Public Vs Private

MedicPrincess

MedicPrincess

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I gave notice at my current employer yesterday, a county run service. I have accepted an offer from a large private service that has just taken over EMS for the county in which I live. They are a large private company with both ground and air operations in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Basically, it boiled down to, with this new job and the truck I am going to be assigned to, I will be able to tuck my son into bed at night, or stop in at dinner time and see him. My station will be 1 mile from my Mom's, where my kids stay while I am at work...and 1 block from my son's school, for those "forgotten backpack" days.

The call volume is drastically less as well. Currently, I work a 24 hr truck and average 13-17 TRANSPORTS per shift. On this new truck, a 24 hr truck, we will average 5-6 (based on the previous services numbers). I worked the other day, and we had 1 transport and 1 refusal in a 24 hour shift.

One huge difference I can see so far, and do enjoy, is the medical directors oversite. Currently, at the county service, we see our MD in the ER and that is pretty much it unless there is a formal QA. For this new service, the Paramedics receive daily feedback from the MD. He runs calls with us, without getting in the way, and serves as an extra set of hands if we need him. He simply asks, "What do you need?" My first shift working, we ran a Code he showed up on, and the Medic I was with that day put the MD to work doing compressions.

Most people I have encountered around this area have told me I am crazy for jumping ship. What are y'alls expiriences on Public EMS services Vs. Private?
 
I only worked private, and that's because it was nearly impossible to get a public EMT job where I was.

I'm sure it will be a huge change of pace for you. I always liked working with the guys from Detroit, they weren't sure what to do with all their downtime.

I hope it works out for you!
 
I figured you would have asked this PRIOR to giving notice or accepting a position.

At any rate, something to think about is: Are you going to be doing this for the next 20 years, and if so, where would you be finanically with the county vs a private agency?

Working for the county usually means great beanies. Working for a private agency can be anything but great, depending on who you work for.
 
I worked for a very large (scrambled letters MRA) private BLS911 and ALS NET and in my personal experience it was terrible. Low pay, supervisors only concerned about UHU's and all the money stuff, writing incident reports etc (it got a little better when I became an FTO and got a raise though).

Now work for a County Hospital based ALS911 service and it is much better. Better trucks and equip, better supervisors that actually listen what you have to say, better protocals and Med Dir (actually see him often) get off on time more often, much better pay and beni's

Maybe the grass is greener in the private sector in FL, but here in GA its the Sahara against a cottage on the Pacific in Costa Rica
 
In Florida, during the past 30 years I have seen private ambulance services change names and/or owners many times. I've seen battles for turf between private and county. Unincorporated areas that are serviced by private companies become part of a municipal system and then serviced by public companies.

The one thing I have always looked at when changing jobs in Florida is the Florida State retirement plan. This plan covers alot of different jobs and moves with you for years accruing toward retirement. This may not mean much to you now, but the lack of a good retirement plan is one of the draw backs of the healthcare profession.

Some of the county EMS systems also have excellent education benefits and career ladder plans. Many of the county systems also offer a chance to get into water rescue, HEMS, scuba and search/rescue teams for local, national and international missions for variety. The county EMS and FD EMS systems are also very competitive in their ALS skills competitions which can be both fun and educational.
 
Just has been mentioned. You need to look at the long haul! Florida has one of the best state retirement funds. But, you only get in it if you work for gov. systems ie:couny,city,state.
Private may look good now, but that may change in a few months.

what area of the state do you live? there may be other options.
 
Good luck with the new company. you sure they still have Texas, cause we actually got sold off recently. RAM bought us.
 
Well today brought something I never in a bazillion years would have expected. After our first call, we were told by dispatch we were out of service and we needed to report to our HQ. So I am thinking GREAT! They aren't even going to let me work out my notice.

After making us sit and stew for a bit they called me back. My CPT, the LT from another shift, Chief, and the Dir of Pub Safety were there (kind of like a "firing squad")

Well after a long drawn out speech about how hard I worked this last year, and how proud they all are of me, and I am still a little thrown off but even an apology at one point...... it came down to one question....

"What can we do to keep you here?" :o WHAT!! Now this group is not known for being "sensitive" to the needs of the road crews, or even caring what we want. I kind of for a minute felt like I was being set up....you know, waiting for the other foot to fall.

I hadn't expected it, so I wasn't prepared to answer. So they offered. I am going to be on the truck I want, with a really great EMT, on this shift I wanted.

So I guess we'll see if all gets better at the county.....
 
I don't know all the particulars, but it sounds like a better deal, working for the county that is.
 
I smiled while reading this. It's always nice to be in a position where you're needed, and it sounds like you're in that position. Be sure to let us know how it goes... and share some funny stories.
 
EMTPrincess said:
I am going to be on the truck I want, with a really great EMT, on this shift I wanted.
Click to expand...

I can only dream of working at a service like yours. Congratulations; good people are hard to find and harder to keep, and I guess they figured it out.
 
whoever pays better
 
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