Good EMS work w/o going fire dept.

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Mjefferson80

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My EMT-B class is almost all pre-firefighters. Instructor is a firefighter. I'm only two classes in, so I'm sure I'll start to figure out more of the EMS structure in my area (Dallas-Ft. Worth). But I've heard that the better jobs in the area are all firefighter/paramedic. And Internet research for other areas (Chicago, LA) seems to indicate a similar structure.

1. I want to finish my EMT course. Work as an ER tech (hopefully) or for an ambulance service while taking the paramedic course. Get some quality paramedic experience for a few years and then go either PA or MD.

2. I don't want to go to the fire academy. I don't want to answer questions about smoking pot six years ago in college. I respect the hell out of firefighters but don't want to be one.
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there are lots of places that use ems only 911 responders.
I worked as a 911 medic for years and never worked for a fire dept.
the jobs are out there.
start by looking at amr(american medical response). they are the largest provider of paramedic services in the country and are non-fire based. also acadian ambulance in louisianna(if amr hasn't bought them yet).
see www.amr.net
here is their current list of medic jobs. they hire emt-b's too
Career search results
1-70 of 70 Results

Title Category Openings Location Closing Date
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 8 Mobile, AL 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Birmingham, AL 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Tuscaloosa, AL 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Fayetteville, AR 12/31/2006
CCT Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Northern California, CA-N 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 11 San Joaquin County, CA-N 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 15 San Mateo/Santa Cruz/San Francisco, CA-N 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Stanislaus/Turlock/Tulare , CA-N 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 33 Alameda/San Benito/Santa Clara, CA-N 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 4 Contra Costa County, CA-N 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 10 San Diego, CA-S 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Irwindale, CA-S 1/31/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Antelope Valley, CA-S 1/31/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Hemet, CA-S 12/30/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 10 Palm Springs, CA-S 12/30/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 10 Redlands, CA-S 12/30/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 18 Riverside, CA-S 12/30/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 10 Victorville, CA-S 12/30/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Pueblo, CO 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 5 Enfield, CT 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 New Haven, CT 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 5 Waterbury, CT 2/9/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Enfield, Northeast CT, CT 12/31/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Waterbury, CT 2/6/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 5 Hartford, CT 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 8 Waterbury & Southington, CT 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, CT 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Bridgeport, CT 6/5/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Washington DC, DC 1/31/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Atlanta, GA 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 LaGrange, GA 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 4 Monroe, LA 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 4 Haverhill, Lynn & Newburyport, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Pittsfield, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 4 Northampton, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Springfield, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Springfield, Northhampton & Pittsfield, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Lynn, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Brockton & Avon, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Worcester, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 5 Lynn, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Haverhill, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Newburyport, MA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 8 Silver Spring/ Washington DC, MD 1/31/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Scarborough and Eliot, ME 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 5 Jackson, MS 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 4 Gulfport, MS 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Natchez, MS 8/20/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Billings, MT 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Hampstead and Hampton Falls, NH 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 6 Manchester and Sumersworth, NH 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Alamogordo, NM 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 31 Las Vegas, NV 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Brooklyn, NY 1/31/2007
Paramedic - Part time PARAMEDIC 1 Long Island, NY 12/31/2006
Paramedic - Part time PARAMEDIC 1 Brooklyn, NY 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Duncan/Marlow, OK 1/15/2007
CCT Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Dallas, TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 10 Arlington, TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Houston, TX 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 3 Wichita Falls, TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Dallas , TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Cameron/Milano/Rockdale, TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Austin, TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Alice, TX 1/15/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 8 Annandale, VA 1/31/2007
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 2 Tacoma, WA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Centralia, WA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Yakima/Kennewick, WA 12/31/2006
Paramedic PARAMEDIC 1 Spokane, WA 12/31/2006
 
I was a 911 paramedic for many years too, and like emedpa, I also never worked for a fire department.

There are many hospital-based services around the country, so you don't have to look just at private companies. There are also many third-service agencies that are county-operated, but not affiliated with fire services (e.g., Pittsburgh, Boston, etc.).
 
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It depends on where you work whether you'll be an actual FF or not. All of our medics are firefighters, but the two sides are not integrated in an efficient manner. There is a lot of lip service given to the "one department concept", but the reality is that there are people here who will never work both sides. The younger generation has embraced the FF/EMT concept, but it will take a major shake-up for the status quo to change. My FD has a whole host of issues, and is going to be the model for the case study I'm completing as part of a Human Resource Management course I'm taking.
 
I've encountered the exact OPPOSITE problems, volunteer firefighter/EMTs who will show up and stand around or do shoddy patient care simply because they were paged out.

On my last department (where I was in charge of EMS operations), everyone had to be cross trained as a firefighter (that's what happens when you have 16 people on a department, if you count the auxillaries) but they were under explicit orders from me to not show up to EMS calls unless they wanted to be there and provide top notch care. The theory of "delayed care is better than half-assed care" is the one I subscribe to.
 
Try Seattle or the San Francisco bay area...
 
I have a friend who just went with AMR in Fort Worth area. He also liked Medstar when he interviewed there.

Austin-Travis County is pretty awesome. I have a friend who works there now. Not associated with FD, city service, decent pay.

Most people leave my service to go there.
 
Being in the D/FW area, for non-fire 911 as a basic the only thing recommended is MedStar in Fort Worth, as they're the 911 provider for the city. I don't know how they look upon green basics, but if experience is the problem then there is always the world of transfer.

I will say that, as far as Texas goes, you're more likely to have an easier time finding work as an EMT in Houston rather than the D/FW area. MANY more transfer companies (some pretty crooked though), a bit more non-fire 911 services along with ample ER opportunity. I worked for the Cy-Fair Fire Dept for a few years, the only place I've ever seen where you can work for a fire department's EMS division and NOT be a firefighter. But they require a year of experience.

Of course, once you're a paramedic the opportunities expand exponentially. As pointed out already, Austin/Travis county is kinda the gold standard for non-fire 911 EMS in Texas.
 
Jefferson,

I've spent my entire career in DFW. I did work a couple of years in the metroplex as a firefighter/EMT-P. Now I'm back in the ED, preparing for medical school. MedStar is in a constant state of hire, and they hire basics. You'll run 911 and priority 47 transfers. Arlington EMS is the same sort of system. Those are your choices if you want to work non-fire 911 in DFW. It is true that the fire dept is the way to go in terms of quality of life. If you're mobile geographically, and you want to make a career out of EMS, move your butt to Austin now. If you're using EMS as a springboard to medicine, nursing, or anything else, either get an ED job, or work for Arlington or MedStar.

There's a crapload of transfer (non-911) companies on the Dallas side of the metroplex. btw, where are you going to school? Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, or need specific info on places of employment...good luck.
 
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