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Are we due a 'boom' in EMS?
Despite current oversupply of medics in Calif., demand is likely to pick back up
By Art Hsieh
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Editor's note: A new study reports that although more workers in some areas of healthcare will be needed in the next few years, paramedicine is experiencing a surplus. |
EMS has gone through cycles of boom and bust in my area. When I started working in San Francisco in 1990, the demand for paramedics was huge. The city was hiring like mad and pulling staff away from surrounding county agencies.
New medics trained and filled the slots, although it took some time and created a "shortage." By 1993, the number of new medics outpaced the number of jobs, and we entered a glut phase when it was difficult to be hired.
When local fire departments established ALS First Response programs, the demand picked back up. Not surprisingly, the health of the overall economy also reflected the need for EMS professionals and coincided with the growth and reduction of the industry.
Despite this one report, it is likely that we'll see another boom period shortly. Personnel are retiring and departments are at the breaking point of their overtime budgets, not to mention the strain of forced overtime on the crews.
I've seen an increased number of agencies beginning to hire EMS providers in the past several months, and the trend looks positive.
The fact is healthcare will continue to be a growth industry for some time, as the American population ages and the system evolves. Anecdotally, many places in the country are experiencing shortages of EMS personnel now.
If you are in one of these areas, give a shout-out in the comments below. Some folks might be looking for positions and are able to relocate. This way, everyone wins!
Comments
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Kenneth Drum Friday, May 18, 2012 8:05:36 AM I am in the process of finishing an EMT B cass .. I have been in fire and rescue feild for 20 plus years . Relocating to Florida and would appreciate knowing if any one in state is hiring ... 
KevinAmy Johnson Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:56:18 PM Howdy Kenneth, just thought I would reply to you. Since I'm on a role. Florida! Soma the first medics ever, right? Like LA. I wounder if it's all medic dominated like California? From the stories I read, sounds like it. A medic on every piece of fire truck, at least in the cities. The sticks, probably wana be like the cities, striving for the awesomeness of medics on every red, I mean green (Florida) fire engine. Oh they love them some huge ambulances in Florida. As long as they come in fancy lime green, sure nuff. EMT B...I bet you'll find privates and bunches running snifs to er 24-7 365. Right? Good luck, and I bet you'll make chief at the local vol. dept in 6 months. 
Scott Raper Thursday, May 24, 2012 9:06:37 PM KevinAmy Johnson actuallyy it depends on where you live ya there are a lot of fire engines out here wth medics on them, and then there is a lot that only have first responders. KevinAmy Johnson Thursday, May 24, 2012 9:54:36 PM Hey Scott, so lot's of fd have medics and lot's don't. It's a big state I'm sure things very from parish to parish, or county, or district.. you know. I just wana encourage people to spread their ems wings, and check out what other states have to offer. As for me it was one of the best things I ever did. Go day glow! 
Tracey Burnett-Buckner Friday, May 18, 2012 5:49:47 PM Just finished the New York EMT-B class. Have yet to find anyone hiring anyone under AEMT qualified. KevinAmy Johnson Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:41:03 PM NYNY, seems like it's always hiring. FDNY. It's fast paced and wild. Don't worry about MR. Shaw's comment. He probably just got his medic license and was looking for the first basic to paragod over. Good luck, and remember not to be a Shaw to the next rookie you run into.
Aaron Cockrell Friday, May 18, 2012 6:30:38 PM Yes I am operations manager for private mostly transport company in West Texas and we need people! Relocation bonus, basics starting pay 15 bucks a hour, and paramedic starting pay is 19 a hour! Not a tiny company but not very big, we are running 4-5 trucks most days, with monthly call volume of around 500. We have insurance available and other benifits, but most of all pretty good pay, and overtime available! Last week I had a EMT picking up shifts and had 118 hours! If your interested give me a call 432-235-6529, or email aaron.m.cockrell@gmail.com We will take a green emt, or medic straight from school, just have your certs and be safety focused! 
Jim Badger Friday, May 18, 2012 6:31:54 PM Any needs for folks answering phones & coordinating " dispatch" ??? Aaron Cockrell Friday, May 18, 2012 6:37:50 PM honestly you would not want to be in our dispatch office, the way they run the dispatch is all pen and paper and a nightmare, our owner does not want to upgrade to real computer based dispatch systems.... that is my only real issue with company. Jim Badger Friday, May 18, 2012 6:44:19 PM Well, from what I learned at Whirlpool, you can go with the wrong systems and be crashing all the time...if they ever do go to computer - they need to stay far away from what does not work, like mixing databases...these folks pat themselves on the back for saving money by leasing Windows units and operating them with an Oracle database- NEVER let anybody make that mistake....stick to what works !
Aaron Cockrell Friday, May 18, 2012 6:50:40 PM Dakota Cortez Yest 19.00 dollars a hour for a EMT-P, time and a half over 40 hours a week, we do run 12 hours shifts and a 24 hour truck. We are also expanding!
