Pretending to be a professional seems more like being a poser.
You know here in Europe many start med school at 17, and we have hospital time first year. Medicine has to accept there will always be students, in all areas of healthcare.
It also sounds very underhanded to go around agencies that want to have such programs by attacking their logistics.
I have to ask, do you do anything that benefits EMS or do you just deride everything that doesn't agree with your point?
Prove to me the benefits. Show me the statistics and science base evidence that having an observer of being a minor is helpful in outcomes and growth in the industry. We can easily pull up research of the detriments of exposure of high stressful events to those under the age of 21, exposure of death and dying affects to the psyche of those of the minor ages as being detrimental (even movie ratings suggest such).
I really could care less how they do things in Europe. European medicine has never impressed me as I have worked with residents from there. I don't live there. If I did I would protest it there as well.
If we want to compare accomplishments in EMS just exactly how many Senate and Legislative movements have you been active on? Nationally or even locally? Let's get to the basics of even how much true field experience do you actually have? Ten years, fifteen, twenty? Have you ever been an EMS administrator or even teach Paramedic courses? Have you ever established EMS in communities and dealt with local governments to fund EMS? Have you ever established regional (multi state) developing State and local EMS Systems? Are you a even an active member of a National, State EMS association, EMS Educators Society that promotes changes? If so, how active are you?
You described "We are no better off today as a profession than we were 20 years ago"" Exactly where were you twenty years ago? Were you working in the field then? Did you have to run out of a suburban ambulance and use monitors that had no twelve lead capability that Nationally there was only about 10,000 real Paramedics? Yeah, we used to be able to have 16 year old drive EMS units too. Guess what, they were considered too immature and inexperienced to be able to handle such..but it is okay to allow patient care? How asinine! The only way you know what occurred is by the hear say and reading of other posts. Yes, we are not as advanced as most would like and you want to know why? By those that like to talk and take no action.
You are spouting off things as facts when in reality they are not. Such as .."
Nobody needs a registry card. Aside from spending some money every few years, it doesn't really do much"... Really, want to back up what you state? Actually there are very many states that does require to have and maintain NREMT status. So yes, there are some that do need a Registry card. Also many states license as a Paramedic is just as respected as a license for the RN, P.A. even a Physicians. Again, rhetoric that is not true. Also do you really know how much scientific research is being performed on EMS a daily basis from the NREMT? That there is more than two full time research fellows that in performing such duties. How do you think all medical professionals became in being? Look at the Osteopathic Physician's. Until about twenty years ago many would not even give them privileges to non-D.O. hospitals even though their programs were longer and had longer residency.
Your other statement of ... "since
a large part of EMS is fire based, it has become nothing more than a patch".. I beg to differ. Not every state is largely comprised of Fire EMS. Review the American Ambulance Association records. Many offer EMS as a service but may not perform sole EMS duties such as transports and only provide MFR services.
I know of Police departments that have EMFR within responding units, should they be classified as EMS also?
Just because one can have limited privileges such as driving, drinking does not automatically allow one to be prepared to handle all events. Alike I described using the military as an example is a poor one. We all really know why they use the youth, it is not because of their wisdom.
Just because you want to wash your hands in making EMS a profession does not mean those of us that do take this profession serious ought to. Just because it did not immediately become as we thought it should be we should allow compromises.
There is a reason those that are really involved in EMS as a profession don't usually bother with reading EMS forums. They consider most that posts as poorly informed participants and really a joke. Ever notice that there are just a few of us that have credentials and experience that take out time to post? Their feeling is why should they bother?
Again, I state.. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
