New technology in emergency medicine

I am not saying that this technology is not needed or appropriate, but Rural Metro needs to consider spending more on their most valuable resource, it's employees. They have consistantly neglected the needs of the employees for such high profile exposure.

It is probably no mistake that they promote this issue when it is almost inevitable that they will be facing a strike by their employees on July 1st.

Former Medic wrote:

I am not saying that this technology is not needed or appropriate, but Rural Metro needs to consider spending more on their most valuable resource, it's employees. They have consistantly neglected the needs of the employees for such high profile exposure.
It is probably no mistake that they promote this issue when it is almost inevitable that they will be facing a strike by their employees on July 1st.

Good to see that you are concerned with the residents of WNY instead of only yourself...

P.S. I'm sure that a strike will garner a ton of support for you from the community <sarcasm>

Tired of the whining wrote:

P.S. I'm sure that a strike will garner a ton of support for you from the community <sarcasm>

have you worked in the field? if not, you really do not have any basis for your comments.

Tired of the whining wrote:

P.S. I'm sure that a strike will garner a ton of support for you from the community <sarcasm>

You have absolutely no idea what it is like in the field. We are over worked, under paid and grossly abused by our management. Do a ride along with any crew and you will immediately see the deplorable conditions that we face every day.

We don't want it to come to a strike. This could affect our loved ones too, but we need to stand up for ourselves so that we can have decent work conditions and support our families.

Im glad to see the amount of professionalism that you exibit when you post comments like these. The job is hard and demanding...we know this...but you also choose to be in this profession knowning full well what it intales. The compnay is attempting be progressive by bringing these technologies to the area...in an attempt to save more lives.
as for the "deplorable" conditions some of them are cause by your fellow employees not taking care of the equipment and/or cleaning up after themselves. I will agree that we do need new ambulances. so why not work towards the common goal...the patients!!!

Tired of the whining wrote:

P.S. I'm sure that a strike will garner a ton of support for you from the community <sarcasm>

Are you that same duschebag Northshore from the WNY SpeakUp Forums?

A strike will draw attention to what we are dealing with currently. Perhaps quit worrying so much about a place you obviously don't work at anymore.
It's not your concern nor should you care if you've moved on to bigger things.

In realization that non-EMS people read these forums, maybe we shouldn't throw rocks at each other... regardless of background.

Metro has problems, yes... but so does Buffalo Mercy. There is a big difference between the statements made by their employees vs Metro's on these discussion boards. If things are going to change it needs to start with some PR damage control.

To start - EMS has just as much of an impact on all of us us as hospital staffing does, but new equipment doesn't necessarily mean better care - there ARE more pressing issues locally that need to be addressed by R/M's management. Employees are tired of being treated like they are a "dime a dozen." They want better pay. They want this to be a profession & not just another job. Paramedics, Intermediates & EMT's are not ambulance drivers - they are public safety health professionals that want the same respect and treatment that other PS personnel (fire, police) get.

R/M's employees are not just concerned with themselves... to say so is idiotic. If that was the case they wouldn't be in the job that they are in. But realize that fancy equipment, while good in itself, does not mean better care. It's good that R/M is investing in new technology, but I question their priorities in light of a pending field-workforce contract expiration.

Tactical Medic wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you that same duschebag Northshore from the WNY SpeakUp Forums?
A strike will draw attention to what we are dealing with currently. Perhaps quit worrying so much about a place you obviously don't work at anymore.
It's not your concern nor should you care if you've moved on to bigger things.

Actually, all it does is collect information quickly and more efficiently. In other words, it is a 3 million dollar billing program that we can use to send 12-lead EKGs to the hospital for the doctors to ignore anyways. This only saves seconds since that is how long it takes to preform and interpret a 12-lead EKG anyways.

Tired of the whining wrote:

<quoted text>
Good to see that you are concerned with the residents of WNY instead of only yourself...

I'd rather see $3 million go into our fleet so we have ambulances that don't break down on calls.

"Gee, sorry, ma'am, I'd like to transport your husband who is a major heart attack right now, but my ambulance just broke down. Since we're so short staffed, the only available one is coming from Niagara Falls, so it'll be about 20 minutes before we can go... But at least I can send this ePCR in and you can have your bill in the mail before we even leave the scene..."

...and that electronic pcr doesn't actually give us any information that we don't already get over the radio regarding emergent calls... as mentioned it's essentially a 3 million dollar billing program - we were able to transmit ekg's to hospitals before - nothing new there.

abcd wrote:

Im glad to see the amount of professionalism that you exibit when you post comments like these. The job is hard and demanding...we know this...but you also choose to be in this profession knowning full well what it intales. The compnay is attempting be progressive by bringing these technologies to the area...in an attempt to save more lives.
as for the "deplorable" conditions some of them are cause by your fellow employees not taking care of the equipment and/or cleaning up after themselves. I will agree that we do need new ambulances. so why not work towards the common goal...the patients!!!

New Technologies you are joking right? oh yes they installed cameras in every ambulance, so big brother can watch the crews, please don`t get me started, you live in Florida you have no ides of how this company operates

Tired of the whining wrote:

P.S. I'm sure that a strike will garner a ton of support for you from the community <sarcasm>

Sure will, we had enough of being pushed around like puppies by big corporate, its time we unify and make a statement

Current Medic wrote:

<quoted text>
I'd rather see $3 million go into our fleet so we have ambulances that don't break down on calls.
"Gee, sorry, ma'am, I'd like to transport your husband who is a major heart attack right now, but my ambulance just broke down. Since we're so short staffed, the only available one is coming from Niagara Falls, so it'll be about 20 minutes before we can go... But at least I can send this ePCR in and you can have your bill in the mail before we even leave the scene..."

Right on Bro, its a joke, We have thousands of dollars in computer equipment in each ambulance, and the average fleet ambulance is only worth $500

I have alot of respect for emt's intermedite, basic and Paramedics I did a ride along on an ambualance for two weeks and I think Mangement should respet them all and back them up. and I also think that the pay they give EMS workers is sad they go out on a daily basis and risk there lives so they can save others. So whoever is bashing EMS should really rethink it because one day you or a family member might need a Paramedic or a Intermedit Emt or a Basic EMT.