Any EMTs to MD?

[streetdoc]

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At a recent interview i spoke with a 4th year going into Emergency Medicine. he had been an EMT (not sure if basic, intermediate, or paramedic) so i asked if his training as an EMT had helped him in classes or rotations and he said no. i was completely shocked by this. i've been a medic for a bit over a year and have been exposed to at least 40 drugs and their uses and dosages, i'm able to start IVs in the dark, intubate, and have seen A LOT of conditions from CHF and Diabetes to schizophrenics claming to be God. Now i don't know a lot about the etiologies of the diseases and i don't know exactly how and why the drugs work...but i found it hard to accept that my experiences wouldn't help me. I've at least been exposed to the names and uses of things and some skills. i guess i'm feeling a bit dishearted that all my time and work may not help me at all. Then again, maybe he was a basic and hadn't had to learn all the drugs and skills. anyway, what do you EMT or MD students think?

Will this type of experience be helpful to us?
on a positive note he said he was getting a lot of Emergency Medicine interviews due to his experiences as an EMT (not his scores) and expected to be able to pick where he wanted to go quite easily.
oh well, any thoghts?
streetdoc

 

[Ramoray]

hey, it is kind of like science students who have taken quite a bit of science v. non science majors going into med school. Sure that first few weeks its probably a bit easier for the science people who know thier biochem etc, but after the first month, you learn SO much SO fast you are quickly equalized. Im guessing it is the smae way in med. There is just so much more, what you know from EMT is probably only a few weeks worth of info in your MD training so it benefts you a little bit but quickly you realize its not of much help.. only speculating and obviously it wont hurt in knowing how to deal with patients but i wouldnt look for it to be a huge advantage. either way its awsome being an EMT so who cares!