I am going to agree with jeep and his group on this one. I have done the wcv and enjoyed it, take people here and there, not have to worry with drunks and combative people. And if everyone was where they needed to be I could go hide somewhere and nap, go have a nice lunch without interruption, even went shopping at wally world a few times. I dont get htese luxuries on the whambulance. The nice thing about my wcv days was I had a ILS bag and O2 in the truck, at my request none the less, but thats because we had 1 paramedic on shift and if I were at the station waiting for granny to be done at dialysis and one of our BLS trucks needed backup I could jump in either my wcv or the rescue truck and go meet them. I ran ALOT of ILS back-up in those days. ( I was an EMT-I back then).
Wheelchair Vans
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trauma1534
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GUARDIAN, did any part of that post say anything about paramedic's pay rate? I didn't think so! Let me say it again. If a surgen made the same amount if he were in xray as if he were performing surgery for that day, do you think he would care what he was doing? Let me spell it out for you. IF A PARAMEDIC IS ON A WHEELCHAIR VAN FOR A DAY AND GET"S PAID THE SAME, WHAT DOES IT MATTER!! It does give them a break. I hope this helps my post make better since.
Well, Trauma, I think you made it pretty clear the first time you said it. I know that if I have a choice between riding the bus all day and running 10-18 calls or riding the wcv and driving people around and getting the same $$$ that I would certainly take the wcv, after all, older people are nicer than they drunks and druggies I would have to deal with on the bus!
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I've worked for several complaies that provide "Coach" services or "MAV" (mobility assistance vehicle) services.
It wasn't abnormal for an EMT's partner to call off and the EMT end up helping with the paratransit stuff.
Occasionally, when a medic didn't have a partner, they worked paratransit. They sometimes had some ALS gear with them, so they could also back up a BLS crew on an ALS run, and sometimes they didn't.
I actually covered paratransit for a few days for one of my employers right after I was hired, as they had a driver out sick. I enjoyed it, because I was able to spend a few days driving around our coverage area and getting to know our contracted facilities... I didn't get lost often after that.
It wasn't abnormal for an EMT's partner to call off and the EMT end up helping with the paratransit stuff.
Occasionally, when a medic didn't have a partner, they worked paratransit. They sometimes had some ALS gear with them, so they could also back up a BLS crew on an ALS run, and sometimes they didn't.
I actually covered paratransit for a few days for one of my employers right after I was hired, as they had a driver out sick. I enjoyed it, because I was able to spend a few days driving around our coverage area and getting to know our contracted facilities... I didn't get lost often after that.
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I don't agree with Guardian, but I understand the point he is making. It's the point people make when they choose not to work jobs at ridiculously low prices. It's more about the principle than anything.
It's why airline mechanics would choose to not work at all instead of working at ridiculously low prices. It's why you don't find many professionals working entry level jobs, even though they have the time and could easily use the money. If we're going to expect to be regarded as professionals, we should see ourselves as professionals.
Some may contend a wheelchair van driver isn't regarded a professional position, though I feel otherwise. At the hospital it's hard to tell the difference between the ER Techs, nurses, and orderlies. The same goes for our wheelchair van drivers, EMTs, and Paramedics.
It's why airline mechanics would choose to not work at all instead of working at ridiculously low prices. It's why you don't find many professionals working entry level jobs, even though they have the time and could easily use the money. If we're going to expect to be regarded as professionals, we should see ourselves as professionals.
Some may contend a wheelchair van driver isn't regarded a professional position, though I feel otherwise. At the hospital it's hard to tell the difference between the ER Techs, nurses, and orderlies. The same goes for our wheelchair van drivers, EMTs, and Paramedics.
Stevo
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I see no wrong in a tiered system that allows basics to run garden variety transferes , saving the medics for what they may be more useful doing.
With the exception of a few incidents that will just go south no matter who is at the helm, dispatch should be able to triage the calls
in my neck of the woods a medic is still a coveted entity, to be called on when it smells like trouble, not for a taxi ride to the doc in the box
~S~
With the exception of a few incidents that will just go south no matter who is at the helm, dispatch should be able to triage the calls
in my neck of the woods a medic is still a coveted entity, to be called on when it smells like trouble, not for a taxi ride to the doc in the box
~S~
Ridryder911
EMS Guru
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We have a W/C van and it is staffed with a non-EMT person. We are placing two more up.. If the patient requires oxygen, they have to be transported by the EMS unit.
It used to be closely monitored and under the State EMS Division, whom described what constitutes transport vehicles, however; private business by-passed the EMS and sued the state for interference in privatization and won! They now advertise as a non-EMS transport, for only w/c transport only.. non-medical care and actually are quite cheaper than most EMS w/c transports.
Sometimes if the w/c van operator is unexpectedly off, etc... We will place an Intermediate on it. It is an understood policy with management though, a Paramedic will not be placed on it unless they volunteer. However; sometimes the Field Supervisor and even the Director has been seen on it in tight situation......hee.. hee..lol
It used to be closely monitored and under the State EMS Division, whom described what constitutes transport vehicles, however; private business by-passed the EMS and sued the state for interference in privatization and won! They now advertise as a non-EMS transport, for only w/c transport only.. non-medical care and actually are quite cheaper than most EMS w/c transports.
Sometimes if the w/c van operator is unexpectedly off, etc... We will place an Intermediate on it. It is an understood policy with management though, a Paramedic will not be placed on it unless they volunteer. However; sometimes the Field Supervisor and even the Director has been seen on it in tight situation......hee.. hee..lol
Stevo
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boy, have our aging babyboomers turned into a $$$ or what?
~S~
~S~
trauma1534
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How can you refer to most when you don't know what every where is paying? You should try and present facts when you use a word such as most. And again, I am interested in knowing, how long you have been in EMS and what is your level of training?
One local agency here pays thier paramedics $12.00 an hour (this is the big city agancy), while there is another agancy here who pays thier EMT-B's starting out fresh out of class 36k a year. Thier medics make starting pay at 49k, so it all depends on the agancy, where you are, what you are doing, experience, etc... etc...
trauma1534
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Since you have those national averages readily available, I am interested in seeing them, do you have a link for it or can't you post a works cited on it? I really would like to read that. Thank you for any help you can give me on this information.
trauma1534
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Just curious, does anyone know what they pay first responders in some areas to run wheel chair vans?
It's a complex and controversial issue. There is no one right answer or source. There are many complicating factors such as private paramedics bringing salary average down and paramedics reporting 60k salaries and failing to report that they work far more than 40 hours/week.
jeepmedic
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Hey I work a 48 hour week one week and a 32 hour week the next. Well not work I am there those hours. I'm Fat and Lazy I don't do no stinking Overtime.
I would rather play GOLF!!!!!
trauma1534
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Go to USAjobs.com... you'll see the pay scales for paramedics... but the job is listed under EMT for the federal prizon
Mercy4Angels
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wheel chair vans are nothing more than a glorified taxi service. what if a person has a heart attack in a regular cab.....same senario. when emt/paramedics are needed we are called.
Fedmedic
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Hey, hey....easy now....don't be giving our best kept secret away!!
And Jeepmedic, you're right...you are fat and lazy...but you're not scared of work...I've seen you lay down right beside it and go to sleep!!!:beerchug:
jeepmedic
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:beerchug:
jeepmedic
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If they have a heart attack in my WCV then I work on them and wait for a Bls truck and then they have an ALS crew to work on them. After the call I go back to my WCV and enjoy my peacefull day. And the BLS crew cleans up the Truck.