Paramedic Air Medical Communication Specialist? Advice?

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Mark31467

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Hello,

I have a question or two for those of you that have any information or experience in Air Communications.

I've been a Dispatcher at a Trauma Center for almost 2 years and my position focuses on mostly internal functions like transport, security, and access control. I hope to advance in the near future to a position with an Air Medical service provider, possibly AirMethods or even the Mayo Clinic. I'm a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher and I will be finished with my EMT-Basic within the next month and from what I have researched it is the minimum requirement in terms of medical training for the position I want. However, I want to exceed Basic and eventually reach Paramedic.

Most people give me the "Uhhh, why would you consider Medic School to sit behind a computer?" and when I try and explain it I get "that's a lot of work to just be a Dispatcher" or "just apply at the Sheriff's Office for their 911 center." I would also like to add that I would most definitely attain a few years of field experience before I moved into a Comm. Center.

1. Are aspiring Medics usually treated differently on their goals or ambitions?

2. Medic School is at least a year away but I want to prepare early because it is a serious commitment. I have noticed that most Medic admissions require an essay as to why we want to pursue a career in this field. If you read my career goals for admission, what would you think?

3. Please include anything else you think is necessary.

Thanks!
 
disclaimer: I worked 5 years at a dispatch center that was the primary air medical air traffic control center for an entire state.

by working as a dispatcher at a trauma center I am assuming you are working in the security department, correct?

If you want to me an air medical dispatcher you absolutely do not need to be a medic. if you want to become a medic, than go to medic school and get a job on an ambulance, or in some type of clinical capacity. if you become a medic, and only work in a comm center, your medic schooling will be a waste of time.

many EMS agencies require EMT because it helps skim the pool of applicants, allows them to pay their dispatchers better, and they have a vague idea of what happens on the other side of the radio. paramedic training is definately overkill. The only medics you will find in comm centers are ones who were communicators before they became medics, those who got hurt on the job and can't work on a truck anymore, or those who wanted some OT and were able to scam their way into dispatch.

1. most aspiring medics want to be medics so they can use their medic skills. in the comm center, you won't be using many of your skills

2. if your career goals were to work in air medical communications, than i would question medic school. now if you wanted to become a flight medic, that's a different story.

3. What do you expect to gain from medic school, and how do you think it will help you in your career goals?
 
I have never been a dispatcher, however I do know that, medical dispatch and 'normal dispatchers' are a whole new animal. I really only know the ins and outs of the 'normal' law enforcement dispatch. And if I'm honest sheriffs office dispatchers are not the most advanced people, However with that being said the state police dispatchers(whom I get dispatched from) are very advanced people. Expecially for a giant state such as New York(not the city). I belive MOST of the state dispatches are ex- Air Force comms folks. However, there are still plenty of civilians and I know NYS requires radio tech classes and other classes of the sort for state police dispatch. So the sheriffs dpt and state dispatch is like comparing a Honda to Ferarri
 
DrParasite said:
disclaimer: I worked 5 years at a dispatch center that was the primary air medical air traffic control center for an entire state.

by working as a dispatcher at a trauma center I am assuming you are working in the security department, correct?

If you want to me an air medical dispatcher you absolutely do not need to be a medic. if you want to become a medic, than go to medic school and get a job on an ambulance, or in some type of clinical capacity. if you become a medic, and only work in a comm center, your medic schooling will be a waste of time.

many EMS agencies require EMT because it helps skim the pool of applicants, allows them to pay their dispatchers better, and they have a vague idea of what happens on the other side of the radio. paramedic training is definately overkill. The only medics you will find in comm centers are ones who were communicators before they became medics, those who got hurt on the job and can't work on a truck anymore, or those who wanted some OT and were able to scam their way into dispatch.

1. most aspiring medics want to be medics so they can use their medic skills. in the comm center, you won't be using many of your skills

2. if your career goals were to work in air medical communications, than i would question medic school. now if you wanted to become a flight medic, that's a different story.

3. What do you expect to gain from medic school, and how do you think it will help you in your career goals?
Click to expand...


Thanks for the reply!

Yes, Security is one of the departments I dispatch for. I'm in Support Services so the spectrum goes from Security, to Clinical Eng, to Transport and on.

The College I am attending offers an Associate's in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine, which essentially includes becoming a Paramedic once you finish the degree. Once I attain my Associate's degree, I'd qualify to enroll in the Homeland Security/Emergency Management Bachelor program. I'd like to become a Director of Communications one of these days and to me this path just feels right, you know? It's hard to explain. The EMT-Basic course I am finishing is the first course I have taken since High School 6 years ago. I have this strong desire all of a sudden to just keep going.

Would I enjoy being a field medic? Oh yes, you bet. Would I consider Flight Medic? In a heart beat. Could I take an Associate's geared more towards business administration? I could. But if I want to be in an Admin position in the future surrounded by medical personnel at a Hospital, I want a solid background in healthcare with clinical field experience.
 
Mark, I realize it's been a while since your original posting, but I wanted to sound off on this topic, as I have quite a bit of background on the subject matter.

I worked for years as a firemedic before going into law enforcement. After retiring from the state, I worked at a 911 PSAP. I progressed into a HEMS communications center, where I now am director.

As Dr. Parasite stated, having a paramedic cert is not only unnecesary in the comms environment, it is an absolute waste. If it's a part of your AA degree, that is a different story, but do not pursue it if your desire is to be a Communications Specialist (which differs from a dispatcher in the aviation industry; do not confuse the two.).

With your pursuit of a degree in Homeland Security and/or Emergency Management, it would appear your drive may not equate to that of the position of a Communications Center Director, at least not in the HEMS industry.

I hope this has helped in some degree. What decisions have you made since your original post?
 
Thanks for the reply!

Good advice! I had thought about this for the past few months. I still have a passion for dispatch and EMS; however, I figured that going for Medic is going to be costly and accomplishing it just to sit in a Comm Center would be out of the norm.

I have since then taken a serious 360, re-evaluated what I wanted to do, and now I'll soon be working in an Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital as a Mental Health Tech. Mental Health has also been really interesting to me, everything just suddenly fell in to place, and I'll be working towards a position as a Substance Abuse Counselor... lol.

I still have my EMD/PST and various other dispatching certs! I'll keep these current and use them as a back-up plan.
 
I don't believe that the extra schooling to earn a paramedic certification will help you grow as a dispatcher any more than any other similarly relevant emergency training would.

That being said, if you have an interest in anything, and the means to pay for it, by all means, enrich your life and take the extra schooling. Whether you end up with a paramedic or a pastry chef certification, training allows you to live the life that you dream about.

But...don't be the person that's going into all kinds of debt for schooling that will not lead to a bump in pay.

I took paramedic school for fun several years ago. I had the means to pay cash for school, and today I still work in EMS a couple days a week purely for fun.


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