Re: EMTs: Fake Certification Punishment Unfair

[Guest guest]

You know, I really do want to know the EMTs' side of the story - I want to know

WTF was so important in their lives that they felt like they couldn't handle a

three day refresher course.

I want to know why they think it's ok to not keep current with medical

practices. Do they think EMS never changes? Or that it shouldn't change to

attempt to improve patient care? Should I start using PASGs again? Stop

acknowledging the existence of EZ-IOs?

Or do they know all there is to know about medicine? Do they even know

everything they knew coming out of their EMT course?

If they'd like to talk about the danger of the public receiving lower-quality

EMS, let's talk about the danger caused by actually having people with this kind

of attitude practicing.

I'd also like to know why they think they're so special that they're above the

rules. I pay my dues just like I expect everyone else to. Why are they exempt?

So, yes... I'd LOVE to hear their side of the story.

Alyssa Woods, NREMT-B

Sent from the itty bitty keyboard on my iPhone

> ...and then they wonder why people dont consider us professionals or take us

seriously.

>

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> McGee, EMT-P, EMT-T

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> > http://www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/24102325/detail.html

> >

> > BOSTON -- Beginning July 1, more than 200 emergency medical

> > technicians will not be making emergency calls. They've been suspended

> > for anywhere from 45 days to nine months for falsely claiming they

> > took certification refresher courses.

> >

> > The state said it came down hard to send a message and protect public

> > safety, but two EMTs said the move is unfair and dangerous.

> >

> > Kim is a state emergency technician. She's been suspended for nine

> > months for allegedly falsifying certification class attendance. She

> > says if she broke the law, she should be punished.

> >

> > " But a nine-month suspension? I've lost my job and my health

> > insurance. I don't now what I am going to do, " said Kim.

> >

> > She said the harsh punishment of EMTs is unfair, especially because

> > she believes the refresher courses they're required to take have no

> > bearing on competence and knowledge.

> >

> > " The refresher course just repeats everything. We didn't put you at

> > harm, " Kim said.

> >

> > Terry Urekew is a part-time paramedic who was not on the penalty list,

> > but she believes the state has done an injustice to her colleagues.

> >

> > " So if it's fraud, slap them. Give everyone a $100 fine and community

> > service, " said Urekew. " Don't take someone's livelihood away from

> > something that has no impact on whether or not we are better EMTs, "

> > she said.

> >

> > Urekew said the state never gave the EMTs a chance to tell their side

> > of the story. But the Department of Health commissioner said they have

> > the legal right to appeal their case and believes their punishment

> > fits the crime.

> >

> > " I hope the strong stance we've taken will send a message to those who

> > might be considering disobeying the rules of their profession that

> > it's important to be in compliance, " said commissioner Auerbach.

> > " EMTs and paramedics and docs and dentists who take training seriously

> > are eager to defend training as a way to assure that the public gets

> > the very best care, " he said.

> >

> > But Kim and Urekew said the real public safety concern starts on July

> > 1 when fewer EMTs are available.

> >

> > " You are forcing the remaining EMTs to work longer hours, and people

> > just taken out of EMT classes are on the road quicker without proper

> > training, " said Kim.

> >

> > " Do you want me working on your mother who is having a heart attack in

> > hour 87 of my 90 hour week? " said Urekew. " Do you want that? That's

> > what you are going to get. There are not enough people to fill the

> > gaps, " she said.

> >

> > Auerbach disagreed.

> >

> > " We have no evidence that public safety is at risk because of the

> > suspension of 211 EMTs. There are 23,000 EMT's in the state, " said

> > Auerbach. " We haven't received a single call from anyone expressing

> > the slightest bit of concern about having sufficient EMTs and

> > paramedics, " he said.

> >

> > The EMTs said they were also frustrated that many of the penalized

> > workers still had other jobs, including the firefighters. But many

> > other EMTs won't have any income beginning Thursday.

> >

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