Wheelchair Vans

[trauma1534]

I was just wondering how many people here work for an agency that has wheelchair vans, and what are your though's on certified people having to run wheelchair calls.

 

[jeepmedic]

I was just wondering how many people here work for an agency that has wheelchair vans, and what are your though's on certified people having to run wheelchair calls.

I didn't mind it. Pay me to ride around in a W/C and have fun with for the most part are Pts. that only are going to a Dr. Appt. No stress. I used to think it was a good break.

 

[FFEMT1764]

I think w/c vans should have EMT's or higher on them, after all, what if the person just going to the doc for a checkup crashes...plus as jeep said it would be a nice break for some of us who run a lot of calls in a shift.

 

[MMiz]

Our service found that it wasn't profitable to run wheelchair vans. At the time they were staffed by a CPR/First Aid trained individual.

I see no need or reason to have them staffed by higher trained individuals. If EMS was needed then EMS was called. I see the wheelchair van as a taxi service for people in wheelchairs... nothing more.

 

[FFEMT1764]

Matt, the trouble with that is here all the w/c vans are operated by rescue squads or private EMS providers. And here if you are a licensed EMS service running w/c van and someone has a bad outcome, then you can (and prolly will be) sued. And the way jurors are these days they might left the patients family win a bunch of money!

 

[trauma1534]

Our service found that it wasn't profitable to run wheelchair vans. At the time they were staffed by a CPR/First Aid trained individual.

I see no need or reason to have them staffed by higher trained individuals. If EMS was needed then EMS was called. I see the wheelchair van as a taxi service for people in wheelchairs... nothing more.

I totally agree! Why break up a perfectly good staffed truck to run wheelchairs! What a waist! As I recall, when we were all going through classes for EMS, weather it was Basic, or whatever, we did not put in all that time and studying to get stuck on a wheelchair van.

Two of the agencies I used to work for was famous for breaking up a perfectly good ALS staffed truck to run wheelchairs. One of those angencies used to run a Paramedic on the Wheelchair Van all day!

 

[MMiz]

My service used to put Paramedics on the wheelchair vans all the time. Our wheelchair van drivers even made a few dollars more an hour than EMT-Bs.

I don't understand why we stopped offering the service, only because I think it's good to offer hospitals and nursing homes a one-stop source for transportation, but it's been more than a year since 'ole wheelie made the rounds.

 

[prizonmedik]

I like the WCV. Same money, Less Stress. I ride around listenting to radio.........

 

[yowzer]

We have a couple. You don't have to be an EMT to drive 'em. As many companies providing the service as there are here, doing so would be impossible.

 

[KEVD18]

have driven the wcv as a full time job, then as ot after getting my basic. two completely different worlds:

pre basic:"this sucks. all day i drive around and pick up these people and run them back and forth to the doctors or dialysis. back and forth all day. paperwork. i have nobody to talk to. i hate this job"

post basic: i love this! same money less work. i dont actually have to pick these people up, i have a hydraulic ramp to do that. paperwork couldnt be simpler. all i ahve to do is dr appts and dialysis. no mva's no trauma no blood. i dont have to talk to anybody. i love this job!!!!!"

 

[Airwaygoddess]

AMR has a W/C vans for the patients that need dr. appointments, dialysis runs. If a patient should run into trouble i.e. post dialysis springs a leak, The drivers can call for a 911 car to take care of businnes.

 

[jeepmedic]

Trauma you forget that Prizonmedic, Fedmedic and I were the paramedics on the WC vans. We could respond to asst. a BLS truck if they needed it at any time. I still miss those days riding around listening to Bob and the Showgram getting paid. It was nice.

 

[Guardian]

My service used to put Paramedics on the wheelchair vans all the time. Our wheelchair van drivers even made a few dollars more an hour than EMT-Bs.

I don't understand why we stopped offering the service, only because I think it's good to offer hospitals and nursing homes a one-stop source for transportation, but it's been more than a year since 'ole wheelie made the rounds.

paramedic on a wheelchair van is an absolute disgrace. This proves we don't get the respect we deserve.

 

[jeepmedic]

paramedic on a wheelchair van is an absolute disgrace. This proves we don't get the respect we deserve.

I don't see the disgrace or disrespect here. I did it and enjoyed the time to myself. Also could respond to more calls this way. I would bewilling to bet you have never done it.

 

[trauma1534]

I don't see the disgrace or disrespect here. I did it and enjoyed the time to myself. Also could respond to more calls this way. I would bewilling to bet you have never done it.

Now, I don't see it as a disgrace, I just see it as a waiste of good staffing to put them on the "take granny to dialysis" calls.

I have a reason for why I feel this way. It also opens that provider up for liability. I had a patient one time who went unresponsive in my WCV. I had nothing to work with. I was out in the middle of BFE, and my radio didn't reach out to base, and my cell phone had no signal. It was a known diabetic, but I had nothing to work with. All I could do is get back there, move the wheelchair away from them, lay them flat on the floor, and haul arse. I finally got communication access, and I was told to call 911 for Rescue to meet me enroute to the ER. It was a nightmare. There I was with this guy in my van who was unresponsive and laying on the floore with nothing to secure him, what if I had been hit. My patient was not properly secured. What if he had coded while he was laying back there, and I was busy driving. I mean it was just a nightmare.

We had another medic who was driving a WCV, and thier patient coded. We didn't even have a BVM or anything on that truck.

That's why I feel that way.

 

[MeckRS83]

Now who would put paramedics on a wheelchair van? makes no sense to me

 

[Guardian]

I don't see the disgrace or disrespect here. I did it and enjoyed the time to myself. Also could respond to more calls this way. I would bewilling to bet you have never done it.

Wow, how did you guess that?

Listen, if you like taking time off to be a taxi driver, that's fine with me. The fact they would put a paramedic on a wheelchair taxi is insulting. It's like saying "hey trauma surgeon, would you mind working as an X-ray tech today, I think you would enjoy the time to yourself"...that's crazy!

Also, since I believe every ambulance should be staffed with at least 1 paramedic, I don't think your "I can respond to more calls" is valid.

 

[trauma1534]

Wow, how did you guess that?

Listen, if you like taking time off to be a taxi driver, that's fine with me. The fact they would put a paramedic on a wheelchair taxi is insulting. It's like saying "hey trauma surgeon, would you mind working as an X-ray tech today, I think you would enjoy the time to yourself"...that's crazy!

I think that is just a matter of opinion. I guess if that trauma surgen got paid the same either way, he might not mind!

 

[Guardian]

I think that is just a matter of opinion. I guess if that trauma surgen got paid the same either way, he might not mind!

This really speaks to the ridiculously low pay paramedics get...thanks for strengthening my argument.

 

[jeepmedic]

This really speaks to the ridiculously low pay paramedics get...thanks for strengthening my argument.

Hey bud I've made over 60K this year. A that does not include one trip on a ambulance. And I am a paramedic.