working on the ambulance. At the service I am at they had me work with them till I made the 10 ALS contacts that were required by the county to be accredited, so I was a third person for only a few weeks. Look at what your county requires for new providers in the system to base what you need to do.