nonemergency EMT transport question..

[jh0n001flip]

I've gotta agree with Looker on this one. Not all "health care" experience is equal, and I don't subscribe to the "any experience that falls under health care is better than nothing" byline (heck, how many threads have there been where people claim that EMS experience is the best thing since sliced bread for med school applications because it's "medical?"). If you're concerned about customer service, then just about any job dealing with customers works. I worked part time/summers a number of years at a movie theater (mostly box office), and I did more customer service there in a 2 week pay period (resolving issues, dealing with customers, etc) than my entire time working on an ambulance.

Similarly, the patient/provider relationship is essentially non-existent in EMS. You're juggling one patient, who often doesn't have a choice in even what company is sent, for, in most places, 10-15 minutes at most. If the patient/provider relation is defined as "able to ask, often invasive, questions professionally and can make small talk" then sure. It's definitely not, however, comparable to a patient and their primary care provider.





Quick, take a blood pressure or take breath sounds on the patient in the wheelchair behind you, or even play 20 questions about the patient's current state (i.e. OPQRST, history, allergies, meds, etc) while driving.


To the OP, take it, leave it, it's a job. I wouldn't go around touting it as an amazing medical job though (albeit I may just be getting grouchy and mildly elitist, but I find the tech school medical assistant commercials to be hilarious). If anything, I wouldn't play up the medical aspect, but the driving (knowing where major nursing homes, dialysis clinics, and hospitals are, as well as most wheelchair vans are somewhat similar to van style ambulance) and staff interactions.

:beerchug: i agree with some of your points.

 

[looker]

Why? 99% of this job is customer service and being able to relate to someone and build a patient/provider relationship.

Sure you don't do the assessments and the interventions but you can learn a lot about disease processes and how to talk to people. Also, who's to say that you can't assess the person your transporting?

Because in addition to having ems business I also have NEMT business. There is no assessment going on, no learning about disease processes etc. Yes you can talk to them while you drive them. It's basically a taxi with wheelchair lift in the back/side of the vehicle.

 

[Steam Engine]

so I think I'm getting hired for express medical transporter:blush:. my training starts soon..does this count as an EMT experience? i mean it's non emergency but still we provide CPR and AED, and rescue breathing if we have too..did anyone start out working for a non - emergency and then move their way up to a real EMT ambulance job? how did it work out for you? what are the pros and cons working for a non emergency ambulatory job? will it help me get an EMT job in the near future? does this job count as an EMT experience via adding it in my resume to make me more qualified as an EMT candidate? -_-

No, since you are not employed as an EMT, this job does not count as "EMT experience", and you should not delude yourself or a future employer into believing so. However, despite what some of the naysayers here may lead you to believe, you can gain quite a bit of experience with this job that will help you on an ambulance in the future.

First, consider that you will likely be driving a vehicle similar to an ambulance. Many people are apprehensive about driving when they land their first EMT job, however if you've spent time driving a chair van you'll already have a leg up.

Second, you will learn some about disease processes just by observing, likely including ESRD, complications post-stroke, drug addiction, and others. While a provider will never share any info with you beyond "he can't walk" or "he has a history of seizures, keep an eye on him" nor should you ask, you will be sure to gain some knowledge if you make the effort. Additionally, some people love to discuss their medical conditions with anyone who will listen, and quite often with those who wish they didn't have to listen, so you are bound to learn something along the way.

Third, you will learn something about assessments to an extent. While you shouldn't be physically assessing your clients, nor asking personal medical questions (and yes, they are 'clients' and not 'patients' in this context), you will soon learn how to reliably assess whether someone is AOX3, or a reliable source of information, or confused, forgetful, depressed, etc. This will be an important skill to have on an ambulance, where often the most effective assessment takes the form of a conversation, not an interrogation.

Finally, you will learn how to be in charge of and entrusted with the care of some of the most vulnerable people you will ever meet, and do do it with professionalism, compassion, and integrity. Hope this helps.

 

[Tigger]

Be prepared to work non-stop. I have nothing but a great deal if respect for our chair car drivers, they work by themselves for 8-10 hour shifts with almost no breaks. They get paid less than we do yet they have no one to relieve them from driving and they often have much longer transport times. It seems like every time they call clear, dispatch sends them to another appointment.

The one upshot is that the company will pay for your EMT class and hire you as an EMT upon completion. That seems to be the only perk. If I were already an EMT I think I would just keep looking for ambulance jobs and get a non-EMT related job involving some aspect of customer service in the interim.


Sent from my out of area communications device.

 

[EMTSTUDENT25]

Best of luck to you! Make the best of it and learn what you can.