Re: More than 200 EMTs suspended in scam By Carlin And Hillary Chabot

[Guest guest]

 Why do we not get the recognition we deserve?  Because some of our

colleagues knowingly choose to do things like this.  What a real shame.  I

hope criminal charges follow for the perpetrators.

McGee, EMT-P, EMT-T

 

Subject: More than 200 EMTs suspended in scam By Carlin And

Hillary Chabot

To: Paramedicine (AT) e, NJEMS , texasems-l

Date: Friday, June 18, 2010, 10:08 AM

 

More than 200 EMTs suspended in scam

By Carlin And Hillary Chabot | Friday, June 18, 2010 |

_http://www.bostonherald.com_ (http://www.bostonherald.com/) | _Local Coverage_

(http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/)

More than 200 medical technicians were slapped with suspensions and two

instructors were fired for their roles as ringleaders in a statewide scam

that awarded phony recertifications to EMTs while letting them skip

life-saving brush-up courses.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Auerbach vowed to crack down

on the bogus creds, saying the ring had been operating a “systemic effort

to falsify information regarding the completion of certain training

requirements†for at least 18 months.

“Falsification of these training records is a breech of public trust,â€

Auerbach said. “Public safety and public health are our top priorities, and we

take training records very seriously.â€

All 207 EMT scammers snared in the statewide sweep will have their licenses

suspended. The 184 who used the fake credentials to get recertified will

lose their licenses for nine months, the rest for 45 days. The suspensions

will go into effect July 1st.

Two EMT instructors, Mark Culleton and Leo Nault, will have their

EMT-paramedic certification permanently revoked for taking cash for the fake

certifications.

“It is important that we put in place mechanisms to prevent this type of

falsification from occurring in the future,†Auerbach said.

DPH officials vowed to put in place frequent random checks on EMTs to

prevent future abuse, and emergency responders will be required to undergo an

ethics-training course.

The scammers are employed by 10 private ambulance companies and 14

municipality-operated services that work in more than 30 communities throughout

Greater Boston and the Merrimack Valley.

Auerbach refused to say how many EMTs are firefighters or work in Boston.

No one reported faulty care or treatment by the EMTs, Auerbach said.

DPH officials referred the matter to the State Attorney General’s Office

for further review.Article URL:

_http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1262362_

(http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1262362)

Related Articles:

Massachusetts suspends EMTs

_/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1262299_

(http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1262299)

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

(Cell Phone)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

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discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)