Dakota Cortez Friday, May 18, 2012 6:51:57 PM thats unheard of for a private around here. The last one I worked at was paying 12 an hour and that was one of the higher pays in the area. Aaron Cockrell Friday, May 18, 2012 6:57:35 PM Come on down this way, we are in Midland Texas, the town aint much but there is money to be made! I have never heard of anyone starting Basics at 15, my first job was making 8.87 a hour! We have basics bringing in 3,000 dollars in two weeks we don't currently have any overtime junkie paramedics, this place is good for the money! If you want give me a call, or if you know someone willing, pass on the info! 
Jeremy P Marsh Friday, May 18, 2012 9:46:44 PM This is why I'm gonna get my medic after my RN. 3 days a week at the hospital then some extra $ in EMS where my passion is.
Becky Anne Saturday, May 19, 2012 2:08:12 AM This is probably the biggest joke ever. Do not sign up with this BS. KevinAmy Johnson Friday, May 18, 2012 10:02:10 PM I know Mr Hsieh asked for places that are hiring, and I got nothing for you. I can tell you after leaving Southern, CA for the Portland, OR area, I was shocked by how little work I could find. Just 2 privates, 2! Worked for one, it was the local yocal type company that ate up all the small privates in the area and competes with AMS ambulance. I tell you I've never met a more demoralized bunch of basics in my life. So then you've got AMS. Really that's it. So nursing school it is. Could be worse, volunteer rescue squads, yikes. Actually that might be better. 
Harold C. Cohen Saturday, May 19, 2012 7:58:57 AM Although I am not convinced that the "shortage" is not due more to improper assignment or level of provider needed, it's nice that EMS personnel are now a comoditiy being competed for! KevinAmy Johnson Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:33:26 PM I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on improper assignment or level. Sounds like what I was thinking. Medics medics on every engine. 
Shragi Schupak Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:34:20 AM Its happening at FDNY*EMS. We use to have so much overtime and we were being mandated for double shifts. In the last year and a half or so they have hired a whole bunch of new EMT's and Medics that now people sit around the station because they don't have enough Ambulances for them. To combat this FDNY has ordered several more ambulances but its going to take some time before they come in. An EMT Basic academy class is due to come out on the streets in a few weeks increasing the staff by about 80. Also another EMT Basic class is going in this summer. We have over 3,000 EMT's and Paramedics in NYC and growing! KevinAmy Johnson Saturday, May 19, 2012 11:28:58 PM Former Top class 99-04, I was going to say FDNY EMS, but it had been so long ago. Man I just sent NY ems a copy of my emt b from so cal and they made me a emt defib. I got a promotion in the mail. I got picked up with FDNY practically in the mail. It was crazy, no place to live and I was hired. So it sounds like it's still the same? Maybe the turn over is super hi. I had partners applying to sanitations when I was on the job. That kinda says a thing or 2 about the system. Trash truck or ambulance...bus 11F yaaaa yaayaaa Saturday, May 19, 2012 8:35:14 PM send me an email at Adamor@medic911.com, $3,000 sign-on bonus, moving cost covered, all the overtime you want, benefits, in Charlotte N.C.
Jake Stein Sunday, May 20, 2012 4:15:15 AM But the number of rapid producing EMT schools and medic mills have also increased in the Bay area to keep supply high.
Making every firefighter a Paramedic does not necessarily represent an increase need in the services when 2 Paramedics on scene may be better than 6.
Growth is down in communities also with the number of new housing declining.
The budget is at the highest deficit in history.
California is struggling to pay the health care agencies.
Ambulance contracts are be negotiated at cut rate terms.
FDs and hospitals are laying off.
The boom will be when those who are laid off and displaced can find work. 
Fred Hawkins Monday, May 21, 2012 8:19:11 AM Unless new methods of funding are found EMS both public and private are headed into a brick wall. We have reached the point where cost shifting to off-set cuts in government reimbursement no longer pull the same revenue levels. Hospitals are eager to pursue specialty care such as stroke and STEMI because of increased reibursement. However, Medicare won't properly reimbursement medical transportationnot even for CPAP. We operate a rural EMS service and cover 3800 sq miles with seven ALS units. Some responses are as far as 115 miles one way. No subsidy just fee for service. We have no turnover and an applicant list a mile long. We have every modern EMS system feature available incuding GPS, MDT, centralized EMS dispatch and mobile charting. Do we see a "Boom" coming? No. Just more pressure to maintain service at current levels. 
KevinAmy Johnson Thursday, May 24, 2012 10:19:20 PM Mr Fred, you rock. Why do we delude ourselves? Our industry is going backwards. Fire beat us to the medic mark, and grabbed all our the money that should have gone to ems instead of medics on fire engines. We should have shut down fire stations long ago. Staffing em with volunteers for disasters and the odd fire. EMS is the main job but nobody will admit it. Ok I'm done, you made me crazy for a bit. Rant over...I'm not anti fire, I'm pro 911. 
