Thread #8,175,361 About AMR

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CaptCanadia

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Good afternoon y'all,

I wanted to make a thread to get some specific information about working for AMR as a Paramedic in systems where they have medical authority. I have been surfing the forum for days reading up on everything, but I have a few specific questions I haven't found a clear answer on (conflicting info and such) and I would greatly appreciate it if there is anyone out there that has some answers. I was mainly looking between working in Washington and Colorado, primarily Colorado Springs and Spokane, but I really am open to anything. So, more specifically, how are the systems you work in, from the ALS point of view? Do you have medical control and how is your relationship with Fire/Hospitals, etc.? How is your scope and your working environment (wages, hours, union, equipment)? Also, if anyone knows where AMR has more medical independence throughout the states, please let me know, I am having a really hard time even figuring that out.

Lastly, I'd like to add that I am aware of the downfalls of looking specifically at a private, but I am mainly looking to move somewhere new so that I can get my feet wet in some real EMS systems and get my lay of the land.

I know this is a hell of a lot of questions, I really do appreciate any info you guys have. Thanks!
 
CaptCanadia said:
Good afternoon y'all,

I wanted to make a thread to get some specific information about working for AMR as a Paramedic in systems where they have medical authority. I have been surfing the forum for days reading up on everything, but I have a few specific questions I haven't found a clear answer on (conflicting info and such) and I would greatly appreciate it if there is anyone out there that has some answers. I was mainly looking between working in Washington and Colorado, primarily Colorado Springs and Spokane, but I really am open to anything. So, more specifically, how are the systems you work in, from the ALS point of view? Do you have medical control and how is your relationship with Fire/Hospitals, etc.? How is your scope and your working environment (wages, hours, union, equipment)? Also, if anyone knows where AMR has more medical independence throughout the states, please let me know, I am having a really hard time even figuring that out.

Lastly, I'd like to add that I am aware of the downfalls of looking specifically at a private, but I am mainly looking to move somewhere new so that I can get my feet wet in some real EMS systems and get my lay of the land.

I know this is a hell of a lot of questions, I really do appreciate any info you guys have. Thanks!
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AMR Colorado Springs does not have medical control in the city unless the responding CSFD company does not have a paramedic. AMR paramedics do have medical control in the county, even when running with ALS departments. Generally speaking things work ok though.

It's a pretty good system. Most ambulances are Medic/EMT on 12s and street cornered posted. There are a few eight and 14 hour shifts. There are two ambulances on 48s that are stationed in outlying county stations and two ambulances on 12s that are stationed in closer in county stations. Sometimes there's an ALS transfer car and usually some BLS transfer cars on, but you will still do transfers (not a lot, maybe one a shift). We get along great with the hospitals and have joint medical direction from both local networks (which is shared with Fire). There's two Level 2s, two Level 3s, a community ED, and a military ED within the system. Though there are a few cars stationed in the county, you will run plenty into outlying El Paso County, so transport times can be five minutes or an hour.

The protocols are pretty decent with minimal call-ins. Liberal pain management dosing wit Fent, Dilaudid, and Ketamine. Medics can RSI after getting approval from a medical director and taking a class that includes OR time. CES is pretty decent and there's a good annual refresher.

The pay is average, the starting medic pay (no experience) is like 15.90 an hour which is sad. AMR pays 1.3 million to operate in the city which makes change hard. There's no union and attempts to bring one in two years ago did not go well. I wonder if that might be changing soon though, there haven't been raises, call volume is increasing and staffing is lower. Our supervisors are pretty good but we need more ambulances on the street in a bad way. Any less than ten transports per shift would be a slow day.
 
Thank you for the detailed response Tigger, greatly appreciate it.
 
Technically fire has control, but they usually step back once we get there. Relationships with both are good, but we work with so many that I don't really know them all that well, I just have no issues working with them both hospital/Fire. That being said, I do have preferences. Some FD's are hit and miss and others are awesome. My scope is pretty good, there isn't too much more I would ask for if I had a chance. I like my working environment, it varies from inner city to suburban depending on where we are needed.

Wages aren't great. I'm around $15. Pretty low for the area. Hours are 8-14 shifts, all except our airport truck post. No Union at this AMR. Equipment varies. Some of it sucks (scoop stretcher, new electrodes, a bunch of old trucks although we are slowly getting new ones) and some of it is perfectly fine.
 
StCEMT said:
Technically fire has control, but they usually step back once we get there. Relationships with both are good, but we work with so many that I don't really know them all that well, I just have no issues working with them both hospital/Fire. That being said, I do have preferences. Some FD's are hit and miss and others are awesome. My scope is pretty good, there isn't too much more I would ask for if I had a chance. I like my working environment, it varies from inner city to suburban depending on where we are needed.

Wages aren't great. I'm around $15. Pretty low for the area. Hours are 8-14 shifts, all except our airport truck post. No Union at this AMR. Equipment varies. Some of it sucks (scoop stretcher, new electrodes, a bunch of old trucks although we are slowly getting new ones) and some of it is perfectly fine.
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This is for Colorado Springs? It isn't all covered by CSFD?
 
AMR Houston is terrible, transfer only, and looks like the puppy no one loves.
 
RocketMedic said:
AMR Houston is terrible, transfer only, and looks like the puppy no one loves.
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Same for Austin AMR. They actually have to call ATCEMS in certain situations to transport their patient. IIRC it's anyone that they deem to require ALS level care, even if there's a Paramedic on the AMR truck.


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