Working for a transport company

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StopNgo1000

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Hey everyone,

Just wanted some information or advice on working for a transport company. There's some 911 calls but mostly dialysis and discharges. I've been an EMT-B for 2 months now and have been with a volly group (roughly 6000 calls a year) for close to a year. From a 911 aspect, i would say i'm pretty comfortable but i've never done any transports.

It's a part time gig i got to get my foot in the door somewhere and i start training on Monday. If you can, any experience or anything i should know about transports would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again
 
My only experience with transports was my 72 hours of ride time for my basic. I didn't care for it, but to be fair I had some less than great crews to work with. I think that you could however learn a great deal about the nuts and bolts end of things doing it. Its the kind of job where you can do a great deal and learn a ton or you can just coast and never learn a thing, its all up to you. It tends to require a bit more of a customer service oriented mindset which I think is a great thing for EMS folks to learn. Overall I found it a bit depressing and wouldn't want to do it for a living.

Again I have only 72 hours of experience with it.
 
yea its just part time, something to have on the resume ya know? I prefer the 911 side. Just didnt know what to expect.
 
When I was in EMT school which I took through AMR, I got to talk with some of their Critical Transport crews. One of the things I learned is doing IFT's are about what you put into it.

If you take the time to actually learn, you can gain an immense level of clinical knowledge. This of course requires you being proactive and asking questions, talking to the patient and doctors, etc. Some of the medical problems you encounter will require lots of attention and your time. You may also be able to pick up skills which normal basics don't get which can make you more marketable. In my case I will be getting my Combi-tube and IV endorsements.

On the down side it is usually routine, especially if your strictly a BLS rig. You would probably be able to learn more if you had a Paramedic or RN as your partner as you would get more complex cases, even though you would most likely be driving.
 
yea i hear ya, i heard its routine and ill learn ALOT about elderly people and medicine.
 
Doing private service really will expose you to more long term and chronic illnesses. I spent over a decade in emergency only EMS and recently started with a private company, I still assess and treat pt's the same no matter which squad I'm in that day.

Overall, I would say being from a strictly emergency service has made me a better private service EMT, and doing private service EMS has helped me tremendously on 911 calls.
 
I'm actually on the rig now for the private service lol, I defiantly think it's helps having a 911 background. it's literally just pick up and drop off. A lot of the elderly patients do this so often , they just want casual conversation, quick vitals and a drop off. I'm glad I volly to keep me on point as well. As far as learning about medicine and illnesses , private service gives you all of that.
 
incredibly boring, incredibly mind numbing, incredibly sucky job if management treats you like crap.

that being said, good partners can make the day go well, some of your patients can have stories that are completely amazing, and you might get the occasional sick person who needs to be transported to the ER.

bring a book, bring your laptop or dvd player, mp3 player, and remember paperwork and billing is often more important than good patient care (at least in the eyes of private company management) if you want to keep your job.

don't think you are doing 911, don't think you are going to do EMS, and just remember, your doing transports until you have enough experience to get a 911 job. and it is a paycheck.
 
That's basically how it was explained to me the last couple of days unfortunately
 
Not all "transport companies" are the same. To be sure, there majority of my call volume is routine interfacility transports. I still do my fair sure of "emergencies" though, whether they be at contracted nursing homes, homeless shelters, urgent cares, or sometimes the city when they are out of trucks. With some companies, if you work nights expect to do close to an even split between "nursing home 911" and other calls.
 
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